*Happiness Not Included | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 6 May 2022 | |||
Recorded | January 2020 – March 2021 | |||
Studio | Dean Street, London | |||
Genre | Synth-pop | |||
Length | 55:04 | |||
Label | BMG | |||
Producer |
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Soft Cell chronology | ||||
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Singles from *Happiness Not Included | ||||
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*Happiness Not Included is the fifth studio album by British synth-pop duo Soft Cell, released on 6 May 2022 through BMG Rights Management. It is their first studio album in 20 years, following Cruelty Without Beauty (2002). [1] It was preceded by the release of the single "Bruises on All My Illusions" in 2021 as well as "Purple Zone" in 2022, the latter a collaboration with fellow British synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys. [2]
In 2023 two companion albums were released to accompany the album. 'Happiness now completed' features additional tracks and remixes recorded during the album sessions & 'Happiness now extended' features extended versions of all the original album tracks. [3]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 78/100 [4] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Independent | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Line of Best Fit | 7/10 [7] |
Mojo | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
musicOMH | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Telegraph | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Uncut | 8/10 [11] |
On review aggregator Metacritic, *Happiness Not Included received a score of 78 out of 100 based on nine reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception. [4] Dave Simpson of The Guardian called it a "wryly hopeful record" with "some trademark electro bangers". [5] Writing for The Line of Best Fit, Chris Todd summarised the "flavour" of the album as "one of world weariness peppered with salacious reflections of tales of past". [7] Roisin O'Connor of The Independent remarked on the downbeat nature of the lyrics, writing that while Soft Cell "were hardly upbeat to begin with, [...] this is downright miserable" although acknowledging that they "have good reason to be" and concluding that "it's not all hopeless – at least the music is good". [6]
All tracks are written by Marc Almond and David Ball except where noted.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Happy Happy Happy" | 4:46 |
2. | "Polaroid" | 4:41 |
3. | "Bruises on All My Illusions" | 4:45 |
4. | "Purple Zone" (with Pet Shop Boys) | 3:11 |
5. | "Heart Like Chernobyl" | 3:24 |
6. | "Light Sleepers" | 4:41 |
7. | "*Happiness Not Included" | 4:55 |
8. | "Nostalgia Machine" | 4:34 |
9. | "Nighthawks" | 5:14 |
10. | "I'm Not a Friend of God" | 4:34 |
11. | "Tranquiliser" | 3:50 |
12. | "New Eden" | 6:29 |
Total length: | 55:04 |
Chart (2022) | Peak position |
---|---|
Austrian Albums ( Ö3 Austria) [12] | 51 |
Belgian Albums ( Ultratop Flanders) [13] | 175 |
Belgian Albums ( Ultratop Wallonia) [14] | 55 |
German Albums ( Offizielle Top 100) [15] | 12 |
Scottish Albums ( OCC) [16] | 5 |
Spanish Albums ( PROMUSICAE) [17] | 37 |
Swiss Albums ( Schweizer Hitparade) [18] | 86 |
UK Albums ( OCC) [19] | 7 |
UK Dance Albums ( OCC) [20] | 1 |
UK Independent Albums ( OCC) [21] | 2 |
*Happiness Not Included | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 6 May 2022 | |||
Recorded | January 2020 – March 2021 | |||
Studio | Dean Street, London | |||
Genre | Synth-pop | |||
Length | 55:04 | |||
Label | BMG | |||
Producer |
| |||
Soft Cell chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from *Happiness Not Included | ||||
|
*Happiness Not Included is the fifth studio album by British synth-pop duo Soft Cell, released on 6 May 2022 through BMG Rights Management. It is their first studio album in 20 years, following Cruelty Without Beauty (2002). [1] It was preceded by the release of the single "Bruises on All My Illusions" in 2021 as well as "Purple Zone" in 2022, the latter a collaboration with fellow British synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys. [2]
In 2023 two companion albums were released to accompany the album. 'Happiness now completed' features additional tracks and remixes recorded during the album sessions & 'Happiness now extended' features extended versions of all the original album tracks. [3]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 78/100 [4] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Independent | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Line of Best Fit | 7/10 [7] |
Mojo | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
musicOMH | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Telegraph | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Uncut | 8/10 [11] |
On review aggregator Metacritic, *Happiness Not Included received a score of 78 out of 100 based on nine reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception. [4] Dave Simpson of The Guardian called it a "wryly hopeful record" with "some trademark electro bangers". [5] Writing for The Line of Best Fit, Chris Todd summarised the "flavour" of the album as "one of world weariness peppered with salacious reflections of tales of past". [7] Roisin O'Connor of The Independent remarked on the downbeat nature of the lyrics, writing that while Soft Cell "were hardly upbeat to begin with, [...] this is downright miserable" although acknowledging that they "have good reason to be" and concluding that "it's not all hopeless – at least the music is good". [6]
All tracks are written by Marc Almond and David Ball except where noted.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Happy Happy Happy" | 4:46 |
2. | "Polaroid" | 4:41 |
3. | "Bruises on All My Illusions" | 4:45 |
4. | "Purple Zone" (with Pet Shop Boys) | 3:11 |
5. | "Heart Like Chernobyl" | 3:24 |
6. | "Light Sleepers" | 4:41 |
7. | "*Happiness Not Included" | 4:55 |
8. | "Nostalgia Machine" | 4:34 |
9. | "Nighthawks" | 5:14 |
10. | "I'm Not a Friend of God" | 4:34 |
11. | "Tranquiliser" | 3:50 |
12. | "New Eden" | 6:29 |
Total length: | 55:04 |
Chart (2022) | Peak position |
---|---|
Austrian Albums ( Ö3 Austria) [12] | 51 |
Belgian Albums ( Ultratop Flanders) [13] | 175 |
Belgian Albums ( Ultratop Wallonia) [14] | 55 |
German Albums ( Offizielle Top 100) [15] | 12 |
Scottish Albums ( OCC) [16] | 5 |
Spanish Albums ( PROMUSICAE) [17] | 37 |
Swiss Albums ( Schweizer Hitparade) [18] | 86 |
UK Albums ( OCC) [19] | 7 |
UK Dance Albums ( OCC) [20] | 1 |
UK Independent Albums ( OCC) [21] | 2 |