Hilotrons — Happymatic

In the follow-up to 2006's Bella Simone, Ottawa's Hilotrons have stepped things up a notch, retaining their trademark frenetic sound while finding a more solid foundation in their songwriting and arrangements. Happymatic is an exciting rollercoaster ride that doesn't have a boring moment contained in its economical 36 minutes and 13 tracks. It travels the spectrum with a keener focus than their previous album. There's the pleasing indie jangle of opening track "Lost In Yichang," and first single "Emergency Street" features the chaotic, jumpy beats that characterized Bella Simone. "Comrade Elvis" is a nearly indescribable mish-mash of '80s-style electronica that careens into the trumpet-laced mariachi-influenced instrumental "Feet First" just a couple of tracks later. Hilotrons draw upon myriad influences, but the end result is all their own.

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