More about: happyness

After a brief hiatus, Happyness have released their third album, Floatr. Featuring singles ‘Vegetable’, 'Seeing Eye Dog’, Ouch (yup) and ‘title track’, it’s a dream pop collection of instantly recognisable songs.

The record weaves a lo-fi, quietly beautiful narrative.  Earlier tracks like ‘Milk Float’ and ‘What Isn’t Nurture?’ set up an obvious step-change in the middle of the record with ‘Bothsidesing’. Gentle and inquisitive vocals over a faster melody take the album into a different territory, and ‘Undone’’s guitar lines have a more individual, cleaner tone. It’s one of the more exciting elements of the record, with all instruments taking centre-stage.

A laid-back sound is juxtaposed with the stronger, more meaningful themes of  ‘title track’, a song about self-acceptance, and ‘Vegetable’, a track about picking yourself back up again. ‘Anvil Bitch’ continues the journey into slacker-rock, with a 90s refrain stretched across ‘Ouch (yup)’.  

Floatr has a really strong conclusion in the ambient sounds of ‘(I Kissed the Smile on Your Face)’, and the familiar, cathartic 'Seeing Eye Dog’ draws the album to a close, combining all of the album’s dreamy and melodic elements.

The record has an even more kaleidoscopic feel than previous releases Write In and Weird Little Birthday. At a time where we can’t go outside and enjoy the approaching summer, Floatr brings a misty, sunny atmosphere to your self-isolation.

To say Happyness are an important band is an understatement. Drummer Ash Kenazi performs in drag, subverting mainstream drag artistry with alternative guitar music. But it’s not just Kenazi’s presence as a musician that makes Happyness stand out. It’s also their talent for shifting arrangements and mellow but precise tones. Floatr is great – it’s a welcome return for Happyness and a much-needed album for our times.

Floatr is out now via Infinit Suds.

More about: happyness