Album Review: Clouds Instead Of Heads by Kompis
Alright, let’s dive into Clouds Instead Of Heads, the quirky little gem from Kompis that dropped back in 2002. This UK-born album is a wild ride through leftfield beats, electro vibes, and house grooves, all stitched together with a kind of scrappy charm you don’t hear much anymore. Released on Ultimate Dilemma (a label that sounds like it came straight outta a thriller novel), this thing has got some serious personality. And yeah, big shoutout to Mr Jago for the artwork—super trippy, just like the music.
First off, let’s talk about “Happy Days.” Man, this track slaps. It’s one of those tunes where you’re not sure if you wanna dance or just sit there nodding your head while zoning out. The beat kinda sneaks up on ya—it’s bouncy but not in-your-face, more like someone gently nudging you to get up and move. There’s this cool layering going on too, like every sound has its own space in the mix. You can tell Carl-Henrik Hallén and Daniel Nordh put their hearts into it—they wrote AND produced the whole shebang, which probably explains why it feels so cohesive. Honestly, I’ve had “Happy Days” stuck in my head for days now, and I’m not mad about it.
Then there’s the title track, “Clouds Instead Of Heads.” If “Happy Days” is the chill older sibling, this one’s the moody artist cousin who shows up unannounced and steals the show. It starts off slow, almost dreamy, then BAM—this bassline kicks in that makes your chest vibrate. The Rocket Mix version? Even better. It takes everything good about the original and cranks it up a notch, adding these glitchy bits that feel like they shouldn’t work but totally do. It’s the kind of song you’d blast at 3 AM when no one else is around, just to feel something deep in your soul.
What really stands out about this album is how unpolished yet intentional it feels. Like, it’s not trying to be perfect; it’s just doing its own thing. That rawness gives it character, though. You can tell these guys weren’t chasing trends—they were making music because they loved it. And honestly? We need more of that.
So yeah, Clouds Instead Of Heads might not change your life, but it’ll definitely make you stop scrolling Spotify playlists for a bit. Oh, and here’s a random thought: listening to this album feels like walking through fog—you can’t see clearly, but somehow, you trust where you’re going anyway. Weird flex, I know, but hey, isn’t that what art’s supposed to do?
