Happyness - Happyness EP

by Benjamin Howarth

published: 28 / 1 / 2014

Label: Weird Smiling
Format: CDS

Offbeat but immaculately crafted debut EP from London-based three-piece, Happyness

Review

Happyness are a trio of childhood friends from London, who have caught the ear with gigs around the country. They played their first shows before they had even agreed on a name for the group. Early days, then. The four songs on this EP are all they have released so far – but they are more than enough to suggest a band worth following. The opening track 'It's On You' brings to mind Broken Social Scene, shifting between a breezy chorus and spoken word verses. Sample lyrics include “I’m an anarchist, communist, feminist, phlebotomist... yeah, right” and “I can't get away.” What makes you think I'd want to anyway? I just want John Coltrane's retirement plan”. Meaningless, maybe, but certainly imaginative. Pavement are clearly an influence. The remaining three tracks are each progressively longer than the last, each pitching their tent somewhere between Yo La Tengo and Sebadoh. The wry lyrical style continues, with the line “I'm wearing Win Butler's hair/There's a hairless singer of a Montreal rock band somewhere,” an example of the offbeat, stream-of-consciousness lyrical style. Around engaging bass and drum patterns, the guitar lines chime alongside occasional atmospheric effects. When reviewing debut efforts from young bands, it's always tempting to focus on what they might go on to do, and ignore what they have actually done. What we can say is that these four songs are all immaculately crafted. Fans of the aforementioned bands will lap this up.