8/10

Since their earliest origins, Hippo Campus have always been a band exploring the fringes of the indie-rock sphere. While maintaining plenty of traditional tropes within their sound, there has always been this adventurous thread running through their work as they aim to create a direction that is both distinctive yet familiar in equal measure. But leading into this new collection, it feels like they are exploring a far more diverse ideal than we have heard before, and now return with their third studio album 'LP3', a record that stands out as one of their most ambitious offerings to date.

While there remain hints to the older Hippo Campus on here, much of 'LP3' sees them fondle about with an electronic base and broader production, giving it a far more technicolour feel. Thrown head first into this new and dynamic atmosphere, the band make light work of their latest venture and manage to create a series of songs that still maintain plenty of the fresh and upbeat tones they are known for. There is this wonderfully compelling dimension to this new release, as if every moment or track has its own distinctive surprise, keeping us on our toes and exciting us throughout.

They have never been ones to lose momentum within their catalogue, and 'LP3' shows some of their most vibrant efforts in their glittering catalogue. A bright and spacious full-length that builds upon everything before, and alludes to what we can expect from them next as well.