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The Underground of Happiness
uplifting pop music of every creed
www.theundergroundofhappiness.blogspot.com
Tuesdays 11.00am-12.00pm GMT
(repeated Tuesdays 8.30pm)
Cork Campus Radio, 98.3FM
*listen live on the web at www.ucc.ie/ccr
So we've had our summer here in Ireland, in the shape of an Easter heatwave. Normal service has been resumed now in the shape of rain (sometimes wholehearted downpours, sometimes a cheeky drizzle, just for variety). More great music to listen to (indoors) this month, with chamber pop particularly to the fore. But you'll also find orchestral, psychedelic, garage-rock and IDM flourishes, among others, below. What's a pop music tag between friends anyway.
All albums, unless otherwise noted.
The Doomed Bird of Providence - Will ever pray (Front & Follow)
It's quite unusual to find an album that is the result of, in effect, a research project. What a bonus when the music has a mysterious and compelling quality (although we partly guessed as much based on the band's fine eponymous EP of last year). The research in question, by singer Mark Kluzek, focuses on early Australian history and reveals harrowing tales of death and delinquency in the inhospitable tropics and on the high seas. The tales of various miscreants and misfortunates are recounted against a suitable backdrop of folk laments and dirges (violin and accordion are prominent throughout). In fact, the strength of the stories suggests a theatrical setting. Fedicia Exine deserves special mention, a song about "the little-known daughter of a convict" deported to Van Diemen's Land for murder. It contains a heartstopping moment a few minutes in when the drones drop out momentarily to be replaced by a light, airy folk tune on guitar, only for the narrator to re-enter and continue the tragic tale. Dramatic and heartrending.
Album trailer - http://youtu.be/JgoG3jXs5PE
http://soundcloud.com/frontandfollow/the-doomed-bird-of-providence
In other very interesting news, Front & Follow are also releasing a series of commissioned remixes of the aforementioned Fedicia Exine, The Fedicia Exine Remixes, by Zoon van Snook, Mark Beazley (ex-Rothko) and I am a Vowel, among others. It's transformative stuff, drawing several extra layers of meaning from the original, and is an essential accompaniment to the album. The standout for me is the Position Normal remix, which has a ghostly, and completely appropriate, deep-sea atmosphere.
http://soundcloud.com/frontandfollow/sets/the-fedicia-exine-remixes
William D. Drake - Rising of the lights (Onomatopoeia Records)
Here's what I know about William D. Drake. He used to be in English band Cardiacs. He's obviously interested in English folk and medieval music - I have a hunch he enjoys silent film soundtracks too. His music is playful and quite surreal, but not at the expense of passion and energy. The instrumental track Ziegler starts like a Buster Keaton chase sequence (with twirling clarinet) before becoming very like the theme tune to (the fondly remembered Irish children's tv programme) Wanderly Wagon. He's a fantastic piano player, who sounds like he'd be right at home with jazz, classical, traditional or any other genre you'd like to throw at him. The song Ornamental hermit concerns the (presumably discontinued, although you never know) practice of wealthy English families keeping a hermit on their grounds. The title of the album refers to a disease found in 18th century London. Super altar is a medieval harpsichord melody glued together with a post-punk organ solo. On the other hand, In an ideal world is a plainly beautiful piano ballad. Overall, the album is warm, funny and hard to pin down. Not to worry, because above all it's get-under-your-skin pop music. Learn to love it like a warm memory.
http://williamddrake.wordpress.com/
Julia Kent - Green and grey (Tin Angel Records)
This second album by the Canadian (she used to be part of the Antony and the Jonsons touring band) might sound a bit off-putting on paper - solo cello, layered, with field recordings. Don't be put off, it's one of the most beautiful instrumental collections you'll hear in a while. For example, the cinematic poise of Pleiades. Or the gorgeous thrum of Acquario's opening bars with background lapping water, followed by the romantic sweep of several entwined cello parts. The majestic Overlook makes me think of tragic French films. Simply, it's beautiful, beautiful music. Highly recommended.
