Happy Songs for Happy People

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Happy Songs for Happy People
Studio album by Mogwai
Released	2003
Recorded	?
Genre	Post-Rock
Length	41:00
Label	PIAS Recordings/Rock Action Records
Producer(s)	Mogwai
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Pitchfork (7.1/10) link
Mogwai chronology
Rock Action (2001)	Happy Songs for Happy People (2003)	Government Commissions: BBC Sessions 1996-2003 (2005)

Happy Songs for Happy People is the fourth full-length studio album by the post-rock group Mogwai. Happy Songs... is an even further evolution of Mogwai's toned down, more electronic sound. Many of the songs are awash in feedback and reverb, and most highlight their mysterious, somewhat insect-like, vocoder effect prominently. Some listeners say the album has an apocalyptic sound; the music is often interpreted as conveying feelings fear and sorrow. The exception comes with the final triumphant blast of cacophony on the last track, "Stop Coming to My House". Although a very guitar-oriented album, with drums and bass mixed low, synths often take the main stage. Strings and piano also make a few appearances.

Mogwai's usual vocalist Stuart Braithwaite does not sing on this album at all; however, Barry Burns ("Hunted by a Freak", "Killing All the Flies") and John Cummings ("Boring Machines Disturbs Sleep") do.

[edit] Track listing

1. "Hunted by a Freak" – 4:18
2. "Moses? I Amn't" – 2:59
3. "Kids Will Be Skeletons" – 5:29
4. "Killing All the Flies" – 4:35
5. "Boring Machines Disturbs Sleep" – 3:05
6. "Ratts of the Capital" – 8:27
7. "Golden Porsche" – 2:49
8. "I Know You Are But What Am I?" – 5:17
9. "Stop Coming to My House" – 4:53

• The CD also contains a demo version of Cubase and the individual tracks for each instrument in "Hunted by a Freak" allowing remixing and reconstructing of the song.
• The pre-release mp3s of this album circulating on the net had a sample of "Happy Tree Friends" cartoon main theme mixed in at the end of the last track. Some of the fans were frustrated buying the released CD afterwards and not finding the sample there.
• The Japanese release of the album contains the bonus track "Sad DC."

Mogwai
Stuart Braithwaite | Dominic Aitchison | Martin Bulloch | John Cummings | Barry Burns
Discography
Albums: Young Team | Come on Die Young | Rock Action | Happy Songs for Happy People | Mr. Beast
Compilations: Ten Rapid | Kicking a Dead Pig | EP+6 | Government Commissions: BBC Sessions 1996-2003 | Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait
Related articles
Rock Action Records | Zidane, un portrait du 21e siècle
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