Pratts & Pain

Pratts & Pain is the debut studio album by Australian guitar-pop duo Royel Otis. It was released on 16 February 2024 via Ourness, and debuted at number 10 on the ARIA Albums Chart. The album's release was supported by five singles, starting with "Adored" and "Fried Rice", as well as tour dates around Australia, North America and Europe. It received positive acclaim from critics. A deluxe edition, with two bonus tracks, was released digitally in May 2024.

Composition
The album's title is derived from Pratts & Payne, a British pub in London that the duo would visit during recording sessions at producer Dan Carey's studio, Mr Dans. In an interview with Junkee, lead guitarist Royel Maddell said the songs were not written in the environment which they were recorded, which lead to the album sounding darker: "If you record something in Byron [Bay], it sounds beachy and stuff like that. And then recording in South London with Dan, it definitely sounds a bit more dreary and grey”.

Critical reception
Following the album's release, NME called Royel Otis "Australia’s next breakout indie heroes". Reviewing for the magazine, Andy Brown said Pratts & Pain was a "sublime debut" with "a sense of adventure", calling it "destined for festival season greatness – for cool-breeze drives, warm summer parties, and late-night singalongs". Joshua Khan of Clash said the album was a sonic leap forward for the band, containing a "remarkably diverse" sound that sets them apart from other indie rock bands. Writing for Far Out, Aimee Ferrier was less positive, calling it a lacklustre release with forgettable tracks, making for "an inevitable addition to a landmine of average indie pop records".

Track listing
Notes


 * Digital and streaming versions include "Sofa King" from their 2023 EP Sofa Kings in the standard track listing.

Personnel
Royel Otis


 * Royel Maddell – lead guitar, bass guitar, synths
 * Otis Pavlovic – vocals, guitar, piano

Additional personnel


 * Yuri Shibuichi – drums
 * Archie Carey – drums
 * Rob Brinkmann – writing ("Fried Rice")
 * James Ford – writing ("Molly")
 * Chris Collins – writing ("Foam", "Daisy Chain"), producer ("Daisy Chain"), additional engineering
 * Dan Carey – producer, mixing (all tracks); writing ("Heading for the Door", "Glory to Glory")
 * Alexis Smith – mixing ("Daisy Chain"), engineer ("Foam")
 * Alan Moulder – mixing ("Foam")
 * Ed Quinn – additional production; writing ("IHYSM")
 * Adele Phillips – additional engineering
 * Christian Wright – mastering
 * Adriane Neshoda – graphic design
 * Kiran Best – graphic design
 * Georges Antoni – cover photograph