Cloud Cult
Advice from the Happy Hippopotamus

THE REVIEW

Losing a child just a few months old is one of the most painful things that can happen in life (and we have confirmation from the news today, ADDIO TOMMY). Losing them for inexplicable reasons is even worse. And divorcing immediately afterwards disintegrates you psychologically.

I think few people have had the strength to come out of this situation positively; among them is Craig Minowa, from Minneapolis, founder of an environmentally-focused nonprofit community and founder, guitarist, and singer of Cloud Cult. Two years after the sad events that affected him, Craig releases this beautiful "Advice from the Happy Hippopotamus". The album consists of 22 beautiful songs, exploring indie rock in all its aspects, always underpinned by a melancholic vein. But the album is also a concept about childhood and death, in whose lyrics philosophical concepts about life are reached. It's hard to describe all the gems of this album, so I'll mention the best according to this writer.

The start is extraordinary: "Intro" is one of the best instrumental introductions I have heard: throughout the track, there's a alternation of violins, computer music, and guitars that form a base on which the beautiful pop ballad "Living on the Outside of Your Skin" continues. "Happy Hippo" recalls the Chemical Brothers but features a Neil Young citation in the chorus; indeed, we hear Craig singing: "Hey, hey, my, my, you best learn to live while you're alive/ Is better to burn out than to fade away, my, my, hey, hey". "What comes at the end" is another pop ballad with a long intro of guitar and drums, while "Transistor Radio" is played only with an acoustic guitar and talks about Craig discovering what his grandfather wants to show him by speaking to him through a transistor radio. "Car Wash" is sung by a woman and recalls the sound of PJ Harvey.

Towards the end of the album, there are notable mentions of the electric ride "Can't Stop the Journey Now", the country-like "Lucky Today", and right at the end, the beautiful "Bobby's Spacesuit". Recommended for those who want to spend an hour with an album that doesn’t tire due to the variety of its songs.