Princess Planet – The Ritzland Tapes (2014)

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The electromagnetic fields of Australia must be sprinkled with fairydust because so many great bands emerge from the land, with Princess Planet being the latest group to win my seal of approval.

Made up of singer Ros Crook; guitarist Dave Cottingham; bassist Neil MacPherson; guitarist, keyboardist, and drummer Chris Crookp and drummer Dave Murphy, the band emits an immediately likeable style suspended somewhere between modern rock and old-school soul pop. Pigeonholing aside, Princess Planet is quite unique, as their self-written songs and self-contained mode of delivery vouches for their originality.

The band’s new disc, The Ritzland Tapes is a perfectly realized affair, with each of the five songs bringing something special and inspiring to the table. A springy rocker, couched with energetic choruses, “It’s No Crime” jumps and gyrates to the beat of a super catchy melody, the swirling “Life In A Bubble” adopts a tipsy hip hop posture, and “True Reflections” slinks and smolders with jazzy impressions cropped of shrewd and smoky instrumentation. Wobbly disco-flavored licks duke it out with hard rocking rhythms on “Where Are You,” while “Animal Tracks” skips and skitters to a cool blues-pop vibe highlighted by enthralling chord changes and exciting vocal interplay.

Princess Planet’s rapport is powerful and sincere, which sits well with their firm and tasty chops. Although the band may be disciplined, their songs are given plenty of wiggle room, allowing for ample flexibility. Radiating with bracing gestures, The Ritzland Tapes strings together yesterday’s sounds with today’s innovation in total alignment. Not only does a positive glow shine on the songs, but one can also readily hear and feel Princess Planet’s passion rising from the grooves. Here’s a band that follows their hearts — and succeeds in the process.

Beverly Paterson