A Whole New Shape by Happyness (Single)

“Dinosaur Jr defending an onslaught of Yo La Tengo’s sombre wash”

College rock revivalists Happyness return with their new single ‘A Whole New Shape’ and show that their potential’s still keen

ast year South London indie-rockers Happyness released their debut album Weird Little Birthday, which quickly saw them cast as the next in a long line of bands to join the college rock pantheon. Returning now with new single A Whole New Shape, they show that they’ve lost none of the charm that won your affection first time round.

Coming out of the blocks with a bass riff that’s one-part Death From Above 1979 and another Lou Barlow, the song then shifts into a zone that sees Dinosaur Jr defending an onslaught of Yo La Tengo’s sombre wash, with the vocals taken from the Tim Wheeler school of slackerdom. Unlike Yo La Tengo, though, the sobriety seems less innate and if anything it’s disarming, with a more chipper feel ringing throughout A Whole New Shape.

Despite the heavy expectation that hangs around Happyness, there’s a lightness to A Whole New Shape that suggests the trio are more than okay with the hype that sounds them, and that they carry no weight in spite of it. With a US tour just round the corner, this could be the sound of Happyness taking that next step into the college rock big league.

Verdict: Happyness keep on track to indie-rock excellence

Damien Girling

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.