Jack Ladder is a highly respected Australian singer/songwriter who’s worked overtime to transcend comparisons to fellow countryman Nick Cave. While it’s true that his 2011 album Hurtsville felt haunted by Cave’s influence, on Playmates, it’s nearly completely absent, with the rambunctious but beautiful “Reputation Amputation” coming closest with its aggressive drama and deliberately distorted palette. Elsewhere, Bryan Ferry’s Avalon-era Roxy Music comes to mind for the debonair “The Miracle,” whereas the two tracks featuring New Jersey’s indie star Sharon Van Etten are clear album highlights. Powerful stuff.