Album Review: Papa Vs Pretty - White Deer Park

Rather than filling the shoes left by debut United In Isolation, Sydney's Papa Vs Pretty have taken some time to gently tiptoe from the past, with key moments of second record White Deer Park carving their own place in the heart. All 12 full-length tracks (a record of 14 with introduction and interlude) are doused with frontman Thomas Rawle's gritty belt, flipping to an honest, crisp and enthralling falsetto: welcome familiar sounds of 2011.

White Deer Park does have its near misses – Rawle's voice often overpowers the song's musicality and alternatively, flimsy lyricism is shielded by interesting harmonics (Rain Check). That being said, the hits are a complete bullseye. Sliding comfortably into '90s pop-rock, Suburban Joan Of Arc intensifies from pure enjoyment to a soaring conclusion, only to be outdone by anchors of the album's second half, While I'm Still Young and Dementia Praecox, revealing a delicate, poignant weight where sliding into a similar pattern appeared probable.

The true success of White Deer Park is first single My Life Is Yours, a sophisticated narrative of lost love. Delving deep into passion and doubt, Rawle's vocals are excruciatingly tender, possessing an honesty not altogether found in To Do or Smother, additions that instead encapsulate Papa Vs Pretty's capacity for shredding rock'n'roll.

White Deer Park is surely a fan favourite, but equipped with certain gems, it also has the potential to move anyone who has experienced life's mishaps. A healthy progression from an album that seemed impossible to top.