In late 2009 a bass player, another bass player, and a drummer stepped out of the rhythm section shadows and into the spotlight to realize a vision that combines musical influences ranging from trip-hop and electronica to grunge and punk. With a limited songwriting history, a load of production knowledge, a vision, and a lot of patience, Happy Talk has found their rhythm -- errr..voice. The trio has not entirely abandoned their respective instruments, but have added guitar, soft synths, vocal...
In late 2009 a bass player, another bass player, and a drummer stepped out of the rhythm section shadows and into the spotlight to realize a vision that combines musical influences ranging from trip-hop and electronica to grunge and punk. With a limited songwriting history, a load of production knowledge, a vision, and a lot of patience, Happy Talk has found their rhythm -- errr..voice. The trio has not entirely abandoned their respective instruments, but have added guitar, soft synths, vocals, sampling, and sequencers to the mix in what can readily be described as nu gaze (a genre combining elements of shoegaze and new wave/electronica). Some songs show a heavy 90’s influence (Slint and Rodan come to mind), yet display a revved up, electrified, and pulsing groove that drags listeners into the now. With cool stop/start arrangements, pounding beats, haunting vocal breaks, strange effects and disembodied voices, the most rock driven numbers hit the ear gauzy and dreamily washed out, a little bit shoegazey but still warm and dreampoppy. Other songs slant more to a post-punk sensibility with a more sensual & electronic disposition (the more emotional aspects of Le Tigre merged with the glacial elements of Blonde Redhead, perhaps). The range presented is connected through an undercurrent of seductive and catchy energy that caters to bedroom dancing with a lover or, when you’re both all danced out, the subsequent pillow talk…
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