Album Review: The Growlers – Natural Affair

The sixth album from The Growlers is an upbeat party album, with subtle nods to the fringes of '80s surf-rock, synth and disco. The title track and single is reminiscent of Roxy Music meets The Carpenters and kicks off an album of consistently catchy tunes that seamlessly flow from one into the other.

Pulp Of Youth wouldn’t have been out of place on the soundtrack to Hunt For The Wilderpeople and is reflective of the album’s subtle surf vibes, just in time for the band’s Beach Goth shows in Australia in January.

Other tracks to note include the trip hop of Social Man and, one of many bass-led songs, Foghorn Town - a kind of slow Motown tune. It’s funny for both songs to appear on the same album, but The Growlers' mastery at blending genres is again on display here. At the same time, the band maintain an unmistakable pop sound, which is front and centre on an album that is both instantly catchy and still manages to surprise after extensive listens.

No band should be able to consistently deliver albums of this much quality, but this is no normal band. They’ve delivered another classic.