When Wet Leg splashed down in 2021 with the seemingly nonsensical manic pop thrill of “Chaise Lounge,” they could have easily afterwards retreated just as quickly back to their Isle of Wight home to never be heard from again. Fortunately, it turned out to be just a drop in the bucket, as evidenced by the band’s self-titled debut full-length, released at the beginning of the following year, which was full of similarly delectable indie pop.

Still, that didn’t mean that the youngsters would have “the difficult second album” in them. or necessarily even care to make the attempt. But the band returned this month with Moisturizer (Domino Recording Co.), a definitive answer to any lingering questions about Wet Leg’s long-term legitimacy. The record opens with “CPR,” a tainted love song saturated with fuzzy riffs that asks, “Is it love or suicide?” This kind of ill-directed infatuation is a reoccurring topic on the record as singer Rhian Teasdale explores desire from both sides of the equation, one minute positing “You wanna fuck me, I know most people do,” on “Mangetout,” and the next admitting, “Every night I fuck my pillow, I wish I was fucking you,” on “Pillow Talk.” Fortunately, the record is as catchy as it is provocative. “Catch These Fists” stands out in this regard, with refrains like “I don’t want your love, I just want to fight,” paired with the kind of post-punk disco that made “Take Me Out” and “Date with the Night” classics. With Moisturizer, Wet Leg proves they’re deserving of not only the attention (wanted or otherwise) but also to be lavished with praise.