An album nine years in the making, art-pop duo The Ampersands finally release Happy to Be here, bringing us a generous fifteen tracks of adventurous and joyous sounds. Singer-songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Aaron McQuade and Jim Pace have been making music together for more than half their lives. "We believe that music should get stuck in your head," they say, "but do something constructive while it's in there."

This attitude perfectly sums up what to expect from Happy to Be Here. The Twin Cities / Bay Area outfit conjure up a perfect blend of depth and accessibility. These songs will linger long in both the head and the heart.