This week's show (1 Viewer)

The Underground of Happiness
uplifting pop music of every creed

www.myspace.com/theundergroundofhappiness

Playlist 123

Tues Apr 27th 2010
11.00am-12.00pm
Cork Campus Radio, 98.3FM
listen live on the web at
www.ucc.ie/ccr
*listen back to this show at
http://rapidshare.com/files/380774673/UOH_Podcast_Apr_27_2010.mp3

Playlist
Grosvenor - Taxi from the airport (album launch Madame Jojo's, London, May 10)

Krystle Warren & the Faculty - To the middle (playing Richard Thompson's Meltdown, Southbank Centre, London, June 13)
Basia Bulat - Run (playing Crawdaddy, Dublin, Apr 28)
Doomed Bird of Providence - A letter from Van Diemen's Land
Coco Rosie - Lemonade (playing The Button Factory, Dublin, May 11)
Can - Moonshake
Gotan Project - Tu misterio
Malachai - Snowflake
Sunday Girl - Four floors (Diplo vs Sunday Girl)
Boa Morte - Wooden floor
(playing Crane Lane Theatre, Cork, May 1; also Róisín Dubh, Galway, May 22 & Bewley's Theatre, Dublin, May 23)
Willard Grant Conspiracy - Ballad of John Parker (playing Crane Lane Theatre, Cork, Apr 29)
Harlem - Poolside
The Plasticines - Another kiss
Tracey Thorn - Oh the divorces
Signe Tollefsen - History class
Nerina Pallot - I don't want to go out (We are the Chatterleys mix) (playing The Sugar Club, Dublin, May 4)


*next week's show features more music from Doomed Bird of Providence, also Wildbirds & Peacedrums, Sereena Maneesh and Ennio Morricone among others

e-mail the show on
[email protected]
or text +353 (0)86-1778197
please mark messages “uoh”

Conor O'Toole,
c/o Cork Campus Radio,
Áras na Mac Léinn,
Student Centre,
University College Cork,
Cork,
Ireland.


 
Just a quick reminder of this week's show coming up tomorrow morning:

The Underground of Happiness
Tuesday May 4th 2010
11.00am-1.00pm GMT
Cork Campus Radio 98.3FM
*listen live on the web at
www.ucc.ie/ccr

*an extended show this week features music from Doomed Bird of Providence, Ennio Morricone, The Ruby Suns, Oh No Ono, Wildbirds & Peacedrums, Sereena Maneesh, Patrick Kelleher & His Cold Dead Hands, July Garland & Fred Astaire, The Bird & the Bee and Petula Clark among others

www.myspace.com/theundergroundofhappiness
 
The Underground of Happiness
uplifting pop music of every creed

www.myspace.com/theundergroundofhappiness

Playlist 124

Tues May 4th 2010
11.00am-1.00pm
Cork Campus Radio, 98.3FM
listen live on the web at
www.ucc.ie/ccr
*listen back to this show at
http://rapidshare.com/files/383487435/UOH_Podcast_May_4_2010.mp3


Playlist
Petula Clark - You're the one

The Ruby Suns - Sun lake rinsed (playing Twisted Pepper, Dublin, May 27)
Extra Life - Black hoodie (playing Whelan's, Dublin, June 5)
*d'load interview with Charlie Looker from May 2009 here
http://rapidshare.com/files/273048690/Extra_Life_UOH_Interview_Podcast.mp3

Wildbirds & Peacedrums - Fight for me (playing ATP, Minehead, May 14 & Bishopsgate Institute, London, May 15)
Doomed Bird of Providence - Dorothy Handland
Ennio Morricone - Terraza vuota (from the soundtrack of the film Metti, una sera a cena)
High Places - On giving up (playing Whelan's Upstairs, Dublin, May 5, w/ Porn on Vinyl & Catscars)
Porn on Vinyl - Nature hides the scars of war
Patrick Kelleher & his Cold Dead Hands - Multipass (Catscars remix)
Patrick Kelleher & his Cold Dead Hands - Coat to wear (playing Whelan's Upstairs, Dublin, May 8, w/ Think about Life & Crayonsmith)
Here We Go Magic - Collector (playing Primavera Festival, Barcelona, May 28 & Electric Picnic, Stradbally, Sept 3-5)
Arch Garrison - Stone on the pound (playing Brixton Library, London, May 28)
Field Music - Something familiar (playing Richard Thompson's Meltdown, Southbank Centre, London, June 15 w/ Villagers & Cyprus Avenue, Cork, Sept 8)
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Round and round
David Turpin - Heart beep
The Bird & the Bee - Kiss on my list
Judy Garland & Fred Astaire with the MGM Studio Orchestra - A couple of swells (from the soundtrack of the film Easter Parade)
Oh No Ono - Swim (playing The Luminaire, London, May 17)
Sereena Maneesh - Magdalerna Symphony #8
Olafur Arnalds - Gleypa okkur (playing Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, July 1)
Husky Rescue - Sound of love
Husky Rescue - Summertime cowboy (Implosion Quintet remix)
The Golden Filter - Moonlight fantasy (playing Oxegen Festival, Punchestown, July 11)
Darwin Deez - Radar detector (playing The Great Escape Festival, Brighton, May 13/14)
The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio (playing Electric Picnic, Stradbally, Sept 3-5)


