After the release of bassist Jenny Lee Lindberg’s solo debut and a collection of other individual projects for each member, Warpaint return with their highly anticipated third album, Heads Up. Not even a tour with Kurt Vile for drummer Stella Mozgawa and the creation of super group BOSS for vocalist and guitarist Theresa Wayman can seem to distract the Californian four piece’s satisfyingly focused sound.

Serving as the follow-up to their 2014 self-titled release, Heads Up champions versatility. Mingling darker, atmospheric numbers with dancy, more upbeat and catchy tracks, Warpaint attempt to capture their notoriously intense and energetic live performances which have possibly lacked on their heavily produced former records. Brooding opener ‘Whiteout’ and ‘By Your Side’ make way for the poppy single ‘New Song’, with danceable beats and sentiments of joyous confidence – “I have never felt this strong/ Dancing to you all night long’. These vibes are channeled in the foot-tapping funky bass lines of later number ‘So Good’ with its chorus of ‘Uh uh uh uh’. Interestingly, house and trance influences can be heard on the following chill track ‘Don’t Wanna’ and later homage, ‘Dre’.

Heads Up concludes with the ethereal ‘Today Dear’, where the hauntingly beautiful vocals of Emily Kokal and Theresa Wayman combine with emotive and reflective lyrics- “why would you give up right now when you can stay and fight” -sufficing to culminate in a contended and somber resolution. Repeat listeners will be rewarded, as with each playthrough, songs form more clarity and smaller details reveal themselves- the gloomy, haunted house-esque piano solo that lurks in-between verses in ‘By Your Side’ being a good example.

Announced by the band as a ‘mature’ release, Warpaint manage, thanks to Producer Jacob Bercovici, to manufacture a cleanly produced and cleverly crafted record that both highlights their experienced craftsmanship and dives headfirst into realms of euphoric and catchy alt-pop songs.

Jessica Heath