Los Campesinos! has always been easy to throw out. Whether it’s the overwhelmingly twee lyrical sensibilities or the whiny, accented draw of singer Gareth (who uses the last name “Campesinos!” on stage, along with every other member of the band). However, if you accept these (debatable) faults, it becomes evident that Los Campesinos! is a quality band of almost shocking consistency. The group’s latest effort, _Hello Sadness_, only does more to add to this reputation, while even working out a few of the band’s more obnoxious kinks.
Opening track and lead single “By Your Hand” is a solid microcosm of the progress presented on the album. The song, which opens with Vampire Weekend-esque keyboards, is among the catchiest, peppiest (musically, at least) work the band has ever done. Gareth has managed to tone down the whiny end of his voice and actually use it to contribute to the chorus’ hook.
“By Your Hand” also displays the bands classically twee and wry lyrical style in the best sense. Gareth singing, “But here it comes, this is the crux, she vomits down my rental tux,” best summarizes the songwriting, which is soon followed by the hook, which states, “By your hand is the only end I foresee.”
Unfortunately, the rest of the album fails to reach fun and cuteness of this section and instead spirals into a monotonous depression that the band seems to mistake for maturity or gravity. A few of this style of song might be a welcome change, but it dominates the back end of the album and becomes almost unbearable, to the point where not even the band’s trademark bells can lighten it up.
This album, though not the strongest, definitely contributes to the consistent, quality record of Los Campesinos!. It brings a welcome shift in sound to something closer to _Champ_-style Tokyo Police Club, but in the end that slight change in sound is overwhelmed by band’s oppressive attempt at maturity. All in all, _Hello Sadness_ continues to carry the torch of solid indie-pop that is being left behind as more and more bands gravitate to an electronic sound.