*next week's show features music from Villagers, Boa Morte, Born Ruffians and Boxharp among others

e-mail the show on
[email protected]
or text +353 (0)86-7839800
please mark messages “uoh”

Conor O'Toole,
c/o Cork Campus Radio,
Áras na Mac Léinn,
Student Centre,
University College Cork,
Cork,
Ireland.
 
Just a quick reminder of this week's show coming up tomorrow morning:

The Underground of Happiness
Tuesday May 11th 2010
11.00am-12.00pm GMT
Cork Campus Radio 98.3FM
*listen live on the web at
www.ucc.ie/ccr

* this week's show features music from Wildbirds & Peacedrums, Marianne Dissard, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Dum Dum Girls, Boa Morte, Children Under Hoof, The Kinks and Villagers among others

www.myspace.com/theundergroundofhappiness
 
April 2010 Music Picks

Field Music – Field Music (Measure) (Memphis Industries)
This was released in March, but it's so good it's worth waiting for. 20 insinuatingly catchy, slightly surreal pop songs from the Brewis brothers, which manage being angular without sacrificing the tune. The spectre of XTC and Abbey Road-era Beatles is wrapped warmly around the songs (even Led Zeppelin in places - in fact, a lot of the album sounds like one man's love affair with a Gibson SG). The songwriting is intimate, domestic, concerned with work and relationships, always wryly optimistic. Perfectly pitched, mostly guitar-based arrangements (sprinkling of piano and strings here and there), including some great backing vocal innovations (I particularly love the oooh's in Each time is a new time). There are hooks all over the shop. Rubber soul doesn't get any better than this.

The Ruby Suns - Fight softly (Memphis Industries)
Amiably trippy third album from the Auckland band, also released in March. A close cousin of El Guincho's Alegranza (who remixed The Ruby Suns' Palmitos Park). Ryan McPhun's male falsetto is pleasingly reminiscient of Dirty Projector's Dave Longstreth (the syncopated rhythms and vocal melodies also call to mind that band, as well as Animal Collective), and brings an endearing vulnerability to the arrangements, which undercuts the (mostly) galloping Tropicalia rhythms. As a whole, it comes across like world music for the Ibiza generation. But if you're not into either of those, you can still love it. I defy anyone to resist the charms of Cranberry. Irrepressible and beguiling music.

John & Jehn - Love is not enough (Naive)
Stand-out song from French duo's second album. Jehn manages to sound like Ian McCulloch in the verses, then massed ranks of Johns bring on a rousing chorus. Great, hummable bassline too.

(P.S. You can hear John & Jehn talk more about basslines in this interview from 2008, in the context of Serge Gainsbourg's classic Histoire de Melody Nelson album - http://rapidshare.com/files/299684409/John_et_Jehn_Interview.mp3 )

Malachai - Snowflake (Double 6) (single)
Lovely jam-room drumming and stirring vocals on this single from the Bristol band's Ugly side of love album.

the xx - Crystalised (Young Turks)
Another beautifully slinky single from the Londoners' debut album. It's all about the bass.

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Round and round (4AD)
Fantastic single from forthcoming album, their first on 4AD. Spends the first couple of minutes meandering pleasantly in an ambient haze (a bit like 10cc, to these ears), then a phone rings, Ariel says "hello" and the chorus of "Hold on, I'm coming" kicks in. Thoughts of long summer days, 70's AM rock, smooth 80's pop (Hall & Oates for example), and choirs of angels come flooding through. The cover ranks quite high on a scale of disturbing images, but that doesn't matter as your enjoyment of the music is assured.

The Bird & the Bee - Kiss on my list (Blue Note)
Speaking of Hall & Oates, this is my favourite song on Greg Kurstin and Inara George's hommage to the '80's smooth-meisters, Interpreting the Masters Vol 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall & John Oates. Her smoky voice and his seductive electric piano lines bring a new dimension to an already great tune. (And her angelic backing of la-la-la's kinda makes me melt...)

Tindersticks - Black smoke (4AD)
Single from the Falling down a mountain album. A great low, rolling, electric guitar pattern, a Motown beat, male falsetto backing vocals, a tambourine, a trapped saxophone and Stuart Staples "making love in the afternoon". Brilliant.

Sereena Maneesh - I just want to see your face (4AD)
Norwegian band wearing their MBV influence on their sleeves and I love it. This single begins with a techno assault, before morphing into a hazy drift of soft female vocals on a bed of guitars.

