Austra – Olympia

What Sophomore Slump?

Electronica band Austra are back with their sophomore album, Olympia, on Domino Records. Originally formed in 2009 in Toronto, Austra contains band members Katie Stelmanis, Maya Postepski and Dorian Wolf. Their first record, Feel It Break (released on Paper Bag), was a favorite of many critics’ end-of-the-year lists in 2011. It brought electronica back to the ’80s synth feel everyone loves, with plenty of pop fun to keep casual listeners and junkies alike satisfied. This leaves expectations high for Olympia, which drops today in all your favorite record stores…or, you know, iTunes accounts if you’ve dropped the purist thing (but please don’t).

Olympia is definitely its own, stand alone album. It doesn’t have the playfulness or classic sound of Feel It Break, but it’s still a blast to experience. Each song has a vein of sexual energy, full of lusty sounds that drip from your speakers. Lead singer Katie Stelmanis’s voice draws you in and keeps you wrapped throughout the whole record. She truly is the powerhouse behind the band’s dynamic. The maturity found on Olympia is also something to commend. They sound more refined, confident – they’ve grown into themselves as a band and the results leave you appreciating their solidity.

Austra are defining themselves as accessible, solid electronica. They have room to grow and their catchy tunes will earn them a solid fan base eagerly following their growth. Olympia has all the makings of a staple summer album for clubs, an end-of-the-year album for critics, and a long-lasting house party favorite for parties for years to come. So, get going to the nearest record store (or iTunes account) and pick up an album that is sure to deliver. But really, hit up the local record store first….