Announced earlier this year, Simple Forms is the third full-length from Auckland’s The Naked And Famous (the first since 2013’s In Rolling Waves). Staying true to its beloved from, the band delivers an energetic indie rock / electronica hybrid, with the songs on the 10-tracker also touched up with synth-pop bits, something that will really hit hard on festival stages for the quintet. “Higher” is the lead single, and Alisa Xayalith’s powerful chorus, with lyrics that possibly allude to her breakup from band member Thom Powers, steals the show. Followed by “The Water Beneath You,” which is characterized by driving drums and pulsating synth work, Simple Forms also contains highlights like “The Runners,” “Rotten,” “Laid Low,” and “Last Forever.”

• music label: Somewhat Damaged 2016

reviewed by donut savage 10/2016