Everybody knows that Sweeden is the land of pop, just as everyone knows that the North Pole is the land of Santa Clause, or just a  lot of snow. Sweeden’s track record for pop success dates back to ABBA and since then has put forth such artists as Robyn, The Cardigans, Peter, Bjorn and John, and the unstoppable chart topper Max Martin. Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg (Bloodshy & Avant), two-thirds of Miike Snow, are well known to massive pop success. This duo has worked with the likes of Madonna, Kylie Minogue, and Kelis; they’ve also won a Grammy for Britney Spears’ “Toxic.” Andrew Wyatt, the remaining member of the band, has had his share of success; he co-wrote Bruno Mars’ huge hit “Grenade” and played in The A.M. with Michael Tighe and Matt Johnson of Jeff Buckley’s backing band.

The band’s 2009, self-titled debut, established themselves as indie-electro darlings, relying on huge synth sounds and catchy choruses. This time around, the band trade in the singles approach for a more experimental album. Miike Snow still feel like a slightly serious Lonely Island, the track “God Help this Divorce” being proof of that. On “Divorce” the band collaborates with Coldplay, Bo Burnham, and Sex Pistols (not really), to deliver a stellar synth based, harp helping track with funny lyrics: “she was a beauty queen, but I held her down, I held her down. Go to the bar and say semi-sexist things.” This is the divorce that men didn’t ask for, but should find it oddly soothing.

“Archipelago” see’s Vampire Weekend in it’s sights, focusing on light synths with occasional synth runs, a driving piano, and a very Ezra Koenig vocal delivery. On “Black Tin Box” the band collaborate with Swedish singer Lykke Li, stepping into the past with very Depeche Mode echoed drum beats, and all kinds of crazy vocal effects; the song elicits the perfect sound of emotional emptiness. The first single, and last track, “Stepping Out” is a great four on the floor dance track that samples short piano melodies and synth sounds, bordering on a hip-hop track that feels oddly disco based.

Happy to You is Miike Snow starting to come together as a legitimate band, one becoming of the indie-electro pop genre that they thrive in. Hopefully, the wait for the next full length album is less than three years;  Happy is proof that they’ve really got something here.

Album Rating: Buy It on CD or Vinyl

Listening Co-efficient: Passive Listen

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