Miike Snow, Happy To You

Back in 2009, I often frequented My Space's Transmissions. Transmissions was a great series of studio sessions by various bands. Unfortunately, Transmissions is no longer being produced. One great discovery for me through those sessions was my introduction to the Swedish band Miike Snow. At the time, Miike Snow had just released their self titled debut album. It was a great album, but one that I really appreciated after watching them perform live.

Miike Snow, the self described "Three Headed Band with the One Man name," has said that the studio is their home. On their first album, you could certainly tell that this was the case. As a band with a strong electo-pop, dance music sound, the songs felt more constructed than created. While they were very successful and engaging, they sounded fairly sterile and lacked what I can only describe as a heartbeat or warmth. Then I saw the band perform a handful of their songs on their Transmissions' session. Same songs, very different feel. In this live session, the songs popped, and took on a completely different life. I was hooked. That was two years ago.

Now after more than a year in the studio, the band is back with their second album, Happy To You. From the opening moments of the first track, Enter The Jokers Lair, one gets the sense that this is going to be a very different album from their debut. The band had said that writing and recording their debut album had come in fits and starts. Lead singer Andrew Wyatt said "Nobody really had any expectations with the first album, We knew we wanted to make a record but we didn’t know anything beyond that." In order to ensure that their second album was not simply an "accidental album," the band moved to Stockholm and into their own studio to focus on the creative process. 

Once in the studio the band said that the songs came thick and fast as they worked together, and alone, and in rotation. Band member Christian Karlsson said "We passed the torch in a different way this time. We were working on more than one song at a time, and working together on everything. I liked that – then you’re able to experiment when no one else is around. I’d get there in the morning and Andrew had been there all night, and I could continue. Then when I leave he comes back… It definitely changed the dynamic of the songs and the songwriting.” 

Another change in both the songwriting and recording process was the inclusion of an arsenal of instruments and musicians, including string, brass, and woodwinds. The result of experimenting with new sounds and instruments created what the band called a "ceaseless sense of adventure" to the album. "Organic meets electronic, whistling meets raving, and no guitars allowed." 

 Enter The Jokers Lair   

Getting back to the band's Transmissions' session....what I loved about that session can be felt throughout this new album....there is warmth...and depth. Happy To You is a fully realized creative achievement for the band with songs that are big, bold, playful, and sonically expansive. It not only makes for a wonderful listening experience, it make me really exciting to see what the band will do next. This is definitely one of my favorite albums of the year to date.