A particular shortcoming of previous Hungry Kids of Hungary material was that it was reactionary: it was always pretty obvious what the Brisbane quartet were listening to when they wrote specific songs. ‘Scattered Diamonds’ off the Kids’ last EP Mega Mountain bore more than a striking melodic resemblance to Vampire Weekend, whereas ‘Old Money’ had The Beatles written all over it. They were both beguiling songs, don’t get me wrong, but the Hungry Kids of Hungary were wearing their influences stridently on their guitar straps, intentional or not.

Touted as a harbinger for a forthcoming debut long player, ‘Let You Down’ is brimming with the kind of sunny, incandescent pop melodies that have characterised their music so far. But this time, the influences are slightly more subtle, ranging from modern indie-pop exponents like Phoenix right back to The Beach Boys or even a band like The Hollies, without sounding derivative or imitative. As a pop song, ‘Let You Down’ ticks all the boxes. A tightly written tune, the beat is infectious and intractable, consistently thumping away underneath clean staccato guitar riffs and beautifully executed vocal harmonies.

While ostensibly it might sound like a bright number, ‘Let You Down’ is Dean McGrath’s tale of a protracted break-up. It's about a girl who’s struggling to end a relationship without hurting her boyfriend. With a chorus as simple and catchy as, “She wants to let you down easy”, it’s heartache you can dance to.

by Dom Alessio