David Turpin - Haunted (Kabinet)
This Irish album came out last year but I'm only catching up now. Glad I did. A most unexpected mixture of Arthur Russell influences with tight songwriting, perfectly appointed synth arrangements and sweet vocal treatments (bordering on gospel territory in places - see Dorothy Gale). Features contributions from Villagers' Conor O'Brien, among others, and gorgeous production by Turpin himself and Stephen Shannon. Check it out for the songs. Recommended.

Patrick Kelleher & His Cold Dead Hands - You look colder (remix album) (Osaka)
I'm recommending this album on the basis of hearing just some of the tracks on it. The Threadpulls and Catscars remixes stand out for me. The former features a drum, a bass, a lonesome tambourine and a strangled vocal and comes on like a lo-fi Joy Division. The latter has an electronic whipcrack, sinister keys and a primitive pulse, sounding on the whole like a science fiction soundtrack building to its unthinkable conclusion. Both wonderfully atmospheric sound journeys and worth the admission alone.

Sarah Blasko - As day follows night (Dramatico)
This Australian singer is already big down under, and making her first foray into the northern hemisphere with the album As day follows night. Succinct and compact songwriting style, beautifully understated arrangements and sublime production by Bjorn Yttling (of Peter, Bjorn & John). The singles We won't run and All I want are both cracking pop songs but there's as good if not better on the rest of the album. Which is always a good sign.

Boxharp - The green (Hidden Shoal)
North Carolina duo, producer Scott Solter (St Vincent, Spoon, Okkervil River) and singer Wendy Allen. Elements of folk music (of a Celtic flavour, quite often) meeting digital studio techniques, giving dreamy and celestial results. The sublime Cloy features a treated piano and a plaintiff vocal gradually submerged by a waspish synth line, with deep sea rumblings and mysterious rattlings providing the supporting cast. Nods to Harmonia's brand of kosmische are to be found on The moon's the north wind's cookie. Enigmatic, pastoral and beautiful.

Boa Morte - The dial waltz (Kicking a Can Records)
Long-awaited second album from Cork band. Beautiful, heart-rending result. Most often compared to Smog and Will Oldham but also traces of Jim O'Rourke in the harmonium, brass and string arrangements, with wonderfully sensitive drumming, showing avant-garde as much as folk tendencies. Subtle, lovingly put together and bears repeated listening.

Gotan Project - Tango 3.0 (XL)
Wonderful updating of tango, with electronic flourishes, for the 21st century club generation.

Coco Rosie - Grey oceans (PIAS)
4th album from the Cassidy sisters which I love for the sheer "what next" factor. In the space of one song they can manage to suggest The Andrews Sisters alongside Tom Waits, with Maria Callas crashing the party. Theirs is a world where honky-tonk, freak folk and dub can co-exist cheerfully. Lemonade and Hopscotch are my stand-out tracks so far, taking turns at being haunting and beguiling. Happily, while letting their imaginations run riot, the sisters haven't neglected to produce tunes you can hum.

Oh No Ono - Eggs (Leaf)
Again just catching up on a release from a few months back. Copenhagen band making psychedelic pop music on the excellent Leaf label. Twisting melodies to fall in love with, urgent and insistent arrangements, liberal use of the wide spectrum of backing vocals. Drones, English folk music, Bollywood-style string flourishes, harpsichords, brass band trumpets, soft rock, choirs all present. A likeably mad bunch, by the sound of things.

The Doomed Bird of Providence - The Doomed Bird of Providence EP (Front & Follow)
A digital-only EP on the always interesting Front & Follow label, from an English band who sound Australian. That's because their songs take inspiration from stories relating to 19th century deportation to that part of the world. The Black Heart Procession and The Bad Seeds are touchstones musically, folk songs of murder and other acts of desperation, adorned with fiddle, mandolin, acoustic guitar and bass drum. Strangely uplifting for all that.

The Golden Filter - Voluspa (Brille)
A kind of post-disco set from the New York duo. Glacial female vocals set against echo-laden synths and organic percussion, stripping bare the funk to see what's left. What's fascinating is that there's still plenty left. Intriguing.

Born Ruffians - What to say (Warp) (single)
Slice of battered and bare white funk, from the Toronto three-piece, with an endearingly bruised, self-deprecating vocal.

Wildbirds & Peacedrums - Fight for me (Leaf) (from Retina EP, free download to subscribers)
This song consists only of Mariam Wallentin's soulful pleadings, Andreas Werliin's rattling percussion and thundering floor toms, along with some help from the Schola Cantorum Reykjavik Chamber Choir (you might have heard them on Bjork's Medulla album). It's one of the most arrestingly beautiful pieces of music I've heard this year and is sure to stay with you long after the last note has faded.

