HAPPY SONGS FOR HAPPY PEOPLE

I haven't heard all of this Scottish band's albums, but of the ones I have heard this is the most enjoyable and consistent. The album title is pretty funny considering the music is not really happy sounding, but it is neither dark or depressing either. Generally moody guitar-oriented post-rock with some electronics and string instruments added. There are vocals here but they are mostly processed through some computer program; the same one(s) that Radiohead used for Kid A it seems. The actual lyrics are hard to make out.

"Hunted By A Freak" is the best song. Very melodic and emotional. Love the vocals here. Great use of cello and organ in this song. Builds to such a great crescendo with the vocals and drums standing out. "Moses? I Amn't" opens with lovely synth and some guitar noises and cello join in. Some minimal drum machine programming later. Short but sweet. "Kids Will Be Skeletons" is in typical post-rock territory. This song reminds me of U2 or Radiohead for some reason. "Killing All The Flies" is more typical post-rock but much more interesting. More processed vocals here. The singing gets more melodic in places. Nice violin. In the middle gets louder and heavier briefly before mellowing out again and then the drums stop.

"Boring Machines Disturbs Sleep" has not one but two voices that are actually *not* processed, sometimes singing in harmony. Even though the vocals have not been altered in any way, I still can't understand what they are singing about. The music itself is nothing special. "Ratts Of The Capital" is the heaviest song and you can listen to this here on PA. Starts out with almost folky guitar playing before bass and drums enter. Some marimba-like sounds done on guitar strings. Gets heavier and more intense in the middle. Goes into an actual riff when the song is at it's noisiest. Gradually gets softer with this riff still going. "I Know You Are But What Am I?" is based around repeated piano notes. Some synth and drum machine join in. One of the more interesting songs here.

"Stop Coming To My House" starts with some cello, violin and electronic percussion before some synth joins. Then atmospheric guitars before distorted drums enter. Gets noisier. Some studio altered sounds and synth to end it. Some CD versions have the bonus track "Sad DC." It's nothing too special. What little I have heard of later albums didn't impress me much. This is alot more consistent and musically interesting than the first few albums. Happy Songs For Happy People could be a good introduction to Post-Rock, but don't expect most Post-Rock to sound like it. One of the better Post-Rock albums released in the 2000s. 4 stars.