Vampire Weekend: ‘Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa’

With all the talk around this band about polyrhythm’s and Afrobeat, one is inclined to think of no one more than David Byrne’s Talking Heads. However, in truth Vampire Weekend, and particularly on this single, sound nothing like that New Wave nervy strangeness and so much like the kind of affably silly warmth that defines much of Paul Simon’s post-'Graceland' output.

'Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa', leaving aside its somewhat arcane title, is an unsophisticated three and a half minutes comprised mostly of joy and features many decorative touches. With a candied guitar line zipping all around the verse, accompanied by soft slaps of percussion, the song is an instantly disarming affair and utterly charming.

Released on 18th August 2008 by XL.

Written by Richard Wood.