Album Review: GUM - The Underdog

Jay Watson of Tame Impala and Pond has quietly been releasing music under his GUM moniker for some years now. As it turns out, Watson is a talented multi-instrumentalist whose solo efforts chart his adventures in production.

Here he arrives with his fourth album of dreamy, psychedelic pop that's a touch synth-heavy. The title track bursts forth from the speakers with a slinky groove that situates itself somewhere between the synth wonkiness of Air and regal flourishes that feel a little Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. S.I.A. hits up the dancefloor with pummelling beats that surge alongside driving synths. Eventually Watson starts to chill, dropping tunes like Serotonin and Rehearsed In A Dream, which work chilled, psychedelic lounge vibes for maximum feel-good effect. The Blue Marble floats in space and gets cosmic before touching down on the disco dancefloor of your dreams.

At times this record feels a little like Tame Impala gone electro, but Watson's insistence on beats is what sets GUM apart. While previous GUM releases have been low key, there is plenty here to suggest that this album should be pitched at broader audiences. If ever there was a time to jump on board GUM's groovy jams, then that time is now.