Existentialism, absurdism, nihilism. These are just a few of the cozy themes woven into , the wild second album from Australia's . His hard-to-define 2021 debut, , was a huge critical success in Australia, taking home a quartet of ARIA Awards and winning the Australian Music Prize. Not bad for an album that didn't even make the Top 20. It also set the bar rather high for his follow-up. On , takes a philosophical approach, whipping up a nervy concept album about keeping up the fight and the search for meaning in a bonkers world. What's more, it's largely from the point of view of a cockroach. and may have been 's early inspirations, but is wrought from the literary minds of , and . Musically, the strange collision of experimental post-punk, rap, and R&B that marked his earlier work remains in effect. But where his debut dealt with the black dog of depression, is the caged animal fighting its way out. Strapped to a frantic synth bassline, opener and flagship single "Leaving the Light" is a thriller of a song, setting the tone as the roach dodges and weaves to escape its cruel oppressor. "Better run, there's a god and he's coming for me!" barks a paranoid , using the malevolent deity as a stand-in for everything from environmental disaster to racial injustice. The theme continues on "The Roach," an icy missive which this time marshals the underdog power of its protagonist with lines like "for the pests I'm the great commander (the Roach, the Roach)." The weight of the world can be heard in the frantic tones of 's more uptempo cuts, but breaks rank on "See Ya There," a sweetly soulful track that sighs in its acceptance of defeat ("you're going to hell, I'll see you there"). In spite of its overarching themes of struggle and desperation, there are playful moments, too. The -like groove of "Tied Up!" and its jazzy partner "That's Life (A Swamp)" are downright funky, and "Stuck to the Fan" closes the album on a high note. could have gone any number of ways on his sophomore set, but it's a testament to his artistic conviction that he chose to make something so risky and complex. Even better, he pulled it off. ~ Timothy Monger