Happiness – 66ft. melodies

Release date: 03-10-2007; Label: Dynasty records
By: Elvira Visser

  Happiness is a Finnish band that just released their debut album “66ft
  Melodies” in Finland on October 3rd. With this album they leave a clear
  footprint behind. They make clear that music is not a joke to them and that
  their song writing takes a serious note. The band likes to sing about topics
  that make you think, but most of all they want (you) to have a good time. 

  The band consists of Alex Descargues (vocals), Mikko Pietinen (drums), Jussi
  Korhonen (bass), Hans Hansen and Antti Eräkangas (both guitar). About their
  own lyrics bass player Jussi says: “Sure some of our songs might be a bit
  dark and there is weird stuff on our album and in the lyrics, but there is some
  sick and weird stuff going on in the world as well”.

  What I like about this band is that they do what they want to do, also musically
  it seems that way. One song might be totally different from the next qua sound.
  Their lyrics for “Need You” can be seen as a bit naughty. The band
  admit that there is quite some violent and sexual related content in their songs.
  This makes you listen to the songs while nodding your head along to the nice
  tunes. “Need You” is also a song that is quite up-tempo and sticks
  in the mind.

  After the more up tempo – and ska-ish songs, “Feels Like Flesh” surprisingly
  starts a bit 80’s new wave but it changes throughout the whole song. The bass
  guitar plays an important part in this song and at the end a rock-ish sound
  and a different tempo comes in and takes over.

  Seems like we entered the world of the slower songs because the next is also
  more slow and a little softer. “Euphoria Skies” which starts nicely
  which a great lyric:
  “It’s so annoying trying to be
  Something that you can’t
  Something that
  you wanted to live…”
  Haven’t we all been there? Didn’t someone wanted you to be something your not?
  Think we can all relate to this.
  Around the chorus you can hear an electronical tune, which reminds me of Muse.
  Some of their songs might remind you of a band but it is difficult to compare
  them.

  The 12 songs give you a varied reflection of what these guys stand for, in
  one of the songs the more melodramatic and melancholic atmosphere is present,
  the other has a ska-ish flavour to be followed with a song that would do good
  at the Eurovision Song Contest. Might be the sing along chorus.

  “Headrest” is my personal favourite of this album, it has a touch
  of melancholy but does not get depressed, there is some background vocals which
  fit this song. The ending of this track seems to fade in a harmonious choir,
  but then the guitar effects are ending the song quite unexpectedly.
  “Anthem For The New Redeemer” also has that darker style, maybe because
  they are Scandinavian and they are grown up with these melancholic feelings,
  they really know how to create this atmosphere in their songs. Still it does
  not make the songs slow, dull and boring but they turn them into great songs
  to listen to between the more up tempo and rock-ish songs.

  This varied album shows these guys are capable of a lot and this nice piece
  of work makes me interested in seeing them live.