Interview from 2009: http://youtu.be/WF5PMVrWHiE
Playing Primavera Sound Festival, Barcelona, May 26-28
World's End Girlfriend - Les enfants du Paradis (Erased Tapes, from the album Seven idiots)
Beautiful and challenging 7 minute opus from the Japanese composer's new album. Comparisons to Cornelius are inevitable and WEG does skim across genres like a stone over water (pointedly, another track on the album is titled Teen age Ziggy). Amidst various classical and IDM references though, this epic instrumental mainly calls to mind the golden ages of pop music, with Bacharach-like string sweeps and 80's power pop, punch-the-air choruses. There are also cameos straight out of the Hard Rock Café. Nothing but glorious and uplifting pop music, all round.
Free download - http://erasedtapes.com/weg/seven-idiots
*Check out too the great accompanying video, directed by Yohei Saita, featuring a wonderful solo dance interpretation.
http://youtu.be/2bwN2DOloOI
Fleet Foxes - Grown ocean (Sub Pop, from the album Helplessness blues)
Among the many comments about beards and vocal harmonies, what is sometimes overlooked about Fleet Foxes is their fine grasp of the dynamics of a pop song - when to rise, when to fall, a timely key change to shift the mood, an instrumental flourish to spice an arrangement. The second track to see the light of day from their upcoming second album showcases all these qualities (the trilling flute is my favourite moment). And it's a tune you'll want to sing along to. Oh yeah, and the vocal harmonies (beards) are irresistible and sound like they've arrived from another time.
http://youtu.be/Pgv6dKV03dA
Playing The Marquee, Cork, June 26
The Horror The Horror - Believe in magic (Tapete Records)
Don't you just love Swedish bands? On their third album but a new name to me, The Horror The Horror (or THTH as I'm already calling them) seem to distil the spirit of the 1980's. The blurb mentions Style Council and Prefab Sprout, but the absolutely knockout Believe in magic comes across more like Van Halen to me, without the Eddie van Halen guitar solo. Which means a better version, in my book. It's on repeat at my house and is nestling up close to Ariel Pink's Round and round for company. Get into it.
Free d'load: http://soundcloud.com/tapete-records/the-horror-the-horror-believe
Equally ace is Wilderness, their new single (and title track of their new album). It has an irresistible "ooh-ooh-ooh" chorus, among other great things. The video features a man dressed as a dancing chicken but is oddly romantic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQtLCJFL9sI
Left with Pictures - In time (Organ Grinder Records)
If you're into chamber pop (and I am) you'll want to be checking out this English band's second album. It's a concept-ish album, with 12 songs, each one relating to a different month of the year. So, it opens with Constantly, a bittersweet meditation on the passing of time, driven along by a rolling piano figure and some great banjo playing. The Ides of March sounds strangely like Morrissey (only, if he'd been into The Zombies instead of the New York Dolls). August's Go Simon, Go! brilliantly finds common ground between a barbershop quartet and Thin Lizzy's Dancing in the Moonlight. And the at-odds-textures of bowed saw and jaunty brass on closing song Forgive me perfectly evoke the mixed feelings of an English December. Joining folk and classical music, via English music hall, this album just goes to show how broad a church pop music can be, if you go looking in the right places. And don't you just love it.
This light - http://youtu.be/IWiObflJkZ4
Damon & Naomi - False beats and true hearts (Broken Horse)
The former bandmates of Dean Wareham in Galaxie 500 are still making a handsome contribution to the canon of dream pop. You only need to hear the plangent beauty of How do I say goodbye, or the English folk revival feel (albeit with a VU-ish electric guitar drone lurking in the shadows) of the gorgeous Shadow boxing. My own fave is What she brings, with its aching slide, creamy psych guitar and vibrating bells. Rich textures are supplied by understated mellotrons and flutes. All in all, a dizzy drift of pleasure through your subconscious. Which is something I recommend.
