Happiness Cover

‘Nuff noise has been made surrounding the epic emergence of Manchester ballad-pop duo HURTS and their updated, albeit heavily referential take on the soothing sounds of A-ha, Tears For Fears and their emotionally damaged ilk. We're not going to add much more. When HURTS is first digested by listeners, the line of questions hurdling towards the starting gate normally sit around this area:

‘Is this band really “all about the music”, as they clearly feel pressured to point out? Or are they a band of clever image-technicians, wielding a mighty sword of discretion, impaling the slightest bit of ill-placed visual influence?’

Since the debut album Happiness hit stores on September 6th, most curious parties resorted to a sullen, ‘Who cares?’

Why? Because the band makes a joyful noise that deserves mention. Period.

But I digress. That is nary what today’s post is about. If you want a fawning journalistic stroke-off, you’re looking at the wrong blog dear reader. Today’s post is about the perception and power of positive thinking, acting and most importantly dressing.

In the interview below HURTS candidly speak with Dazed Digital about their simplistic and rather logical choice of dress. Take a look:

What stuck out like a valiant Thor’s hammer in that video, was the way in which vocalist Theo Hutchcraft explained how men “want to dress”: Smart. He delved further into what was behind his choice by recalling that while he himself was “on the dole” (read: collecting Unemployment Benefits) he felt better about his potentially embarrassing situation because he was dressing for a purpose. By dressing simple and smart, he tricked his mind into believing there was more hope than may have been there.

So. . . costume as therapy?

That may be a tad far-reaching, but the theory does hold some water. Clothing is physical and tangible and it is armor-like in its ability to accept or reject external forces. If you want people to leave you alone, you drape yourself in something off-putting. If you’re looking for open arms stretched wide and far, you wear something friendly. How you define those is less about you of course and more about the societal context (regionalism).

But this is promising. To see the return of classicism, being brought to the forefront through pop music, so nakedly, especially at a time when faith in leadership is waning, is invited.

HURTS will be huge. Resistance is truly futile. They’ve got the chops, the looks and the songs to back that claim. With their near-cheese level of hope and desire they will influence and they will inspire. Their message will penetrate. In these times of economic uncertainty and confusion it wouldn’t hurt for people to start feeling a little better about their role, even if that means just dressing the part.

Happiness is in stores now