Lost Animal – Ex Tropical

Lost Animal – Ex Tropical (Hardly Art)

Lost Animal’s Jarrod Quarrell grew up in Papua New Guinea, and the title of his debut album, Ex Tropical, is how he refers to himself now that he’s based in Melbourne. Facial injuries from a teenage fist fight left Quarrell with a permanently pinched-sounding voice that resembles an effeminate counterpart to Dan Boeckner’s macho snarl. In general, his work as Lost Animal is all about juxtapositions: a band name and an album title that both evoke the idea of being suspended between comfort and discomfort; primitive acoustic instruments like the marimba played off keyboard presets; stream-of-consciousness lyrics atop careful, multilayered compositions; menacing lyrics delivered with a warmth that keeps you coming back for more. This tension between opposing elements makes Ex Tropical an exciting and emotionally versatile listen.
 
by Carly Blair