The duo has a long-standing and proud tradition in the world of rock. Be it slash ’n’ bash or elegant acoustic, there’s a flavor out there for nearly everyone. However, one of the most common elements is most groups’ recordings seem to be the sum of their parts, which is to say that most duos sound like, well, duos. Thus, it’s a bit of a shock to find that Galore, the debut album from Thumpers, is the product of UK duo Marcus Pepperell (vocals, guitar, and piano) and John Hamson Jr. (vocals, bass, and drums).

It’s a shock because Galore sounds as full-bodied and robust as a record made by a four-piece or larger ensemble. Instead of just sticking with what could be physically pulled off with two people simultaneously, Thumpers have gone for an expansive approach. The drums have the prominence of a lead instrument, but they aren’t the main part of the show. That would be the dual lead vocals that weave in out of each other, while background vocals form an ethereal chorus. And when other vocalists join Thumpers on select tracks—for example, fellow duo Summer Camp on “Now We Are Sixteen” and Pepperell’s sisters on “Unkind (A Tougher Love)”—it fits seamlessly into the proceedings.

In general, Thumpers sound like the sprightly siblings of Los Campesinos or Stars with a smidgen of Dirty Projectors. But there’s a Pet Sounds vibe that lives in the way the vocals and instruments are arranged on Galore. It’s not in the harmonies, but how each song seems to be saturated with sound and ideas. Still, the arrangements are never cluttered and show the power of using the studio as an extra instrument. Lyrically, there’s a similar type of yearning and amber-coated nostalgia of youth that would be suitable for scoring another edition of Endless Summer. Thumpers manage to be upbeat without being twee, nailing a balance that has tripped up so many other bands, duo or otherwise.