Chris Marker's "video" for And you are there - http://www.thewire.co.uk/articles/5946/
uplifting pop music of every creed
www.theundergroundofhappiness.blogspot.com
Tuesdays 11.00am-12.00pm GMT
(repeated Tuesdays 8.30pm)
Cork Campus Radio, 98.3FM
*listen live on the web at www.ucc.ie/ccr
So we've had our summer here in Ireland, in the shape of an Easter heatwave. Normal service has been resumed now in the shape of rain (sometimes wholehearted downpours, sometimes a cheeky drizzle, just for variety). More great music to listen to (indoors) this month, with chamber pop particularly to the fore. But you'll also find orchestral, psychedelic, garage-rock and IDM flourishes, among others, below. What's a pop music tag between friends anyway.
All albums, unless otherwise noted.
The Doomed Bird of Providence - Will ever pray (Front & Follow)
It's quite unusual to find an album that is the result of, in effect, a research project. What a bonus when the music has a mysterious and compelling quality (although we partly guessed as much based on the band's fine eponymous EP of last year). The research in question, by singer Mark Kluzek, focuses on early Australian history and reveals harrowing tales of death and delinquency in the inhospitable tropics and on the high seas. The tales of various miscreants and misfortunates are recounted against a suitable backdrop of folk laments and dirges (violin and accordion are prominent throughout). In fact, the strength of the stories suggests a theatrical setting. Fedicia Exine deserves special mention, a song about "the little-known daughter of a convict" deported to Van Diemen's Land for murder. It contains a heartstopping moment a few minutes in when the drones drop out momentarily to be replaced by a light, airy folk tune on guitar, only for the narrator to re-enter and continue the tragic tale. Dramatic and heartrending.
Album trailer - http://youtu.be/JgoG3jXs5PE
http://soundcloud.com/frontandfollow/the-doomed-bird-of-providence
In other very interesting news, Front & Follow are also releasing a series of commissioned remixes of the aforementioned Fedicia Exine, The Fedicia Exine Remixes, by Zoon van Snook, Mark Beazley (ex-Rothko) and I am a Vowel, among others. It's transformative stuff, drawing several extra layers of meaning from the original, and is an essential accompaniment to the album. The standout for me is the Position Normal remix, which has a ghostly, and completely appropriate, deep-sea atmosphere.
http://soundcloud.com/frontandfollow/sets/the-fedicia-exine-remixes
William D. Drake - Rising of the lights (Onomatopoeia Records)
Here's what I know about William D. Drake. He used to be in English band Cardiacs. He's obviously interested in English folk and medieval music - I have a hunch he enjoys silent film soundtracks too. His music is playful and quite surreal, but not at the expense of passion and energy. The instrumental track Ziegler starts like a Buster Keaton chase sequence (with twirling clarinet) before becoming very like the theme tune to (the fondly remembered Irish children's tv programme) Wanderly Wagon. He's a fantastic piano player, who sounds like he'd be right at home with jazz, classical, traditional or any other genre you'd like to throw at him. The song Ornamental hermit concerns the (presumably discontinued, although you never know) practice of wealthy English families keeping a hermit on their grounds. The title of the album refers to a disease found in 18th century London. Super altar is a medieval harpsichord melody glued together with a post-punk organ solo. On the other hand, In an ideal world is a plainly beautiful piano ballad. Overall, the album is warm, funny and hard to pin down. Not to worry, because above all it's get-under-your-skin pop music. Learn to love it like a warm memory.
http://williamddrake.wordpress.com/
Julia Kent - Green and grey (Tin Angel Records)
This second album by the Canadian (she used to be part of the Antony and the Jonsons touring band) might sound a bit off-putting on paper - solo cello, layered, with field recordings. Don't be put off, it's one of the most beautiful instrumental collections you'll hear in a while. For example, the cinematic poise of Pleiades. Or the gorgeous thrum of Acquario's opening bars with background lapping water, followed by the romantic sweep of several entwined cello parts. The majestic Overlook makes me think of tragic French films. Simply, it's beautiful, beautiful music. Highly recommended.
