Happy People Are Stupid: A Brief Review Of The New EP From High Cameras (Volcano Suns, Mission Of Burma, Jawbox, Shudder To Think, Film School)

Given the resumes of David Kleiler and Adam Wade, it would be real tempting to call High Cameras a super-group. But I won't. And with the mastering here by Bob Weston (Volcano Suns, Shellac), 4 Song EP certainly pounds like the kind of thing that kept me interested in American indie-rock all throughout the Clinton years and beyond.

Add in Jeff Kwong's nimble bass-work and a listener really feels transported back in time to an era when bands like Mission of Burma (another Weston band), or Polvo (a Weston-recorded band), churned up the kind of racket that straddled art-rock and post-punk. "(Daddy Needs) Privacy" is funny too, but it still feels like a punch in the neck. "Creative Professional" mines a similar vein, the shouty vocals from Kleiler sounding a whole lot like those found in any number of classic Volcano Suns sides, even as "German Expressionism" takes things down a notch or two, the rhythm section here riding the hook in the way that will sound familiar to anyone who remembers what Wade did on the early Jawbox releases.

The title of this review comes from "German Expressionism" and in that cut there's the sort of juxtaposition that fuels this EP. With the guitar soaring at moments, and the drums and bass counting out a down-tempo pattern, the whole thing feels like a song that's working against itself, even as the lyrics tell a straightforward story about the joys and perils of film appreciation. It's smart, funny, tightly constructed, and expertly played. And it's concise. That's the key. Every cut on 4 Song EP is like that, and, perhaps thanks to Wade's past in Dischord bands, there's a real economy here, with the musical flourishes kept to a minimum, even as the players exert enough force in the right spots to let you know the extent of their prowess. Combine all that with the Volcano Suns-ish vocals and a listener has a lot to absorb here. Now, let's hope that these players re-convene and record more soon, ideally with Bob Weston again at the deck.

4 Song EP is out now via the link below.

More details on High Cameras via the band's official Facebook page, or their official website.

[Photo: High Cameras Instagram]