ALBUM REVIEW: Hollie Cook – Happy Hour

Merge

Released: 24.06.22

There have been suggestions that Happy Hour is Hollie Cook’s ‘lovers rock’ album but the steppers rhythm on the opening title track is far tuffer than that suggests; Cook’s sweet, beguiling voice riding some fathoms-deep bass and vintage keyboard stabs, and that’s true for the whole album.

This fourth solo set is definitely her strongest yet, due in no small part to her General Roots band, who have really nailed a tough but melodic sound (and shared production with Youth). Even the more sultry, downtempo numbers like Full Moon Baby and Love In The Dark are built on solid rhythmic foundations and while a lot of the lyrical content is born of pain and confusion (and a global pandemic), Happy Hour is pure niceness.