London band, Sports Team are back: their latest single ‘Happy (God’s Own Country’) dropped last night, accompanied by a bizarre, yet brazenly cool Wicker-Man style video.

Sports Team released their superb debut, ‘Deep Down Happy’ as the country was firmly in the grip of Covid. The happy-go-lucky record was a well needed distraction, taking aim at modern life and poking fun at the middle classes. ‘Happy’ is no different thematically: the band have a knack for taking the piss, this time with cottagecore, tax returns and Nigel Farage’s political stomping ground Thanet firmly in the crosshairs.

The video that accompanies the track plays out like a fever dream as the band re-enact The Wicker Man. Dishy frontman Alex Rice is clad in an eminently stylish suit, fag in hand, delivering the tongue in cheek lyrics, whilst the rest of the band are clad in a variety of costumes to play out the re-enactment.

Video for Happy (God’s Own Country) out now. Directed by Georgina Cammalleri — special thanks to Micheal, Sue, Judith and the Phoenix Morris troupehttps://t.co/glQ2jVUR5A pic.twitter.com/dpFq3K3R1z

— Sports Team (@SportsTeam_) April 22, 2021

Rice’s lyrics vary from the obscene to the strikingly relevant as he vocalises concerns about the alt-right. The track itself feels like a two and a half minute satirisation of the misplaced patriotism and flag-loving at the heart of Tory Britain right now.

Earlier this year, Sports Team announced ‘Plant Test’ a compilation of unmastered work, b-sides and rarities. The vinyl release is being sold exclusively through independent stores and is set for release at the end of May.

The band are scheduled to play a UK tour, stopping off at a variety of well loved venues up and down the country. They are yet to take to the stage following ‘Deep Down Happy’, but I get the sense that Sports Team’s upcoming tour is sure to be a huge party.

if ‘Happy’ is anything to go by, we can expect more of the same from Sports Team: raucous, fun and satirical. As the sun has started to break through this week, ‘Happy’ is prefect beer-garden music.