Olafur Arnalds - ...and they have escaped the weight of darkness (Erased Tapes)
Gorgeous, heart-wrenching instrumental album from the Icelandic composer, lead by piano, backed by orchestral strings. Like the shyer younger brother of Sigur Ros.

Darwin Deez - Radar detector (Lucky Number) (single)
A sweetly deranged pop song detailing the love between one man and his radar detection device. The world needs more of this kind of thing.

gigs
Coco Rosie, The Button Factory, Dublin, May 11
Dum Dum Girls, Whelan's, Dublin, May 18
Villagers, Cyprus Avenue, Cork, May 20
Boa Morte, Roisin Dubh, Galway, May 22 & Bewley's Café, Dublin, May 23
Primavera Festival, Barcelona, May 27-29
 
April 2010 Music Picks

Field Music – Field Music (Measure) (Memphis Industries)
This was released in March, but it's so good it's worth waiting for. 20 insinuatingly catchy, slightly surreal pop songs from the Brewis brothers, which manage being angular without sacrificing the tune. The spectre of XTC and Abbey Road-era Beatles is wrapped warmly around the songs (even Led Zeppelin in places - in fact, a lot of the album sounds like one man's love affair with a Gibson SG). The songwriting is intimate, domestic, concerned with work and relationships, always wryly optimistic. Perfectly pitched, mostly guitar-based arrangements (sprinkling of piano and strings here and there), including some great backing vocal innovations (I particularly love the oooh's in Each time is a new time). There are hooks all over the shop. Rubber soul doesn't get any better than this.

The Ruby Suns - Fight softly (Memphis Industries)
Amiably trippy third album from the Auckland band, also released in March. A close cousin of El Guincho's Alegranza (who remixed The Ruby Suns' Palmitos Park). Ryan McPhun's male falsetto is pleasingly reminiscient of Dirty Projector's Dave Longstreth (the syncopated rhythms and vocal melodies also call to mind that band, as well as Animal Collective), and brings an endearing vulnerability to the arrangements, which undercuts the (mostly) galloping Tropicalia rhythms. As a whole, it comes across like world music for the Ibiza generation. But if you're not into either of those, you can still love it. I defy anyone to resist the charms of Cranberry. Irrepressible and beguiling music.

John & Jehn - Love is not enough (Naive)
Stand-out song from French duo's second album. Jehn manages to sound like Ian McCulloch in the verses, then massed ranks of Johns bring on a rousing chorus. Great, hummable bassline too.

(P.S. You can hear John & Jehn talk more about basslines in this interview from 2008, in the context of Serge Gainsbourg's classic Histoire de Melody Nelson album - http://rapidshare.com/files/299684409/John_et_Jehn_Interview.mp3 )

Malachai - Snowflake (Double 6) (single)
Lovely jam-room drumming and stirring vocals on this single from the Bristol band's Ugly side of love album.

the xx - Crystalised (Young Turks)
Another beautifully slinky single from the Londoners' debut album. It's all about the bass.

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Round and round (4AD)
Fantastic single from forthcoming album, their first on 4AD. Spends the first couple of minutes meandering pleasantly in an ambient haze (a bit like 10cc, to these ears), then a phone rings, Ariel says "hello" and the chorus of "Hold on, I'm coming" kicks in. Thoughts of long summer days, 70's AM rock, smooth 80's pop (Hall & Oates for example), and choirs of angels come flooding through. The cover ranks quite high on a scale of disturbing images, but that doesn't matter as your enjoyment of the music is assured.

The Bird & the Bee - Kiss on my list (Blue Note)
Speaking of Hall & Oates, this is my favourite song on Greg Kurstin and Inara George's hommage to the '80's smooth-meisters, Interpreting the Masters Vol 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall & John Oates. Her smoky voice and his seductive electric piano lines bring a new dimension to an already great tune. (And her angelic backing of la-la-la's kinda makes me melt...)

Tindersticks - Black smoke (4AD)
Single from the Falling down a mountain album. A great low, rolling, electric guitar pattern, a Motown beat, male falsetto backing vocals, a tambourine, a trapped saxophone and Stuart Staples "making love in the afternoon". Brilliant.

Sereena Maneesh - I just want to see your face (4AD)
Norwegian band wearing their MBV influence on their sleeves and I love it. This single begins with a techno assault, before morphing into a hazy drift of soft female vocals on a bed of guitars.

David Turpin - Haunted (Kabinet)
This Irish album came out last year but I'm only catching up now. Glad I did. A most unexpected mixture of Arthur Russell influences with tight songwriting, perfectly appointed synth arrangements and sweet vocal treatments (bordering on gospel territory in places - see Dorothy Gale). Features contributions from Villagers' Conor O'Brien, among others, and gorgeous production by Turpin himself and Stephen Shannon. Check it out for the songs. Recommended.

