What’s to be said about an album that’s half well-executed body-moving, dancefloor pop and half sickly, slick schmaltz? It’s as if the creator is covering off all possible fanbases, those with taste and those lacking it. From a reviewing perspective, with theartsdesk’s score-out-of-five system, it’s tricky; one song I’m thinking, “Yes, a whopper, and the next, yuk, a pure zero.” But, staying positive, about 20 minutes of Do What Makes You Happy’s approximately 40, are full of entertaining verve and bounce.
Alice Ivy is the stage-name of Melbourne-based German-Australian electronic producer Annika Schmarsel, a recognised rising talent in her home country. This is her third album, peppered with mid-level guests such as Låpsley, Sam Sparro and Mayer Hawthorne. What strikes home first is the bright immediacy of the production and the contagious summery uplift of the best songs. Solid comparatives might be Confidence Man and Fred Again (both of whom also habitually veer between intriguing clubland chops and pongin’ cheese).
Those who wish to dive straight to the stink might check the pairing of the title track and “Broke My Heart” which, between them, boast repugnant autotune gloss, and likeably woozy hyperpop plasticity slipping wholesale into sugar-bloated fast food slop for the ears. But let’s stay away from such tracks.
Instead, what about opener “Howlin’ at the New Moon”, an irresistible bass-funkin’ hip-shaker? Or the gorgeous strum’n’whistling sunlit “Wildlife”, which is supremely catchy and genially euphoric? Or the pulsing heft of “All in My Head”, which combines a speaker-splurging density of sound with hints of New Order-ish songcraft? All these and at least one more more charm, with another couple that aren't actively offensive. The rest, let us not speak of.
Below: Watch the video for "Howlin' at the New Moon" by Alice Ivy, featuring Mayer Hawthorne
