Twerps – Range Anxiety

Antipodean jangle that borrows heavily from New Zealand’s finest guitar-manglers in all their scuffed glory, while still doffing its cap to the widescreen wonder of Brisbane’s much-loved Go-Betweens. The latter proves to be The Twerps’ secret weapon, in fact, because no matter how mopey or dopey they try to come across – exhibit A: Back To You’s goofy, Clean-esque shamble – they just can’t sidestep an inherent knack for magnificent pop songs.

De facto frontman Martin Frawley imbues every second of this star performance with a perfect marriage of heartfelt wisdom and languorous cool; equally, Julia MacFarlane’s vocal turn on the understated Shoulders is windswept and adorable where others might settle for cutesy. Deft opener I Don’t Mind highlights their chutzpah, with hooks layered in creeping tension, only to unspool and recoil in some style. The Twerps’ influences may belie their Melbourne roots, but Range Anxiety is bigger and brighter than mere geography could ever hope to be. [Will Fitzpatrick]