Album Review: Opossom - Electric Hawaii

The dissolution of NZ troublemakers The Mint Chicks was unexpected, but it hasn't taken long for promising mutations to climb out of the wreckage. First up it was Ruben Nielson, who put together the warped pop explorations that is Unknown Mortal Orchestra. Now it's brother Kody's time to evolve, and as Opossum he's put out Electric Hawaii, a sonic pastiche of almost every genre his previous incarnation was not.

Kicking off with the soaring sunny pop of Girl, Nielson ensures that nothing will be easy, infusing the simplistic boy/girl love story with loud organ, lo-fi vocals and a twist of paisley psychedelia that ensures that the brightness swirls unpredictably at the edges. Fly also embraces the '60s Mamas & Papas-era woozy pop, Nielson's vocals intertwining with band member Bic Runga (eschewing her stab at '90s pop chanteuse with some feisty drumming and beguiling backing vocals). Single Blue Meanies is so bright and tasty it gives off ice-cream headaches whilst offering much more in the way of mind-bending flourishes, and these influences become further pronounced as the album progresses. Whether it's the insistent synth and drums on the urgent Getaway Tonight, the warped traipse through whimsy that is Watchful Eye or the sun-drenched dirgey outro to Cola Elixir, sonic experimentation is centre stage.

The most evident thing about Electric Hawaii is that despite a proclivity to experiment and push boundaries, it never loses sight of the inherent importance of the hook and melody. The ten tracks on this impressive debut are indelibly catchy without being predictable, offering enough layers of subterfuge and intrigue that getting lost on Opossum's island without chance of rescue seems a godsend.