Hilotrons

This Ottawa act have long been tagged as the "best kept secret” of the Capital, in terms of their high energy, fun as hell live show, but I hope, in spite of the selfish population of Ottawa, the rest of the world opens their ears to their wily charms. Really, there’s a reason that this record has the word "happy” in the title, as this band’s mix of indie and disco and whatever else they can get out of their synths never fails to lure your receptors. Take the bouncy, electro-infused "Lovesuit,” where the vocals dip and dive around the idiosyncratic beats and tempo. A little more straightforward but still full of those ’80s throwback disco effects is "Dominika,” leaving the weird and wonderful bits to the gauzy and unique "Comrade Elvis.” Sticking out like a sore thumb though is "I’m A Parade,” which drops the synth altogether for an orchestral dirge, and while being emotionally enriching and showcasing the band’s range makes you think you’re listening to a new album. To grasp the band, see them live, but for now, Happymatic will definitely do what the title promises.