Skip to content
Indie Music Reviews
  • Indie Music Reviews
    • Music Reviews
    • Music News

AV Super Sunshine – Are You Happy?

July 20, 2019 Jamie Morse
Music Reviews
No Comments

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/AVSupersunshine?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

There is a hard edge present in AV Super Sunshine’s latest single “Are You Ready?”, but there’s likewise a focus on melody that gives the track a distinct commercial tone. This commercial tone never signals that the duo is pandering for attention – instead, it plays like a natural outgrowth of their creative vision and they move between styles with fleet footed skill quite unlike anything else you’ll hear from their peers and contemporaries. The transitions are pulled off with smooth aplomb and, despite this being an obvious studio concoction, “Are You Happy?” is unlikely to strike listeners as unduly artificial or overly plotted out. Instead, it has a rambunctious nature feel that sinks its teeth into your imagination from the beginning.

There are three distinct mixes for this release – the radio mix, along with a club and rock mix of the track. The radio mix definitely comes as advertised – it is a track tailored for radio play across a vast array of stations and its length, a little over four minutes in all, is ideal. It highlights AV Super Sunshine’s mix of rock and electronica at its near zenith and the pulsing synthesizer fueled melody running through most of the tune provides a hook radio listeners will be hard pressed to ignore. The vocals feature band member Philomena’s voice artfully weaving around the lead vocal and the persistent refrain roots the song’s title in your consciousness with its insistent repetition. There’s, likewise, always an edge of attitude percolating in the lead vocal speaking to the band’s rock influences.

AV Super Sunshine’s songwriting talents are largely musical, but the lyrical content isn’t merely an afterthought. Instead, I enjoy the lean writing filling the song and the directness it uses in addressing listeners. There is no dross or fat attending the musical arrangement and the same commitment to economy extends to the words as well. The drumming is another musical highlight of the radio mix – despite the heavy electronic presence in the song, the drums have the crack and snap of live percussion and Michael Bradford’s production skills add another dollop of magic to an already glittering example of modern music’s possibilities.

The rock mix is stripped down to its essentials in comparison. Keyboard replaces synths as the mix’s sole concession to electronic touches and the guitar has a more pronounced presence. The rock mix also affords the band an opportunity to lean more heavily on their vocal prowess and the aforementioned attitude in the lead, as well as Philomena’s outstanding backing vocals, are illuminated in a much clearer way. The club mix has a duration of just over six minutes making it great for a club setting, but obviously a little too lengthy for radio play. It centers its attention much more on the rhythmic possibilities of the song, as a club mix should, and takes its time evolving, thus contributing to the running time.  This is another powerful example of the “modern classic rock” AV Super Sunshine aspires to deliver to audiences today and likely ranks as one of the best tracks included on Candyland Vol. 1.

YOU TUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xqEGaf3R1g

Jamie Morse

    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Copyright Notice
  • © Indie Music Reviews — All Rights Reserved

  • Theme by Zidithemes
    This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled

    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

    Non-necessary

    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.