*Happiness Not Included album cover
*Happiness Not Included

Soft Cell

2022
BMG

The fifth Soft Cell studio album and the first in two decades, Happiness Not Included was a surprise after Marc Almond and Dave Ball had staged a 2018 farewell show but to be fair, they did say at the time that they hadn’t ruled out future work, and so it proved. Retaining the slicker sonic approach from Cruelty Without Beauty, Happiness is often nostalgic and reflective, such as the whither-the-future sentiments of “Happy Happy Happy” or the sax-tinged ballad “Light Sleepers.” Almond’s in fine voice as ever and Ball’s work still has that primal crunch as needed.

Ned Raggett

Who also suggested

If you select your preferred streamer here, we will save your preference and link to that platform if possible. This can always be changed in the Settings menu.

Apple Music

If you’d like to prioritize Bandcamp if available, tap the Bandcamp logo.

Since some albums are only available on one service, you’ll still see logos for other services if the album is only available on that service.

Next