Thumpers - Whipped & Glazed (2017)

Know when people say that a band sound like nobody else? Well, with Thumpers that’s truly the case. After rising from their days as Pull Tiger Tail, debut LP ‘Galore’ was a sun-kissed ode to summer romance that served up layers of stunning melodies and glides that set them well apart from anyone else. A record of wondrous youth, follow-up ‘Whipped & Glazed’ picks things up firmly from ‘Galore’ – delivering on skyscraper sized hooks and reverberating beats to create an all-encompassing record that doesn’t just strike with energy but knocks the kitchen door down with it.

Much denser than ‘Galore’, its shining moments belong when they kick the pedal down on euphoria. ’99’, ‘World Removed’ and ‘Boundary Love’ are tracks born and raised on collective joy, primed for singalongs with mixes of chiming beats and overlapping tones that ultimately build into a sound that Thumpers should trademark right now (get on it chaps). Even when experimenting on sultry sways (‘Caramel’) and the spine-tingling pulls of ‘That Waterfall’, there’s an undeniable world of tastes added into the mix doesn’t just entice for a one-track listen, but is primed for the full album experience.

‘Whipped & Glazed’ is a dazzling package from a duo who’ve managed to distinguish their own sound in the midst of an ocean, and sits as an album that builds on everything they’ve represented and more. Strawberry sprinkles on that? Nah, you’re alright – ‘Whipped & Glazed’ already is a sweet and shimmering delight. ~ Jamie Muir

London's hyper-polished indie pop duo Thumpers were formed by old friends John Hamson, Jr. and Marcus Pepperell, who began playing music together as teenagers but started working in earnest on a new project in 2011 by exchanging ideas through e-mails and various correspondences. These exchanges ultimately gave way to meet-ups for intensive recording sessions, and in 2012 the stew of ideas and recording sketches materialized into Thumpers. The two honed their catchy and hook-heavy pop recordings, eventually catching the ear of Sub Pop, who signed the band on the strength of a few widely-circulated online tracks. Though mostly working just as a duo, Pepperell and Hamson teamed with producer David Kosten for some songs on their debut and extended the live version of the band to include an often rotating cast of players. In 2013 Thumpers played shows opening for Chvrches and Everything Everything, and eventually set out on their own headlining tours. Debut album Galore arrived in early 2014. ~ Fred Thomas

M. Pepperell
John Hamson Jr.


Track List:
01. World Removed 05:38
02. Gargantua 03:40
03. '99' 03:16
04. Wolf Ways 03:09
05. Caramel 03:34
06. That Waterfall 04:43
07. Life All In 03:27
08. Bray 04:33
09. Boundary Loves 04:51
10. Shot Through 04:58