Patrick Kelleher & His Cold Dead Hands - You look colder (remix album) (Osaka)
I'm recommending this album on the basis of hearing just some of the tracks on it. The Threadpulls and Catscars remixes stand out for me. The former features a drum, a bass, a lonesome tambourine and a strangled vocal and comes on like a lo-fi Joy Division. The latter has an electronic whipcrack, sinister keys and a primitive pulse, sounding on the whole like a science fiction soundtrack building to its unthinkable conclusion. Both wonderfully atmospheric sound journeys and worth the admission alone.

Sarah Blasko - As day follows night (Dramatico)
This Australian singer is already big down under, and making her first foray into the northern hemisphere with the album As day follows night. Succinct and compact songwriting style, beautifully understated arrangements and sublime production by Bjorn Yttling (of Peter, Bjorn & John). The singles We won't run and All I want are both cracking pop songs but there's as good if not better on the rest of the album. Which is always a good sign.

Boxharp - The green (Hidden Shoal)
North Carolina duo, producer Scott Solter (St Vincent, Spoon, Okkervil River) and singer Wendy Allen. Elements of folk music (of a Celtic flavour, quite often) meeting digital studio techniques, giving dreamy and celestial results. The sublime Cloy features a treated piano and a plaintiff vocal gradually submerged by a waspish synth line, with deep sea rumblings and mysterious rattlings providing the supporting cast. Nods to Harmonia's brand of kosmische are to be found on The moon's the north wind's cookie. Enigmatic, pastoral and beautiful.

Boa Morte - The dial waltz (Kicking a Can Records)
Long-awaited second album from Cork band. Beautiful, heart-rending result. Most often compared to Smog and Will Oldham but also traces of Jim O'Rourke in the harmonium, brass and string arrangements, with wonderfully sensitive drumming, showing avant-garde as much as folk tendencies. Subtle, lovingly put together and bears repeated listening.

Gotan Project - Tango 3.0 (XL)
Wonderful updating of tango, with electronic flourishes, for the 21st century club generation.

Coco Rosie - Grey oceans (PIAS)
4th album from the Cassidy sisters which I love for the sheer "what next" factor. In the space of one song they can manage to suggest The Andrews Sisters alongside Tom Waits, with Maria Callas crashing the party. Theirs is a world where honky-tonk, freak folk and dub can co-exist cheerfully. Lemonade and Hopscotch are my stand-out tracks so far, taking turns at being haunting and beguiling. Happily, while letting their imaginations run riot, the sisters haven't neglected to produce tunes you can hum.

Oh No Ono - Eggs (Leaf)
Again just catching up on a release from a few months back. Copenhagen band making psychedelic pop music on the excellent Leaf label. Twisting melodies to fall in love with, urgent and insistent arrangements, liberal use of the wide spectrum of backing vocals. Drones, English folk music, Bollywood-style string flourishes, harpsichords, brass band trumpets, soft rock, choirs all present. A likeably mad bunch, by the sound of things.

The Doomed Bird of Providence - The Doomed Bird of Providence EP (Front & Follow)
A digital-only EP on the always interesting Front & Follow label, from an English band who sound Australian. That's because their songs take inspiration from stories relating to 19th century deportation to that part of the world. The Black Heart Procession and The Bad Seeds are touchstones musically, folk songs of murder and other acts of desperation, adorned with fiddle, mandolin, acoustic guitar and bass drum. Strangely uplifting for all that.

The Golden Filter - Voluspa (Brille)
A kind of post-disco set from the New York duo. Glacial female vocals set against echo-laden synths and organic percussion, stripping bare the funk to see what's left. What's fascinating is that there's still plenty left. Intriguing.

Born Ruffians - What to say (Warp) (single)
Slice of battered and bare white funk, from the Toronto three-piece, with an endearingly bruised, self-deprecating vocal.

Wildbirds & Peacedrums - Fight for me (Leaf) (from Retina EP, free download to subscribers)
This song consists only of Mariam Wallentin's soulful pleadings, Andreas Werliin's rattling percussion and thundering floor toms, along with some help from the Schola Cantorum Reykjavik Chamber Choir (you might have heard them on Bjork's Medulla album). It's one of the most arrestingly beautiful pieces of music I've heard this year and is sure to stay with you long after the last note has faded.

Olafur Arnalds - ...and they have escaped the weight of darkness (Erased Tapes)
Gorgeous, heart-wrenching instrumental album from the Icelandic composer, lead by piano, backed by orchestral strings. Like the shyer younger brother of Sigur Ros.

