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.^[6] 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.^[7][8] It received positive acclaim from critics.

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.^[8] 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”.^[9]

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Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
The Australian	[10]
Clash	8/10[11]
Far Out	[12]
NME	[13]
Rolling Stone Australia	[14]

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Following the album's release, NME called Royel Otis "Australia’s next breakout indie heroes".^[8] 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".^[13] 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.^[11] 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".^[12]

Notes

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

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