Shelf Nunny - I Think I’m Finally Happy

A Closer Listen

As we noted in our review of Pronoia, Shelf Nunny can’t help but make happy music, even when feeling unhappy; and now, finally, he may have reached that peaceful plateau.  The unusual appeal of the last EP was that the chapters could be read in different order; the appeal of the new EP is that it has been chased by a remix EP, a parabolic reflection of how it feels to reassess one’s own circumstances or to listen to the feedback of others.

To a greater extent than most artists, Shelf Nunny’s discography can be read as a sonic diary, a window into the artist’s soul.  While composing Utangátta, Christian Gunning had been experiencing tragedy, difficulty and despair, and used his music to inch toward hope.  The Pronoia sessions sprung from a new, more positive mindset, although the set contained the most forlorn piece in the artist’s entire discography, one that could be moved like a slide puzzle from the beginning to the end of the set, sparking dueling interpretations.  I Think I’m Finally Happy began as a battle between two forces: one trying to tear Gunning’s life apart, and another showering him with goodness.  Recalling the story of the two wolves, which would win?  Having followed the shifting timbres of Shelf Nunny for a decade, we would have bet on grace; and as it turns out, we would have been right.  The artist calls the EP “a chapter book that ends on a triumphant note,” a description honored by an extremely consistent set that acknowledges despair while underlining gratitude.

One of Shelf Nunny’s strengths is his use of microsound to enhance his pieces.  Tiny touches are sprinkled throughout.  “Stayed Inside Instead of Going to the Show” begins with the twist of a radio dial, including the snippets “happy things” and “looking for.”  Electronic beats sneak in, humble yet surefooted.  Voices and segments of voices wash ashore like waves.  The track’s light melancholic undercurrent reflects its title, but the closing piano segment hints at different choices.  The track segues into “Just Got Back and My Life Feels Like a Ballad,” built on layers of yearning: “I’m just trying to get to a happy place,” “I’m trying to tell you that t’s all fine.”  In the fun video, Gunning dances near a dilapidated house that looks like it was stepped on by God, a visual parable.

“I Will Follow” flirts with self-destruction (setting one’s self ablaze for love) while its chord changes echo Katy Perry’s “Firework.”  A brief yet alluring interlude contrasts the bells of a Niederrohrdorf (Switzerland) church with a concerned voice mail.  The emotional tug of war seems never-ending. But in the gorgeous finale, “Falls Apart Before It Comes Together,” any leftover darkness dissipates, melted by the rays of the rising sun.

Now to the remixes: five in all, the length of the remix EP surpassing that of the original project.  Sun Glitters honors his moniker by refracting the colors of the title track, sending shards in all directions, a glorious expansion.  The remix is twice as long as the original, yet earns its length, adding a late-piece slowdown, a pause for reflection.

KSRE and Cosmicosmos each tackle “Stayed Inside Instead of Going to the Show.”  KSRE teases out the track’s ambient undertones – string tones, bass and wordless vocal – saving the beats for later.  Taking a different approach, Cosmicosmos highlights sim1 bby’s voice before launching it through an array of processing effects, emphasizing its soothing qualities; the radio dial samples are moved to the end.  In the remixed “Just Got Back and My Life Feels Like a Ballad,” Katana Boy loops the phrase “just trying,” creating a near-chorus;  the indie-dance feel recalls The Postal Service.  And DJ Dane transforms “I Will Follow” into a pure club piece, the most euphoric and danceable Shelf Nunny release to date. When that Moroder bass comes in at 4:30, what a moment!

And now we propose another way to play the EPs: sequenced together as a 41-minute album.  In this incarnation, the narrative is extended; the joy not only flutters, but flies.  The artist’s friends offer a feedback loop in which every hint of happiness is fanned into a fire and that triumphant note becomes a suite of songs.  (Richard Allen)