Darwin Deez - Radar detector (Lucky Number) (single)
A sweetly deranged pop song detailing the love between one man and his radar detection device. The world needs more of this kind of thing.

gigs
Coco Rosie, The Button Factory, Dublin, May 11
Dum Dum Girls, Whelan's, Dublin, May 18
Villagers, Cyprus Avenue, Cork, May 20
Boa Morte, Roisin Dubh, Galway, May 22/Bewley's Café, Dublin, May 23
Primavera Festival, Barcelona, May 27-29
 
The Underground of Happiness
uplifting pop music of every creed

www.myspace.com/theundergroundofhappiness

Playlist 125

Tues May 11th 2010
11.00am-12.00pm
Cork Campus Radio, 98.3FM
listen live on the web at
www.ucc.ie/ccr
*listen back to this show at
http://rapidshare.com/files/386072104/UOH_Podcast_May_11_2010.mp3


Playlist
Charlotte Gainsbourg - Time of the assassins
(playing Latitude Festival, Suffok, July 18)
Marianne Dissard with Brian Lopez - El pajaro y el ciervo
Born Ruffians - What to say (playing Great Escape Festival, Brighton, May 15)
Salli Lunn - Parachutes forever
Villagers - Becoming a jackal (playing Cyprus Avenue, Cork, May 20; Richard Thompson's Meltdown, Southbank Centre, London, June 15 w/ Field Music; Harmonic at The Marquee, Cork, June 25, w/ Grizzly Bear, Midlake & Camera Obscura)
Children under Hoof - Tactical assault 2 (Mini LP launch, The Joinery Gallery, Dublin, May 28 w/ Patrick Kelleher, School Tour & Catscars)
Quack Quack - Jack of none
Kitty, Daisy & Lewis - Ooo wee (playing Supersonic Sunday, Shenley Park, Herts, July 4)
The Kinks - Starstruck
Wildbirds & Peacedrums - Fight for me (playing ATP, Minehead, May 14 & Bishopsgate Institute, London, May 15)
Dum Dum Girls - Bhang bhang, I'm a burnout (playing Whelan's, Dublin, May 18 & Primavera Festival, Barcelona, May 29)
Yeh Deadlies - Constitution Hill (playing Róisín Dubh, Galway, May 13)
Anni Rossi - Crushing limbs
*d'load an i'view with Anni from late 2008 here -
http://rapidshare.com/files/299654357/Anni_Rossi_interview.mp3

Teenage Fanclub - Baby Lee (playing The Academy, Dublin, May 30)
Boa Morte - Luminous plankton (playing Róisín Dubh, Galway, May 22 & Bewley's Theatre, Dublin, May 23)


*next week's show is Part I of a Primavera Festival Preview and features music chosen by other people (The Fans), including Liquid Liquid, Pavement, The Books and Here We Go Magic among others

e-mail the show on
[email protected]
or text +353 (0)86-7839800
please mark messages “uoh”

Conor O'Toole,
c/o Cork Campus Radio,
Áras na Mac Léinn,
Student Centre,
University College Cork,
Cork,
Ireland.
 
Just a quick reminder of this week's show coming up tomorrow morning:

The Underground of Happiness
Tuesday May 18th 2010
11.00am-12.00pm GMT
Cork Campus Radio 98.3FM
*listen live on the web at
www.ucc.ie/ccr

* this week's show is a Primavera Preview and features music selected by four fans of the festival, including Liquid Liquid, Ben Frost, Delorean, Here We Go Magic, Scout Niblett and Tortoise among others

www.myspace.com/theundergroundofhappiness
 
The Underground of Happiness
uplifting pop music of every creed

www.myspace.com/theundergroundofhappiness

Playlist 126 - Primavera vs The Fans (www.primaverasound.com)

Tues May 18th 2010
11.00am-12.00pm
Cork Campus Radio, 98.3FM
listen live on the web at
www.ucc.ie/ccr
*listen back to this show at
http://rapidshare.com/files/388784916/UOH_Podcast_May_18_2010.mp3


Playlist

Selection by PMcD
(www.songstolearnandsing.blogspot.com)
Liquid Liquid - Optimo (Optimo remix)
Aztec Camera (feat Roddy Frame) - Walk out to winter
Here We Go Magic - Tunnelvision

Selection by Spinninghead (www.spinninghead.podomatic.com)
Low - Pissing
The Antlers - Kettering
Dum Dum Girls - I will be

Selection by Grand Snr
Delorean - Stay close
Tortoise - Monument six one thousand
Fuck Buttons - Rough steez

Selection by Kieran O'K.
The Books with Jose Gonzalez - Cello song
Ben Frost - O God protect me
Scout Niblett - Just do it!


*all artists performing at the Primavera Sound Festival in Barcelona May 27-29
**next week's show is Part II of a Primavera Festival Preview featuring 16 more bands playing at the festival, including Clare & the Reasons, Van Dyke Parks, Thee Oh Sees, A Sunny Day in Glasgow, The Clean, Junip, The Wave Pictures, Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions and Sian Alice Group among others

e-mail the show on
[email protected]
or text +353 (0)86-7839800
please mark messages “uoh”

Conor O'Toole,
c/o Cork Campus Radio,
Áras na Mac Léinn,
Student Centre,
University College Cork,
Cork,
Ireland.
 
some thoughts...

