“Bouncy” and “Ray LaMontagne” are two terms that don’t often find themselves sharing a sentence, so the fact that the normally brooding singer-songwriter’s new single is so…so…happy is a bit of a surprise. So much of a surprise, in fact, that it took me a few listens to appreciate the song.

I’m going to assume that Ray hasn’t gone all touchy-feely on us in the years since his last album, God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise, but kudos to him (and producer Dan Auerbach) for trying something different, at least at the outset of his new album’s campaign.

Supernova, the album, arrives May 6th.