Happy Songs for Happy People

Infobox Album
Name = Happy Songs For Happy People
Type = studio
Artist = Mogwai


Released = 17 June 2003
Recorded = Cava Studios, Glasgow, Scotland
Genre = Post-rock
Length = 41:50
Label = Play It Again Sam, Matador
Producer = Tony Doogan
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:neb8b5x4zsq4 link]
*"NME" (8/10) [http://brightlight.youngteam.co.uk/img/review_happysongs_nme_big.jpglink]
*Pitchfork Media (7.1/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/19972/Mogwai_Happy_Songs_for_Happy_People link]
*"Rock Sound" (8/10) [http://brightlight.youngteam.co.uk/img/review_happysongs_rocksound_big.jpglink]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|3|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/mogwai/albums/album/292348/review/5946187/happy_songs_for_happy_people link]
Last album = "Rock Action"
(2001)
This album = "Happy Songs for Happy People"
(2003)
Next album = ""
(2005)

"Happy Songs for Happy People" is the fourth full-length studio album by the post-rock group Mogwai. "Happy Songs..." is an even further evolution of Mogwai's toned down, more electronic sound. Many of the songs are awash in feedback and reverb, and most highlight their mysterious, somewhat insect-like, vocoder effect prominently. Some listeners say the album has an apocalyptic sound; the music is often interpreted as conveying feelings of fear and sorrow. The exception comes with the final triumphant blast of cacophony on the last track, "Stop Coming to My House". Although a very guitar-oriented album, with drums and bass mixed low, synths often take the main stage. Strings and piano also make a few appearances.

Mogwai's usual vocalist Stuart Braithwaite does not sing on this album at all; however, Barry Burns ("Hunted by a Freak", "Killing All the Flies") and John Cummings ("Boring Machines Disturbs Sleep") do.

The CD also contains a demo version of Cubase and the individual tracks for each instrument in "Hunted by a Freak" allowing remixing and reconstructing of the song.

The pre-release MP3s of this album circulating on the net had a sample of "Happy Tree Friends" cartoon main theme mixed in at the end of the last track. Some of the fans were frustrated buying the released CD afterwards and not finding the sample there.

The Japanese release of the album contains the bonus track "Sad DC."

Track listing

# "Hunted by a Freak" – 4:18
# "Moses? I Amn't" – 2:59
# "Kids Will Be Skeletons" – 5:29
# "Killing All the Flies" – 4:35
# "Boring Machines Disturbs Sleep" – 3:05
# "Ratts of the Capital" – 8:27
# "Golden Porsche" – 2:49
# "I Know You Are But What Am I?" – 5:17
# "Stop Coming to My House" – 4:53

Mogwai

* Dominic Aitchison
* Stuart Braithwaite
* Martin Bulloch
* Barry Burns
* John Cummings

Additional musicians

* Luke Sutherland - violin on "Killing All The Flies" and "Stop Coming To My House", guitar on "Ratts Of The Capital"
* Caroline Barber - cello on "Hunted By A Freak", "Moses? I Amn't" and "Golden Porsche"
* Donald Gillian - cello on "Killing All The Flies"
* Scott Dickinson - viola on "Killing All The Flies"
* Greg Lawson - violin on "Killing All The Flies"

Credits

* Written by Mogwai
* Published by Chrysalis Music
* Produced by Mogwai and Tony Doogan
* Recorded and mixed by Tony Doogan at Cava Studios, Glasgow
* Assistant engineeering by Michael "Frango" Bannister and Gavin Lawrie
* Mastered by Adam Nunn at Abbey Road
* Cover by Uncontrollable Urge
* Design by Divine Inc