Playmates

Jack Ladder is a highly respected Australian singer/songwriter who’s worked overtime to transcend comparisons to fellow countryman Nick Cave. While it’s true that his 2011 album *Hurtsville* felt haunted by Cave’s influence, on *Playmates*, it’s nearly completely absent, with the rambunctious but beautiful “Reputation Amputation” coming closest with its aggressive drama and deliberately distorted palette. Elsewhere, Bryan Ferry’s *Avalon*-era Roxy Music comes to mind for the debonair “The Miracle,” whereas the two tracks featuring New Jersey’s indie star Sharon Van Etten are clear album highlights. Powerful stuff.