Bit of Brightness

The second album from Brisbane-Meanjin indie-folk five-piece Full Power Happy Hour builds on the immense promise of their 2021 self-titled debut, adding a gorgeous tinge of alt-country elegance to their inherent feel-good jangle-pop foundations.

This musical bed - assembled collaboratively allowing the band's true spirit to shine through - proves the perfect foil for front-person Alex Campbell's compellingly personal lyrics documenting a tumultuous period in their life, an at times fraught journey recast into beautiful, eloquent art. The 10 songs veer from bright, upbeat toe- tappers to plaintive, introspective ballads, but flow together superbly due to the group's underlying camaraderie and fast- blossoming chemistry.

At times reminiscent of forebears like The Go-Betweens and The Clean, with flourishes of Lucinda Williams and contemporaries like Big Thief and The Weather Station, Bit of Brightness is 100% Full Power Happy Hour and one utterly beguiling aural experience.