Shoegaze band unhappybirthday have unleashed ‘Sou’, the first track to be heard from their forthcoming third studio album, Schaum. Listen to it on Gigwise below
The album is the band’s first release on Hamburg's Tapete Records, who are the sister label to the ceaselessly inspiring Bureau B, who have the likes of Jarvis Cocker knocking at their digital door looking for good new things to listen to. Tapete is, according to owner Gunther B, its pop arm.
The sort of pop Buskies is championing draws on 80s shoegaze and dream pop; a worthwhile avenue to be going down. The owner's ear for it, too, is spot on because his life’s been spent trawling the kraut catalogue as an archivist for Universal Germany before starting his own label. With this in mind, the signing of unhappybirthday to Tapete - a label which works on very old school, but inarguably good principles, of working with a very small roster of artists they truly believe in - is one that ought to be noted.
As for the track heard above, the subtle hiss implies it's recorded to tape which seems to be a homage to their 80s guitar heroes. Beautifully, twangy yet ‘warm’ basslines played high up the fretboard are reminiscent of Peter Hook. The guitars manage to combine a stadium sized delay-drenched rhythm part with almost prog-y lead parts; drums have a post-industrial feel and an additional line of analog effects embellish the track without ever demanding too much of the limelight.
The words, sung in German, are laid-back yet stewn with an element of suspense and fraught emotion, perfect for the anthemic feel going of the instrumentation. It’s a piece that indicates that the new album could well be a contender in end of year lists. Utterly beguiling work.
Unhappybirthday are on tour.
23.10.18 DE-Hamburg – Hafenklang
24.10.18 DE-Berlin – ACUD MACHT NEU
25.10.18 DE-Cologne – Acephale
26.10.18 NL-Groningen – Vera
27.10.18 BE-Brussels – CHAFF
28.10.18 FR-Paris – Le Klub
29.10.18 FR-Dijon – tba
30.10.18 FR-Lyon – Le Trokson
31.10.18 CH-Lucerne – Klub Kegelbahn
01.11.18 DE-Frankfurt – The Cave
02.11.18 DE-Hannover – tba