Primavera Sound 2010
Day 1
The Wave Pictures
What a lovely start to the weekend, with some fey and witty English pop on the Ray Ban stage. There's a great reception from the Spanish crowd, which surprises me until I remember Jonathan Richman being greeted like a god in the auditorium here a few years ago. A certain strain of wry pop music is very popular around these parts.
Surfer Blood
I move on to meet friends at the Pitchfork stage to see a band I know nothing about. What I learn is they play a pleasing brand of balls-out indie guitar rock and boast a great singer, who can scream in tune as well as croon. And their guitarist looks about 12 years old - he looks delighted to be here really, just to be asked.
The Fall
No surprises here on the main stage (San Miguel) but as enjoyable as ever, in a seething, surly kind of way. In an unexpected gesture (of hospitality?) Mark E Smith has dispensed with the leather glove. Is this a sign of middle-age mellowing, I wonder? For the sake of the music, I hope not.
Titus Andronicus
More balls on the Pitchfork stage, this time balls to the floor punk folk, complete with stage diving and American Civil War beard. Definite shades of early E Street Band in their stage presence and overall a powerful performance. They also have a woman playing guitar in a white dress with flowers in her hair who executes inch-perfect scissor kicks. How cool is that.
the xx
Back to Ray Ban for the dour Londoners, as fat raindrops fall on a packed crowd. The sound is very good and the gig is enjoyable to a point, but this is not outdoor music we decide.
Tortoise
Next we join a few thousand others for our first visit of the weekend to the ATP stage. As this captivating gig unfolds, I realise that Tortoise manage a great trick - combining a great sense of restlessness (that'll be the two drumkits out front, says you), while keeping intact a certain languid quality in their music. One of the most memorable moments in my year occured as the intertwining marimba and guitar patterns of Bridge over Iguazu Falls fell gloriously into place. A special band.
Broken Social Scene
We walk back along the tree and urinal-lined avenue for the Toronto supergroup on the Ray Ban stage. What a contrast with the xx earlier - these are brash, shambling (not the drumming though, which was as tight as a duck's arse in water), BIG tunes and the perfect outdoor music. A certain smugness is evident at times (especially when Kevin Drew moves to the front of the stage, an impression confirmed by Grand Snr and Spinninghead who once met the great man), but when the horns kick in a few minutes into It's all gonna break those thoughts are washed away. John McEntire, fresh from the ATP stage, also joins them onstage, as does Owen Pallett. We leave with a glow and take up positions on the grassy knoll (otherwise known as the San Miguel stage).
Pavement
Reports had been filtering through of recent onstage tensions between Stephen Malkmus and his bandmates. I'm happy to report that any tensions that did exist were chanelled constructively, into the performance of A-grade art-rock. First point of note: Malkmus plays those guitar parts with his bare fingers - not a plectrum in sight. Piling offbeat licks over his intricate and hilarious wordplay, his technique was staggering, and he came across more than ever like Tom Verlaine. To be honest, when he uttered the words "there is no castration fear" (officially the best ever opening line to an album), my day was made. During said We dance, Bob Nastanovich was seen dancing with someone onstage. Spiral Stairs crowd surfed momentarily. Kevin Drew joined them onstage briefly, paying homage. Malkmus stayed in his corner, glancing sideways at it all with a weathered eye and confined himself to his work, having fun in his own way - for example, playing his instrument behind his head. Note perfectly, I might add. My day already made, I still did not object to hearing such life-affirming anti-anthems as Rattled by the rush, Range life and Shady lane belted out. Having never seen the band live before, I'm open to correction, but I'd find it hard to believe they ever sounded this good. As Grand Snr commented, an important band. No nostalgia trip, this. Altogether now, "a redder shade of neck on a whiter shade of trash...".
Day 2
Today has a different dynamic as I'm attending with my wife and 7-year old daughter/critic. We arrive late for Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions and spend the first few minutes blinking in the pitch black auditorium (not a pencil torch in sight). Eventually seated, I find the music nothing but gorgeous - shimmering waves of guitar and organ, sumptuous malletted drums from Colm Ó Cíosóg and the voice of an angel on top. The sound is also immaculate (I hear later that their soundcheck left Owen Pallett with none, but at least their work wasn't in vain.) So far so good. Then after a couple of songs, my 7-year old whispers, "why is there not much to see?". Honestly, there's no pleasing some people. Unfortunately for me, my wife agrees, so no more dream pop in the dark for me.
We come back up to ground level into 30 degrees, and pass the immense queue for Low (I saw them here on the ATP stage 3 years ago, so I decide to go elsewhere today - another wondrous performance, I believe). We catch a few minutes of A Sunny Day in Glasgow on the Pitchfork stage, playing a very sprightly brand of shoegaze (having found their last album a bit flat, this makes me think I should go back and have another listen). They also have two female singers with flowers in their hair. This, the music and the lemon-coloured dress worn by one, makes quite an impression on one of my companions. More to see here.
Time for a few minutes of The New Pornographers on the San Miguel stage. This is a band I'm ambiguous about. On the basis of just a couple of songs, my bland impression is confirmed. Back to the food court for a delicious vegetarian Indian, during which Best Coast, on the adjacent Pitchfork stage, sounded interesting, in a West Coast US kinda way. We catch some of the next band on that stage, Ganglians, who ply a nice line in spacey drone pop. (Grand Snr and myself are both reminded a little of Wooden Shjips, who were one of the highlights of the festival last year.) The singer also looks like Neil from The Young Ones, which may or may not be relevant. And from her elevated vantage point (my shoulders), my 7-year old tells me that he has no shoes on.
Due to a cruel schedule clash, we have to decide between Beach House, Here We Go Magic and CocoRosie. As Teen Dream has been on heavy rotation all year at my house, Beach House get the vote. We go early to get a seat, high up on the right of the ATP stage - thousands of others soon follow into the long, narrow space. (As we arrive, the last moments of Beak> sound very promising, making us sorry we didn't hear more.) As darkness falls, with the sea in the background, this should be a magical experience, but the sound is poor (my wife describes it succinctly as like listening from the next room). The band look like they're aware of the fact and put off as a result, which seems to affect the atmosphere. (Friends of ours on the other side of the stage later say it sounded great from there.) Only some way into the set does a gear change in the lighting show seem to engage the crowd, coinciding with an improvement in the sound. Take care is my highlight, with added pounding drums. The suspicion forms that the band's beautifully intricate arrangements have not translated to an outdoor arena. Not that my 7-year old is complaining. She's in her element singing along to "anywhere you run, you run before us, black and white horse, arching among us".
We go for a look at Japandroids on the Pitchfork stage. They are exceedingly loud and shouty, to no apparent end, and we get bored after a few minutes. The word from Grand Snr at Wilco on the San Miguel stage is that there is a pedal steel involved and they are playing the hits. Having seen them play one of the best live performances ever of any band here three years ago, I would love to hear more, but decide for new pastures.
Instead I take my 7-year old for a stroll down to the Vice stage for a peek at Panda Bear (not to be confused with Grizzly Bear) - that's right, even with thousands of people it is still possible to take a stroll around this seaside site. Not surprisingly it's mobbed and, since the entrance has changed since last year, we're confined to a side view of Noah Lennox through a slit in the fence. Even from there, the music sounds suitably floaty and mightily impressive for just an acoustic guitar, voice and table of effects.
On the way back, Marc Almond is looking and sounding younger than ever on the Ray Ban stage and Barcelona's gay community is out in force.
 
