4037

Happy Family is generally considered to be one of the forefathers of the Japanese zeuhl scene. I don't think I'd necessarily call them a full-on zeuhl act in the same way as Koenjihyakkei or Bondage Fruit, but they've got some zeuhlish moments. This EP is their first release in 11 years, and it's celebrating both Cuneiform Recording's 40th anniversary, as well the band's 37th. The four instrumental cuts here are full of jazzy licks, wonky themes, and surprising twists. "Pygmalion" is punchy and peppy, and "Hypocrisy" sees the band dip their toes into something noisy and metallic. "The Flying Man" features jagged guitar and piano riffing in odd meters, and the album-closing "Itchu" leans the most into their avant-garde influences.

Review originally published here: theeliteextremophile.com/2025/06/02/odds-ends-june-2-2025/

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