Surprise Chef - Superb

Surprise Chef’s Superb lives up to its name—a vibrant, playful, and groove-heavy evolution from Australia’s cinematic soul trailblazers. Known for their meticulous studio work, the band shakes things up here with a looser, more spontaneous approach that brings an infectious energy to every track. It’s still richly layered and masterfully played, but with a funkier, more kinetic edge.

“Sleep Dreams” eases in with classic Surprise Chef flair before “Bully Ball” kicks down the door—gritty, percussive, and impossible to ignore. They experiment boldly on “Body Slam,” shifting from lush soul to eerie minimalism with a timpani recorded down the hall, and on “Fare Evader,” they pepper tight rhythms with sci-fi synths. Elsewhere, “Consulate Case” and “Tag Dag” flirt with afro-funk and jazz-funk, raising the tempo without losing precision. Amid the bold moves, they still make space for beauty—“Websites” and “Dreamer’s Disease” are glowing, ethereal highlights. Superb is a joyful leap forward.