"Although it's only seven tracks and about 20 minutes in length, 'Happy' is captivating, drawing the listener in with so much intensity that it's as if time stands still the moment you hit play."
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Must Listen
By Bruna Cucolo
Recommended songs: “Be Your Drug,” “The Things We Knew Last Night,” and “Call Your Name”
Back in 2013, four musicians came together in Liverpool and created an indie-rock band. Since then, they have put out a few pieces of work – all wonderful to people’s ears. This band, known as Circa Waves, have just put out their fourth record Happy – an exciting way to start off the new year. Happy is one of two sides of the future record Sad Happy that is set to be released on March 13th.
Listening to this side of the full album makes the listener want more at the end, and the good news is that there will be more soon. But for now, Happy alone gives listeners all the bubbly feels from its lyrics and its sound. This is surely an album that makes listeners want to, if not actually, get up and dance along to, yet it is also lowkey enough to play in the background. Although it’s only seven tracks and about 20 minutes in length, Happy is captivating, drawing the listener in with so much intensity that it’s as if time stands still the moment you hit play.
The album’s first track “Jacqueline” opens with a vibey instrumental that lasts right under ten seconds. Right away it is intriguing and makes the listener wonder what is to come on the rest of the album. Suddenly, a drumbeat hits and vocalist Kieran Shudall begins singing with his unique voice, as if welcoming in whoever is listening to this song. It is easygoing yet with a punch, the chorus giving listeners the chance to get up and dance along to its infectious beat. “Jacqueline” is a fun introduction to the record that gives listeners a warm welcome.
Track three is titled “Move to San Francisco” and here Shudall wonders if he should move to the new city. Someone is telling him to move there, but he seems to be doubting the idea of it. The lyrics, “You say you wanna go to San Francisco, but I, I just don’t know” shows just that. The song is upbeat and the mere mention of moving to the infamous city in California surely makes listeners want to up and move there themselves.
“The Things We Knew Last Night” is a shift in sound and mood. Slower than the rest of the tracks, this one is suitable to put on for background music when working on homework or doing a task that requires a lot of focus. By that, this particular track gives off a type of comfort with its acoustic guitar and in-depth lyrics that can be much needed to many, such as, “So hold on tight to someone strong ‘cause everyone needs someone.” When listening to the album in full, and not on shuffle, it can be a sort of breather for those that may have been dancing and singing along since the very beginning.
The ending track of Happy is quite a peculiar one. “Love You More” leads with an instrumental that matches the album’s artwork – it is dark, mysterious, and stirs up some emotions. Prior to this song, the album is more lively with its sound, offering lively beats and cheery hooks. But then Shuddall’s opening lyrics, “Darling, I love you more than you could ever love me,” gives off the impression that a person in his life has given him hope and he is forever grateful. “And you’re the only guiding light…to get my feet back on the ground” proves that the person has helped him. The overall sound feels as though it is saying “farewell, until next time,” much like as if one is watching the last scene of a movie and the characters are drifting away. “Love You More” is an excellent way to close the album, especially with its dream-like ending, giving a glance into what could be heard on the Sad side of this record.
Happy is an overall buoyant album, specifically with its sound (hence the title). Once listening to it as it comes to an end, there might be a desire to want to reflect back on it or back on your own self, especially after the last song. Then it is back to listening to the album all over again and “Jacqueline” picks up and gets the joyfulness going one more time. With this being only the first of two sides of Sad Happy, one cannot be patient enough to wait for the rest.
If just this is so appealing to the ears, imagine what the rest will be like. Each song is not like the other, but the combination of them fits well together and provides listeners something that leaves them at the edge of their seats wondering what the next track will sound like. With an easygoing rock sound and some indie melodies included, the unexpected tracks take you on an unpredictable yet flowing-like ride throughout.
