8/10

When the group's multi-instrumentalist and producer Rostam Batmanglij left the group in 2016 to pursue his own solo career, the future of Vampire Weekend seemed unsure and unpredictable. While the outfit certainly didn't live or die by his hand, his contributions over the years were an integral part of their sound and direction, and without him present, could lead to their overall demise. Yet while many would see his departure as a setback, the band have seen it as an opportunity to discover new avenues and open themselves up to new collaborations as 'Father Of The Bride' looks set to become their most expansive record to date.

With a whopping 18 tracks to its name, this double album sees them team up with a multitude of guests including The Internet's Steve Lacy, Haim's Danielle Haim, Dave 1 of Chromeo, Dirty Projectors's David Longstreth, Mark Ronson and surprisingly Rostam himself. Since their initial beginnings, Vampire Weekend has been largely a closed affair, with the group sticking firmly to themselves, but with so much talent joining them on this release, the band have been able to create a broad and joyous record that brings back the classic Vampire Weekend sound just as much as it experiments with the light and airy path they have always looked to adopt.

From the start, 'Father Of The Bride' is nothing more than the most uplifting and euphoric 58minutes you will hear all year. With suitably catchy additions such as 'This Life' and 'Harmony Hall' flying the flag for their traditional sound, while 'Sunflower' and 'Big Blue' take them down a more diverse intention, the band have managed to return with an exceptional new full-length, something we can all get behind.