From humble tape-deck funk jams to cinematic soul world-builders, Surprise Chef have always thrived in the margins, in those spontaneous, groove-drenched spaces where music isn't overthought, just felt. On Superb, the Melbourne instrumental outfit stretch out even further with their most adventurous and joyous record yet. Formed in 2017 with little more than a love for dusty grooves and analogue vibes, Surprise Chef has evolved into a true force in modern soul and funk. Their first LP, All News Is Good News, introduced a sound that was contemplative and groove-heavy, imagine David Axelrod jamming with the Meters on the set of a ‘70s noir film. Since that first album, they’ve earned props from heavyweights like Questlove and DJ Nu-Mark and even found themselves sampled by Ghostface Killah and Rich Brian.

Now, after the heady, haunting experience of live-scoring the 1971 cult Aussie classic film Wake In Fright in 2024, Superb represents a return to spontaneity, and it shows. “This was a real shift in process for us,” says guitarist Lachlan Stuckey. “We wanted to embrace the unbridled joy that inspired us when we first started making music.”

That joy pulses through every moment of Superb, from the eerie, swelling tension of opener “Sleep Dreams” to the percussive gut-punch of “Bully Ball.” Here, drums crash like waves under a glockenspiel-and-vibraphone haze, while keys and bass grind with cinematic intensity. It’s the band at their heaviest and most hypnotic. Elsewhere, tracks like “Body Slam” shapeshift mid-song from velvety groove to psychedelic freakout, while “Fare Evader” infuses airtight funk with a sci-fi sound design that would make Sun Ra smirk. There’s playfulness too. “Consulate Case” and “Tag Dag” flirt with jazz-funk and dancefloor rhythms, and “Websites” brings a flicker of electronic cool to their analog soul.

Superb is a portrait of a band in deep creative sync. These are players who trust each other implicitly, and that chemistry radiates from every note. You don’t call an album Superb unless you know you can back it up. And they do, track after track. Superb is vibrant, spontaneous, and steeped in soul, a showcase for the power of groove and the freedom that comes when artists stop overthinking and just play.