Experimental pop figurehead Mica Levi recently described the creation of her band’s third album as “the most free we have been”, which is quite a statement, considering they used a vacuum cleaner on their debut album, Jewellery. While that album, and parts of its successor, Never, had pop hooks thrown into the sonic jumble, Good Sad Happy Bad – born out of a heavily edited jam session – feels more shapeless and, as a result, more frustrating. The hazy electro of opener Sad, the downcast dub of Oh Baby and the creaky Relaxing have their moments, but often the songs are too flimsy – the lilting Unity is pushed off course by what sounds like a braying donkey. In the end, the freedom comes at a price.
