Happy” doesn’t quite cover it — Oh Wonder’s new releases will leave you feeling passionate, energized, reflective and, yes, of course, happy.
If you haven’t heard of Oh Wonder before today, or if you’ve only listened to the sampling of their song “Landslide” from Lil Uzi Vert, now is the perfect time to hop on board. The London-based duo, Josephine Vander Gucht and Anthony West, is set to release their latest album, “No One Else Can Wear Your Crown,” on Feb. 7. Several singles from the album, however, have already been released, including “I Wish I Never Met You,” “Better Now,” “Hallelujah,” and their latest, “Happy.”
Oh Wonder’s sound has evolved since their 2015 self-titled album, but five years later, they still sound like themselves. Through a mix of indie, pop, acoustics and lowkey techno beats, each song sounds different from the last while still maintaining cohesiveness from track to track. You never feel blindsided by the next song, but you won’t feel like you’re hearing the same melody over and over again either. Oh Wonder has found the perfect balance on staying true to their sound while never failing to make their releases interesting and new.
“I Wish I Never Met You” is a perfect example. For long-time fans, the entrance beats and harmonies are reminiscent of something that could have been on their first album. Less than a minute in, you can start to hear their newer, refined vibe, adding strings and swells of sound in the background.
It’s easy to get lost in the song, but impossible to ignore the lyrics: “It takes time to get bigger / Shine bright, find a rhythm / And I’ll try not be bitter.”
Other songs that have been released from the album promise plenty of diversity between the tracks. “Better Now” surrounds a story about the anxiety and hope of waiting to see if someone is alright.
The lyrics are cut with “Hot cup of coffee … / Cold cup of coffee” — the more solemn song reminds the listener of the stress of waiting, when time somehow seems to go by both too fast and too slow.
On the other hand, “Hallelujah” is about the duo making it and finally finding their niche despite past words of discouragement.
Their latest single, “Happy,” is accompanied by a music video that was released on Jan. 13. In comparison with their more artistic videos for “I Wish I Never Met You” and “Hallelujah,” I was not expecting to find the video for “Happy” to be funny, but I found myself trying to stifle my laughter while watching it. The video follows Vander Gucht and West through a fake “break-up,” being told by older versions of themselves. While I appreciate and enjoy watching their more serious work, this was a fun departure that was refreshing to see.
Check out Oh Wonder before their new album comes out — and look forward to “No One Else Can Wear Your Crown” on Feb. 7.