Interview from 2009: http://youtu.be/WF5PMVrWHiE
Playing Primavera Sound Festival, Barcelona, May 26-28
World's End Girlfriend - Les enfants du Paradis (Erased Tapes, from the album Seven idiots)
Beautiful and challenging 7 minute opus from the Japanese composer's new album. Comparisons to Cornelius are inevitable and WEG does skim across genres like a stone over water (pointedly, another track on the album is titled Teen age Ziggy). Amidst various classical and IDM references though, this epic instrumental mainly calls to mind the golden ages of pop music, with Bacharach-like string sweeps and 80's power pop, punch-the-air choruses. There are also cameos straight out of the Hard Rock Café. Nothing but glorious and uplifting pop music, all round.
Free download - http://erasedtapes.com/weg/seven-idiots
*Check out too the great accompanying video, directed by Yohei Saita, featuring a wonderful solo dance interpretation.
http://youtu.be/2bwN2DOloOI
Fleet Foxes - Grown ocean (Sub Pop, from the album Helplessness blues)
Among the many comments about beards and vocal harmonies, what is sometimes overlooked about Fleet Foxes is their fine grasp of the dynamics of a pop song - when to rise, when to fall, a timely key change to shift the mood, an instrumental flourish to spice an arrangement. The second track to see the light of day from their upcoming second album showcases all these qualities (the trilling flute is my favourite moment). And it's a tune you'll want to sing along to. Oh yeah, and the vocal harmonies (beards) are irresistible and sound like they've arrived from another time.
http://youtu.be/Pgv6dKV03dA
Playing The Marquee, Cork, June 26
The Horror The Horror - Believe in magic (Tapete Records)
Don't you just love Swedish bands? On their third album but a new name to me, The Horror The Horror (or THTH as I'm already calling them) seem to distil the spirit of the 1980's. The blurb mentions Style Council and Prefab Sprout, but the absolutely knockout Believe in magic comes across more like Van Halen to me, without the Eddie van Halen guitar solo. Which means a better version, in my book. It's on repeat at my house and is nestling up close to Ariel Pink's Round and round for company. Get into it.
Free d'load: http://soundcloud.com/tapete-records/the-horror-the-horror-believe
Equally ace is Wilderness, their new single (and title track of their new album). It has an irresistible "ooh-ooh-ooh" chorus, among other great things. The video features a man dressed as a dancing chicken but is oddly romantic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQtLCJFL9sI
Left with Pictures - In time (Organ Grinder Records)
If you're into chamber pop (and I am) you'll want to be checking out this English band's second album. It's a concept-ish album, with 12 songs, each one relating to a different month of the year. So, it opens with Constantly, a bittersweet meditation on the passing of time, driven along by a rolling piano figure and some great banjo playing. The Ides of March sounds strangely like Morrissey (only, if he'd been into The Zombies instead of the New York Dolls). August's Go Simon, Go! brilliantly finds common ground between a barbershop quartet and Thin Lizzy's Dancing in the Moonlight. And the at-odds-textures of bowed saw and jaunty brass on closing song Forgive me perfectly evoke the mixed feelings of an English December. Joining folk and classical music, via English music hall, this album just goes to show how broad a church pop music can be, if you go looking in the right places. And don't you just love it.
This light - http://youtu.be/IWiObflJkZ4
Damon & Naomi - False beats and true hearts (Broken Horse)
The former bandmates of Dean Wareham in Galaxie 500 are still making a handsome contribution to the canon of dream pop. You only need to hear the plangent beauty of How do I say goodbye, or the English folk revival feel (albeit with a VU-ish electric guitar drone lurking in the shadows) of the gorgeous Shadow boxing. My own fave is What she brings, with its aching slide, creamy psych guitar and vibrating bells. Rich textures are supplied by understated mellotrons and flutes. All in all, a dizzy drift of pleasure through your subconscious. Which is something I recommend.
Chris Marker's "video" for And you are there - http://www.thewire.co.uk/articles/5946/
