On his second album, 2021's O.M. Days, Raf Rundell once again proves himself a jovial jack of many trades. Like he did on his first album, Stop Lying, Rundell -- known as one-half of 2 Bears alongside Hot Chip's Joe Goddard -- shows a basic mastery of a wide range of styles that would all fit nicely underneath the post-rave British dance music umbrella. With a handful of guests along for the ride, he takes the listener on a rollicking journey that leads from the philosophical funk of "More U Know," which sounds like a deep cut by the Thoughtful Mondays, to the bubbling back garden psychedelic ballad "Butter Gold," which has the feel of a Primal Scream song if they made an album called Whisperdelica. In between these two wonderful displays of up-to-date nostalgia, Rundell delivers some squeaky-clean synth pop with the help of Man the Echo ("Lap of Luxury''), gives Baxter Dury a run for his louche change ("Miracle"), and visits the middle of the Venn diagram where soft rock meets disco on the ultra-smooth "Turning Tides." He knocks the stuffing out of every style he takes a swing at and occasionally rises to levels that his erstwhile mentor Andrew Weatherall would certainly appreciate. The shimmering "Monsterpiece" has a deeply Balearic groove and dubby waves of guitars, features Rundell's best vocal, and inspires goofy, Bez-like dance moves; "Always Fly" is a soaring midtempo late-night R&B duet with Terri Walker that feels like something Alexander O'Neal and Cherrelle might have released in the '80s, complete with turntable scratches and deluxe piano runs. The only track that doesn't stick the landing is the trip-hop-inspired "Down," but even that song has enough charm -- and weirdness -- to stand up to repeated listens. Rundell may forever be known first for his connection to Hot Chip, but if he puts out more records as skilled and fun as O.M. Days, that may be the second thing on his CV instead. ~ Tim Sendra, Rovi

1		More U Know
2		Down
3		Monsterpiece
4		Ample Change (feat. Lias Saoudi)
5		Always Fly (feat. Terri Walker)
6		Luxury (feat. Man & The Echo)
7		Miracle
8		The Ides of Albion
9		Turning Tides
10		Butter Gold (feat. Andy Jenkins)

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