Artist: Ludes
Title: The Dark Art of Happiness
By Conor Duffy
Another CD that's been sitting in my room for far too long. The Ludes have, in The Dark Art of Happiness , put together an album that draws inspiration from a variety of musical styles. Tied together by a punk rock attitude, and bolstered by great production, it's an approach that works.
‘Badlands' has an almost retro feel to it, while retaining a 21st Century edge. ‘Never Had A Chance' goes full-out ska-punk on our asses. Even when things get a little quieter, as on ‘Green Eyes', they still manage to hold our attention with a chorus that is remarkably mellow and sad.
Most of the songs here have an infectiousness that doesn't let up. Ludes are just the sort of band to get a good pit moving with these high-class, high-energy tunes.