Mondo Cozmo - Plastic Soul

The Guardian 80

(Island)

Not every hopeful is lucky enough to get a third shot at success on a major label, but on the basis of Plastic Soul, Philadelphia-born, LA-based Josh Ostrander deserves it. He came close with Laguardia and Eastern Conference Champions in the 00s and now, a decade of part-time gardening jobs on, comes his genre-straddling debut as Mondo Cozmo. It’s wonderfully infectious, with echoes of Spiritualized (the euphoric Shine), Bob Dylan’s vocal delivery (most notably on Hold on to Me) and Achtung Baby-era U2 (Higher), all while retaining a strong thread of individuality. Throughout, there’s a maximalist joy at play, ideas tumbling over one another, reaching their apotheosis on the bombastic and emotionally draining Thunder. Third time lucky?