On their long-awaited debut LP PRATTS & PAIN, Australian duo Royel Otis reveals the kaleidoscopic breadth of their indie-rock/pop creations. Embracing and enmeshing — with the help of producer Dan Carey — the energizing spontaneity of their sound with the recording process. The result is a record spiraling with the kind of rollicking hits meant to be heard live, so don’t miss the pair when they play at The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles on May 16th as part of their North American headlining tour.
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The album is named in honor of the South London pub Otis Pavlovic and Royel Maddell frequented, downing pints and shots, searching for lyrical inspiration. Afterward, they’d return to Carey’s home studio to hammer out raw demos that elicited the band’s characteristic breathlessness and surreal idiosyncrasies of their songwriting.
Its opening track “Adored” propels you into the heady lyricism with jubilant kineticism, while the similarly guitar-led “Fried Rice” and “IHYSM” oscillate frantically between jilted yearning and plucky heartache. For the driving drawler “Dasiy Chain,” or the aptly named “Sonic Blue,” they overlay those riffs with a gleaming array of fuzz and synths.
But despite the sublime familiarity of the delectable riffs that Royel Otis has become synonymous with — PRATTS & PAIN also highlights their knack for keeping things fabulously unpredictable. The leisurely melodic meanderings of “Big Ciggie” prove that they don’t need to blitz through anthems to create swooning jams.
Similarly, the jaunty rhythms of “Foam” rumble and romp with an undercurrent of alluring bass, punctuating their deliciously biting words. In “Heading For The Door” glowing tones blink in the background behind a euphonious clamor of cymbals, evoking The Strokes with its rambling but soothing urgency.
Yet it’s the double-whammy of “Sofa Kings” and “Velvet” that seem to embody the very essence of their wayfaring sound: whether it’s delivered as a woozy jangle of guitars or via the callithumpian vault of piano keys — Royal Otis never fails to impart the contagious exuberance their music channels.
Words: Steven Ward
PRATTS & PAIN is out now on all streaming platforms. See Royel Otis at The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles on Thursday, May 16th.
Visit Royel Otis on their website and Instagram to stay updated on new releases and tour announcements.
Royel Otis tour
February 16 – Liberty Hall, Sydney, NSW
February 17 – Torquay Hotel, Torquay, VIC
February 18 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
February 19 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
February 21 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
February 22 – Liberty Hall, Sydney, NSW
February 23 – Kambri at ANU, Canberra, ACT
February 24 – UOW Uni Bar, Wollongong, NSW
March 1 – Lion Arts Factory, Adelaide, SA
March 2 – Freo Social, Fremantle, WA
March 8 – The Tivoli, Brisbane, QLD
March 9 – Miami Marketta, Gold Coast, QLD
March 10 – Solbar, Maroochydore, QLD
March 14 – King Street Bandroom, Newcastle, NSW
April 20 – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory, Irving TX
April 21 – The Resonant Head, Oklahoma City, OK*
April 23 – Amsterdam Bar & Hall, Saint Paul, MN*
April 24 – Lincoln Hall, Chicago, IL*
April 26 – Longboat Hall, Toronto, ON*
April 27 – A&R Music Bar, Columbus, OH*
April 28 – Grog Shop, Cleveland Heights, OH*
May 1 – Racket, New York, NY*
May 2 – Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA*
May 3 – DC9, Washington, DC*
May 4 – Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro, NC*
May 5 – Shaky Knees Festival, Atlanta, GA
May 8 – Parish, Austin, TX
May 9 – Rubber Gloves, Denton, TX*
May 11 – Meow Wolf Denver, Denver, CO*
May 15 – The Rebel Lounge, Phoenix, AZ*
May 16 – The Fonda Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
May 18 – Rickshaw Stop, San Francisco, CA*
May 20 – Mississippi Studios, Portland, OR*
May 21 – The Pearl, Vancouver, BC*
May 22 – Tractor Tavern, Seattle, WA*
May 24 – BottleRock, Napa, CA
May 26 – Boston Calling, Boston MA
* Girl and Girl
Listen to PRATTS & PAIN the new album from Royel Otis below!
PRATTS & PAIN
1. Adored
2. Fried Rice
3. Foam
4. Sonic Blue
5. Heading For The Door
6. Velvet
7. IHYSM
8. Molly
9. Daisy Chain
10. Glory to Glory
11. Always Always
12. Big Ciggie
