When we went to Sydney in November last year to interview Vampire Weekend prior to their secret show at the Oxford Arts Factory, we weren't particularly excited by the prospect. Interested sure, but not really expecting much beyond when we'd seen them play at Splendour in the Grass back in 2008. While their self-titled debut had struck a chord with the masses - as evidenced by the constant singalongs in Byron that day - to be perfectly honest, it had left us a little cold.

How thing's change. We listened to Contra the day before the band's Sydney show, and were surprised to find the emotional connection missing from their debut. The band has pulled at the edges of their sound; unmistakably Vampire Weekend but with percussive deconstructions, elongated diversions and electronic swells and plinks more akin to Madonna circa Material Girl than anything "afro-beat". Tempered by Ezra Koenig's expanding worldview, confidence and those weird, vocal tics, and we have that unlikely of second albums: a highly anticipated LP from a band on the brink, that throws a curveball while still sating the fans. *Golf clap*

It's good. You can listen to it right here on TheVine, down on the right hand column. Go click.

Vampire Weekend's Contra is out now.