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5. How to Be a Human Being - Glass Animals (2016)

Alternative

Glass Animals’ greatness lies in their ability to consistently sculpt luscious, expansive soundscapes that are both well outside the realm of convention and yet entrancingly engaging and inviting. The British quartet emphatically embrace their singular weirdness on their second full-length album How to Be a Human Being. A sprawling collection of quirky vignettes as diverse and interesting as the motley crew of characters depicted on the cover, HTBAHB invokes genuine amazement by delivering a true sense of wonder that most of us haven’t seen or felt since childhood.

Like a delicious mole, the album consists of a panoply of ingredients which all play joyously together to great and unique effect.The “electro-jungle” sound that largely defined their debut album Zaba is retained in places on HTBAHB, particularly on the opening track, “Life Itself”, which begins with a flourish of harp that dramatically introduces the album as the proverbial curtain is lifted. Behind it is revealed a sort of tribal bell and bongo ensemble that gives way to a woozily plucked and kazooey snake charmer melody. It feels both familiar and foreign, as if from some nearby alternate universe. “Season 2 Episode 3” features a video gamey aesthetic, and could be imagined soundtracking one of Mario’s subterranean cavern expeditions. “Mama’s Gun” is an uber-dreamy tune with a mesmerizing harps and flutes girding a minimal chorus. “Take a Slice” is a fun, sludgy tromp through some of the most cleverly written verses on an album chock full of witty wordplay and wacky poetic license.

HTBAHB is probably the best example of the innovation born out of the exponential broadening of the streaming generation’s exposure to music. Its influences are from all corners of the globe and they’re brought together in a way that is completely novel and immediately satisfying. It proves that the increasing globalization of influences on this generation can, and will, result in brilliant and vibrant reinvention, rather than a gradual browning of once bright, independent colors. The absolute freedom that so obviously existed throughout the album’s incubation is dependably unveiled with defiant exuberance as the album progresses. Glass Animals embodies the hope for the future of music.

*image; cover art for the album How to Be a Human Being by Glass Animals