SINCE the rise of the blogosphere and the internet music revolution, the term buzz band’ has become ubiquitous indie music parlance – a label placed (somewhat cynically) on any new act that has managed to attract the attention of the revered online music cabal. Whereas some UK bands fulfilled the hype and more (Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand), others wilted under the heat (Klaxons, Maximo Park) and some didn’t even get going at all (Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong), class of 2012 tipped Peace continue to not so much polarise opinion as they do surgically splice it – their debut album lauded by some as a rock ‘n’ roll spectacular, yet dismissed by others as throwaway ersatz Britpop.

2 years on from debut record in Love, the Brummie quartet’s approach to sophomore effort Happy People remains much the same with original cohort Jim Abiss again assuming production duties over a 35 minute smorgasbord of 90’s homages, madcap lyrics and, at times, quite brilliant technical proficiency. Opening track ‘O You’ sees singer Harry Kissinger set the stall of his ambitions out, claiming that he’s “just trying to change the world that we live in” over cascades of jaunty guitar and a swopping string section, while the glycemic ‘Perfect Skin’ showcases a more deprecating side as Kissinger muses “I wish I wore gorgeous clothes” in a wry chorus hook which sounds born for the Radio 1 “A” playlist.

Doug Castles has gained widespread plaudits for his guitarmanship in recent years and the Frusciante inspired axeman only serves to ratify those claims here. The ragged, crunchy chords of ‘I’m a Girl’ are evocative of Elastica at their most furious, while the intricate noodling of Happy People is counter-pointed by drummer Dominic Boyce’s Reni-esque off beat rhythms. Stand out individual moments are plentiful throughout, but on the poppy, capitalism-censuring ‘Money’, the band as a unit demonstrate a thematic maturity and sharpened understanding of song craft. 6 minute closing track ‘World Pleasure’ features a bass and piano coda that strays too close to early Primal Scream territory to be taken seriously, but still comes replete with a strangely enjoyable verse in which Kissinger adopts his best Debbie Harry Rapture impression.

Happy People may not placate the detractors who level the accusation that rather than the second coming, Peace are nothing but a bunch of 90’s revivalists. Yet equally true is that what they may lack in originality, they more than make up for in musicianship and solid songwriting, with the sheer scope and variety of their pastiche impressive in itself. Kissinger sang of how he wanted to change the world that we live in, and he most probably won’t with anything ground-breaking, but when he’s having such a fun time trying to, who really cares?