Caribou: Our Love

For fans of forward-thinking, heart-elevating psychedelic electronica, Dan Snaith can do no wrong. At least, that's been the case since 2010's career-breaking Swim. Our Love is the follow-up (2012's Jiaolong was released under Snaith's Daphni moniker), and it's obviously been audibly influenced by Swim's success.

Much of Snaith's extensive back catalogue, both as Manitoba and Caribou, focuses on introspection and atmosphere. But with a hit such as Sun in his back pocket, it sounds like the Canadian has realised that he has both the tools and the smarts to get bodies moving on the dancefloor. Extensive touring, both with Radiohead and his own four-piece band, has also paved the way for an unabashedly forthright, danceable album.

That newfound sense of confidence is perceptible on the shuddering beats of the excellent All I Ever Need, the bursts of colour on the Four Tet-esque Julia Brightly and jittery club anthem Mars.

If the title doesn't give it away, the other inspirational factor on Our Love has been relationships. Snaith became a father in 2011, and Can't Do Without You and the title track are infused with tenderness and warmth. The former blooms into life around a repetitive vocal hook, the latter pings and throbs with a grimy zing reminiscent of a cut from the Acid House era.

Snaith's trademark sensitive, soulful voice threads a poignant sense of vulnerability throughout the album, while the excellent Second Chance, a wonderfully wonky number, features his compatriot Jessy Lanza taking the lead. Yet even with the proliferation of emotion and lyrical sensitivity, Snaith never loses sight of what he presumably set out to do: get the masses moving. caribou.fm