The Aluminum Group, Happyness (Wishing Tree) 9+
What's so strange about listening to The Aluminum Group is that they sound like one of those timeless, hugely popular 80s pop bands that everyone knows. Yet rather than being bigger than the Pet Shop Boys, brothers John and Frank Navin are practically unknown, even in their native Chicago. Already on their fifth album with Happyness, the brothers are at a peak, seamlessly integrating Love, Steely Dan, Style Council, Bacharach, The Divine Comedy, Magnetic Fields and many other influences into clean, shiny new constructions, not unlike the Ray Eames furniture line the band took their name from. Self produced and engineered by Tortoise's John McEntire, Happyness is somewhere between the ambitious orchestral pop of the Jim O'Rourke-produced Pedals (1999) and the electronica-heavy John Herndon produced Pelo (2000). With assistance from members of Chicago's Tortoise, The Sea And Cake and Rebecca Gates, The Aluminum Group move from strength to strength in the spare electro pop of "Tiny Decision" the synthetic popcorn percussion and muted horns of "I Blow You Kisses" and sweet harmonies in "Pop" that Prince would die for. Succinctly witty, often wryly funny lyrics, impeccable arrangements, infectious melodies, hooks galore, a soothing production sheen, there's much to like here. Planned as the first part of a trilogy, god only knows if their audience will have caught up to this brilliant pop band by their eighth album.
