After sellout Melbourne and Sydney shows late in 2014, Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders return for a four city tour in May.

Released in November, the band's latest album 'Playmates', became one of the most acclaimed Australian releases of the year. Four star reviews and raves flowed from the likes of The Australian, Tone Deaf and Rolling Stone to Buzzfeed. The latter named it is as one of "The Very Best Australian Albums Of 2014" alongside Chet Faker, Flight Facilities and Sia. Lead by first two singles "Come On Back This Way" and "Her Hands", 'Playmates' was given Feature Album status by Double J, Fbi, 3RRR and 2SER.

The album has been released in North America on the legendary Fat Possum label, home to The Black Keys and Spiritualized as well as the home of archival legends such as Al Green and Townes Van Zandt. The band will be playing it's first run of US shows shortly after that, hitting New York and LA straight after a very busy few days at South By Southwest in Austin. The acclaim in the US has already started with the influential NPR site naming the band as one of the "10 Musicians You'll Be Telling Your Friends About In 2015", and premiering next single "To Keep And To Be Kept", which features Sharon Van Etten sharing vocals.

Playmates was produced by Kim Moyes of The Presets, and mixed by David Wrench (Jungle, FKA Twigs, Caribou, Seekae). The Dreamlanders - Kirin J. Callinan (whose own album Embracism was released in 2013 to acclaim) Laurence Pike (of PVT) and Donny Benet - reunited to play on the record, with Sharon Van Etten contributing vocals to two tracks. The songs pulse with life. Synthesizers and drum machines rub shoulders with glam guitars and pedal steel, while above all, Ladder's granite baritone slashes at love and darkness like a heavy blade.

Reviews for 'Playmates'

TONE DEAF 4 stars "It's tongue-in-cheek, heartbreakingly serious, snarling, restrained, rhythmic and hypnotic. And it's an instant classic."

THE THOUSANDS "It's tender, it's crushing, and it's creepy; nothing else this year will hurt as good as. "

BEAT (Album Of The Week) "This is not a genre record, but a clever and rewarding album that should be making all the Best Australian Releases lists for 2014 in a few months. Highly recommended if you like: music."

THE MUSIC 4 Stars"But it all comes back to that voice: It can be a conspiratorial whisper, an ache in the dark, a desperate need. Playmates presents it with the respect it's owed"

THE AUSTRALIAN 4 stars "Jack Ladder's slow-spoken baritone adds drama to everything he says"

DOUBLE J RADIO Feature Album "The breadth of Ladder's ideas is staggering here, with elements of warped country, synthpop, noise rock and krautrock."

BUZZFEED "The album is a great listen to from start to finish (without shuffle)"