There is a growing underground force of pop labels releasing music on nontraditional formats. Of these formats, two prevalent ones, at least in the lo-fi pop and twee pop arenas, are cassette and the 3-inch single. Being such a strong fan of the genres that release via these formats, one would think I would have the ability to play them when they arrive in my mailbox. Unfortunately, I do not at this time. (But boy do I love receiving them!) WeePOP! Records releases via the …

I thought I recognized the One Happy Island name. The band recently released a few singles on 3″ CD via the London-based pop label weePOP. The latest is that they have a new one out soon on Odd Box Records — the band’s debut self-titled full-length. One Happy Island creates hyperactive pop with overly ambitious percussion (in a good way), a slew of chanting vocalists, and a sound entirely lo-fi and uninhibited by post production. They also write soft pop songs that border on folk.