It It Anita

If Mouche heralded a new era of uninhibited fun, It It Anita takes things a step further with HI HI HA HA. The Belgian trio's noise rock is darker and more tense than ever. The mood is anxious and heavy. The tone is provocative, defiant, acerbic. New sonic territory is explored. But nonchalance and humour are always waiting in the wings, ready to strike without warning. The Liège-based band offers a bitter, acidic laugh at a news cycle that grows more depressing, even deadly, by the day. ‘The problem is that with everything we see and hear, we fall into a spiral of negativity. We need music, we need to go out and laugh. Otherwise we won't be able to cope,’ philosophises singer/guitarist Michael Goffard.

Although relatively discreet about their activism thus far, It It Anita are nonetheless conscious of their position and the reality of the world in the mid-2020s. HI HI HA HA's lyrics delve more readily into subjects that challenge and outrage the band. The result is a much more thoughtful album. In turn, these songs condemn the yawning gap between the political class and the working class, the danger of the masculinist movement and its influencers, reactionary discourse that is 50 years behind the times on the ideal family, the cult of the body, the value of money... Michael elaborates: "I don't want all this to become the norm for today's youth. There are other messages to convey, other goals in life than being loaded and owning a yellow Ferrari..."

It It Anita releases its fifth album just as we are recovering from Mouche. The latter enabled Michael Goffard, Elliot Stassen and Bryan Hayart to achieve the status of driving force behind edgy rock on the Franco-Belgian axis, increasingly exporting themselves beyond. Thanks to solid sales, incessant touring delivering shows recognised as explosive... As well as a stronger media presence, topped off with praise from the press (cover of New Noise, No. 1 album of 2023 at Mowno, broadcasts on France Inter, etc.). And because you definitely don't change a winning team, HI HI HA HA marks the third visit by the most Laval-based of Walloon bands to Amaury Sauvé's The Apiary studio, and their fourth album on the Vicious Circle Records catalogue. More than just a release, it is a celebration of almost 15 years of existence, of a consistency and authenticity that undoubtedly command respect.

© Clément Duboscq / Titouan Masse