Waifish indie boys Peace are about to return with the follow
up to their 2013 debut, In Love. Similarly optimistic in title, Happy People is
what the media would call the ‘difficult second’ album, yet Peace have managed
to create something that feels easy and natural. The album, which juxtaposes
unhappy lyrics with happy melody, is full of buoyant beats and joyful vibes:
the trademark sound of the indie rock ‘n’ roll they are so insistent on keeping
alive.
“I’m just trying to change the world you live in” croons
surprise heartthrob of the last year Harry Koisser on opening track O You; an
optimistic statement and one which this album probably won’t fulfill. Songs like
Gen Strange take you back to an era previous and have you dancing around in a
daydream haze and the gorgeous Money has you singing along like you’re part of
the Brummie quartet yourself. A lot of indie rock is all guitars and bravado
but Happy People is more than that. It’s clever, coy and incredibly catchy. The
mix of past and present grooves removes you from your current concept of indie
rock and has you re-evaluate it, helping you find something far more exciting.
“I wish I had perfect skin, I wish I was tall and thin, I
wish I wore gorgeous clothes” pleads Koisser on the iridescent Perfect Skin,
and then there’s I’m A Girl which simply oozes coolness. It’s bigger and bolder
songs like these that really bring this album to your attention. Yes, there’s
songs like title track Happy People and Under the Moon which have you wishing
the formula for this album was the same as it was for In Love but overall,
Happy People feels like the album Peace should have been brave enough to make
from the start.
8/10
Listen to: Gen Strange, Perfect Skin
Peace are currently on tour now and throughout March across the UK.
This review is also available in print in the February edition of Quench Magazine.
No comments:
Post a Comment