Genre/Influences: Electro-pop, body-pop.
Background/Info: French electro-pop formation Happiness Project doesn’t release new work on a regular basis, but their recently released “Big Cities”-EP was a teaser to announce their third full length album.
Content: Happiness Project has this typical BOREDOMproduct touch, which is characterized by space-like sequences and a vintage sound approach. Next to the already familiar EP-title song “Big Cities” we can discover new tracks, on which the band switches from harder, body-pop driven songs to quieter and even dreamy-like electro-pop pieces. The tracklist mixes danceable cuts and moody-like songs. There also is a cool twist between male- and female vocals.
+ + + : Happiness Project is a band with a very own sound, which I however directly link to other label mates such as Celluloide and Dekad. But this is something different, sometimes harder, carried by solid bass lines, astral bleeping arrangements, dry snares and a production, which generally speaking has something pretty retro-like. I especially enjoy the harder cuts and want to tip “Sweet Heart Of Mine”.
– – – : I’m less convinced by the softer cuts. It’s not that they’re bad and/or unaccomplished, but Happiness Project sounds more convincing when producing a harder and menacing sound.
Conclusion: This is the first new studio album in six years and it definitely feels like a relief to have this band back with new songs. This is a diversified and fully enjoyable opus.
Best songs: “Sweet Heart Of Mine”, “A Better Claim”, “Tell Me”, “Big Cities”, “Mutation”.
Rate: (8).
Artist: www.happinessproject.fr / www.facebook.com/HappiProjectLabel: www.boredomproduct.online.fr / www.facebook.com/boredomproduct
About Happiness Project
Happiness Project is the French trio of Christelle Fournioux (vocals), Fred Tuyeras (vocals, machines) and Cyrille Tuyeras (machines, bass). The band self-released its debut album, “Remove Or Disable,” in 2008, before signing to BOREDOMproduct and releasing “9th Heaven” in 2012. “Mutation,” reviewed here, marked the trio's first album in six years and features contributions from labelmates JB of Dekad and Member U-0176 of Celluloide, as the band discussed in a Click Interview with Side-Line.
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