Ha, Ha, He.

by Mourn

Overview

When Mourn recorded Ha, Ha, He., they were just about to enter their twenties, and their second album reflects all the intensity and changes of those years. The band trades the PJ Harvey-meets-Nirvana outbursts of their self-titled debut for slightly less expected influences: Throwing Muses and the mid-'90s heyday of Chicago post-rock, both of which suit Mourn's free-flowing emotions perfectly. The quick-shifting tempos and rhythms of "Flee" reveal a band that's more serious about its music without overworking it, a feeling emphasized by "Storyteller"'s jazzy chords and impressive counterpoint. Meanwhile, "The Unexpected"'s stalking beats and tense buildups reflect a spiritual kinship with Kristin Hersh's mercurial post-punk outfit. The band goes even farther afield with "Gertrudis, Get Through This!," which combines a Sonic Youth-like guitar rush with sentiments that are far more earnest than anything by that group; later, the breathless charge of "Irrational Friend" flirts with early emo. These broader musical horizons add sophistication to Mourn's turbulent feelings. While nothing here is as heart-stoppingly direct as their debut's standout "Your Brain Is Made of Candy," "Evil Dead"'s spectral vocals and thrashy instrumentation lend a new dimension to their ongoing horror obsession (and the lyrics suggest they've graduated from eating brains to immortal souls). Here and on the perversely named ballads "I Am a Chicken" and "Fry Me," the band balances its newfound maturity with a hint of its old mischief. If this album is slightly less thrilling than Mourn, it's also more consistent, reflecting the mix of discovery and growth most people experience as they leave their teens. On Ha, Ha, He., Mourn do a little of the former, and a lot of the latter. ~ Heather Phares

Product Details

Release Date:	06/03/2016
Label:	Captured Tracks
UPC:	0817949012120
Rank:	167946

Tracks

1. Flee
2. Evil Dead
3. Brother Brother
4. Howard
5. The Unexpected
6. Storyteller
7. Gertrudis, Get Through This!
8. President Bullshit
9. I Am a Chicken
10. Second Sage
11. Irrational Friend
12. Fry Me

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Mourn   Primary Artist
Leia Rodriguez   Bass
Carla Perez Vas   Guitar,Vocals
Jazz Rodriguez Bueno   Vocals,Guitar
Antonio Postius   Drums

Technical Credits

Jazz Rodriguez Bueno   Composer
Lluis Cots   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Alexandra Jordana   Art Direction
Ramon Rodriguez   Producer
Ryan McCardle   Design
Victor Garcia   Mastering
Alba Yruela   Picture
Tomeu Mulet   Artwork,Creative Director