Happenings (Kasabian album)

Happenings is the eighth studio album by the English rock band Kasabian. It was released on 5 July 2024 through Sony Music.

Happenings
Studio album by Kasabian
Released	5 July 2024 (2024-07-05)
Recorded	2022 – 2023
Genre	Psychedelic rock experimental pop art pop[1] pop rock[2]
Length	28:00
Label	Sony
Producer	Serge Pizzorno Mark Ralph
Kasabian chronology
The Alchemist's Euphoria (2022) Happenings (2024)
Singles from Happenings
"Algorithms" Released: 16 June 2023 "Call" Released: 21 February 2024 "Coming Back to Me Good" Released: 12 April 2024 "Darkest Lullaby" Released: 21 June 2024

Background and singles

Kasabian announced Happenings on 5 December 2023, shortly after recording wrapped with two days left for the mixing process. Inspired by gigs of 1960s psychedelic bands, it was said to be a "joyous" album filled with "big tunes". The band started recording while they were touring their previous record The Alchemist's Euphoria in late 2022.^[3] The album release on 5 July 2024 will coincide with their homecoming headline show at Victoria Park, Leicester on 6 July.^[4]

The lead single "Algorithms", a commentary on the emergence of artificial intelligence, was released on 16 June 2023, more than a year ahead of the album release.^[5] "Call" was released as the second single on 21 February 2024, a song the band referred to as "dance music".^[6] On 12 April, they released the "summer-ready" "Coming Back to Me Good" in the form "of a short and sweet anthem" with a "disco drive" but also moments of "togetherness", according to Serge Pizzorno.^[7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	74/100[8]
Review scores
Source	Rating
The Arts Desk	[9]
Clash	7/10[10]
The Guardian	[11]
The Independent	[12]
Louder Than War	4/5[13]
MusicOMH	[14]
NME	[15]
The Observer	[16]
The Telegraph	[17]

Happenings received a score of 74 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on 13 critics' reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception.^[8] Mojo felt that "short it may be, but Happenings is full of ideas".^[18]

The album's production was acclaimed; Neil McCormick of The Telegraph applauded the band's continuation of their pop sound.^[19] Robin Murray of Clash praised the songwriting and new direction,^[20] while Phil Mongredien of The Guardian said that "with Meighan gone, Happenings does at times sound like the work of a band struggling with an identity crisis and consequently cosplaying some of their peers".^[21]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Serge Pizzorno.

Happenings track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Darkest Lullaby"	3:10
2.	"Call"	2:30
3.	"How Far Will You Go"	1:49
4.	"Coming Back to Me Good"	2:49
5.	"G.O.A.T"	3:07
6.	"Passengers"	2:50
7.	"Hell of It"	3:23
8.	"Italian Horror"	2:35
9.	"Bird in a Cage"	2:38
10.	"Algorithms"	3:09
Total length:		28:00

Japanese edition bonus track^[22]

No.	Title	Length
12.	"Coming Back to Me Good" (Acoustic Version)	2:29
Total length:		31:34

Notes

• Physical editions include a short introductory instrumental track, "Happenings".

Personnel

Kasabian

• Chris Edwards – bass guitar, background vocals
• Tim Carter – guitars, piano, bass guitar, drum production, background vocals, keyboards, additional production
• Ian Matthews – drums, percussion, piano
• Sergio Pizzorno – lead vocals, guitars, bass guitar, drum production, Mellotron, piano, synthesizers

Additional contributors

• Mark Ralph – production, mixing, programming
• Matt Colton – mastering
• Rob Harvey – background vocals on "Call", "How Far Will You Go", and "Passengers"

Charts

Chart performance for Happenings

Chart (2024)	Peak position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[23]	147
Japanese Digital Albums (Oricon)[24]	40
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[25]	64
Scottish Albums (OCC)[26]	1
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[27]	90
UK Albums (OCC)[28]	1