Despite being together for 40 years, this Japanese hard-rock / fusion outfit has only released a handful of albums. 4037, a four-track EP, is their first since 2014’s Minimal Gods. Given the group’s penchant for long hiatuses, it is easy to forget how on these guys can be.
Happy Family attained early acclaim when they released their self-titled debut in 1995 (there were two earlier cassettes that are hard to track down). Their music was hailed as a logical extension and then-modernization of Magma’s Zeuhl stylings. I always found this comparison a bit hyperbolic yet not overtly incorrect. Today’s Happy Family is better described as a mix of these influences and those of the 70’s Canterbury scene but amped up with the heavy riffs and avant-prog.
Hypocracy is a great example of this, with guitarist Takahiro Izutani bringing the crunch and deft soloing. Kenichi Morimoto contributes gritty keyboards while the rhythm section of Hidemi Ichikawa on bass and Keiichi Nagase on drums lays down complex and densely-packed lines. The track overflows with energy and joy.
The opener, Pygmalion, is more toward the 90’s prog sound with repeating angular themes. Flying Man opens with a driving staccato rhythm that leads to multiple thematic variations. There is a formula to these compositions, but it is a good one. The intensity rarely lets up.
Itchu is the odd piece out, being more unabashedly outside than its three predecessors. Its pace is slower and it is more loosely structured – with start / stop melodies and a psychedelic (almost retro) feel. The group also uses a broader sound palette as they move about.
In just four tracks, 4037 is a powerful reminder that Happy Family’s fire hasn’t dimmed with time – it’s only grown weirder, heavier, and more compelling.
