One pic of the Brisbane-area band Full Power Happy Hour made me worried that the band was one of those wacky groups, the kind who'll break out an electric violin or something. I was wrong. Their sound is not heavy by any means, but nor is it silly, despite the fun group name. The self-titled debut from these folks is out on Friday via Coolin' By Sound, and it's one of this weeks' best releases.
"Heart Fell Out" is achingly lovely, Alex Campbell's vocals conveying so much and so simply, while "Old Mind of Mine" made me think of both The Mekons (when Sally Timms was singing) and The Swimming Pool Q's (for those smart enough to remember them). Full Power Happy Hour favor an alt-country approach, but it's a light one, with none of these players leaning too hard into their influences. The music on this self-titled debut is uniformly wonderful, with each too having a nice, easy charm, even if the subject matter is heartfelt.
Full Power Happy Hour's music should please those who like Neko Case, as well as those who love The Go-Betweens. There's a lot to praise here, beyond Campbell's vocals, with the playing mixing folk touches up with elements of Americana. And, it needs to be repeated just how perfectly pitched this material is. A number like "Crying Over Stitches", with its faintly gospel-vibe in the backing vocals, is elegantly touching, combining the poetry of heartache with a sliver of hope. Less ramshackle than The Mekons, and less twang-y than some country acts, the material on Full Power Happy Hour is very, very good. I can't imagine someone not loving this whole record as much as I did.
Full Power Happy Hour is out on Friday via Coolin' By Sound.
More details on Full Power Happy Hour via the band's Facebook page.
[Photo: Marnie Vaughn]