On Feb. 9, indie rock quartet Peace released “Happy People,” much to the excitement of Britpop lovers everywhere. Produced by notable figure Jim Abiss (who also produced Arctic Monkeys “Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not” and Adele’s “19” and “21”), the album is sure to climb the charts. Peace’s first album—“In Love,” released in 2013—garnered positive reviews from critics with NME and The Independent, eventually rising to the number 16 slot on the “UK Albums Chart.”
Now the group—including Harrison Koisser (vocals/keyboard/tambourine), Douglas Castle (guitar), Dom Boyce (drums) and Samuel Koisser (bass)—has extended on its groovy pop sound. An album seemingly inspired by ‘90s indie, “Happy People” explodes in a ball of brash vocals and vibrant pop instrumentals. While “In Love” was incredibly positive and happy-go-lucky, Peace’s sophomore album explores some deeper themes, such as self-consciousness and the pressure on men to adhere to strict gender standards.
Disappointingly, the album opens with “O You,” a song that that does not accurately depict how the rest of the album will sound. After one listen it becomes boring and then progresses to nearly annoying after more than one play. However, the rest of the album builds on Peace’s energetic sound and conveys a strong command of the pop genre and explorative lyrics.
“Gen Strange,” the second track on the album, depicts strength under struggle, and investigates this through catchy, unique lyrics. “Is pressure from the weight of all the satellites in space?” Harrison Koisser sings, “But you never let it crush, even when you should.” With his strong vocals layered over peppy keyboard, “Gen Strange” is an attention-grabbing tune that interests the reader from the get-go.
Perhaps the strongest song, “I’m a Girl” is in the eighth spot on the track list. Released a few weeks ago as a single for “Happy People” (accompanied by a funky interactive lyric video), the tune features heavy-handed guitar riffs punctuated by Harrison Koisser’s piercing pop wailing all while conveying disdain for standards set for masculinity. With lyrics such as “Do you feel like a man?” and “I’m not sure that violence was born in my bones,” the song demands that listeners reexamine what is means to be masculine. A lot is packed within this short track, but Peace executes and crafts it perfectly.
“Perfect Skin,” the fourth song on the album, competes with “I’m a Girl” for the strongest tune. The lyrics are straightforward and speak to the pressure of being compared to others, but don’t let the simple nature distract you from the artistry. “Perfect Skin” seems to be reflective of Harrison Koisser himself, a vocalist known for outlandish clothing and blurred gender performances. “Perfect Skin” may have seemed contrived if concocted by any other group, but Peace expresses the song’s true meaning in a personal, honest way.
Overall, “Happy People” delivers the Britpop that Peace promises to give. The album builds on “In Love” and gives the band a new level of depth not previously showcased, while staying true to Peace’s origins as fun indie pop. Peace is touring in a few different UK cities this year, but keep an eye on their Facebook for any U.S. dates.