contd...

Cold Cave on the Pitchfork stage are intriguing. They look like Joy Divsion but sound for all the world like Depeche Mode c. 1983. That's a good thing, obviously.
And so back to the grassy knoll at the San Miguel stage to get our spot for Pixies. From the first bars of Cecilia Ann, it feels like an exciting event. Even though Frank Black seems a bit ambiguous about the whole thing, he still sings his not inconsiderable guts out (particularly on Tame, which sounds wonderful). On the right, Kim Deal looks delighted with life and chats to the crowd between songs in her best guidebook Spanish. Meanwhile, Frank Black, fluent in Spanish, speaks not a word. There is a distinct air of a messy indie disco around the grassy knoll (perhaps the reason for Mr Black's ambiguousness?), but songs as good as Bone machine, Monkey gone to heaven, Velouria and Wave of Mutilation effortlessly rise above that. My favourite moment is Kim Deal smilingly explaining, "we've been practising you know". What a band. What a singer. What a lead guitarist. What a drummer. What a backing singer. We reluctantly leave early for the last metro, singing "I was talking to Peachy-Peach about Kissy-Kiss" all the way home.
Day 3
Family-less on the final day, I decide to begin with an entire gig from start to finish, in the shape of Brooklyn's Clare & the Reasons in the auditorium. I've been looking forward to this very much, You getting me from their last album having got completely under my skin in the last few weeks. And it shapes up in fantastic chamber pop style, with cello, violin, trombones, tuba (or was it flugelhorn?) and pristine multi-part harmonies. However, despite the gorgeous arrangements, the overall effect is a little twee for my taste (I must say though their cover of Genesis' That's all is genius, and elsewhere the moment with all the kazoos is very, very charming). They need something more playful to break the slightly staid atmosphere, I'm thinking. As if on cue, and to prove the point, the venerable Van Dyke Parks joins them on piano for their last song. Immediately proceedings are lifted. Coming back on for his own set, joined by three of the Reasons, he is magic, successfully managing to suggest Gershwin, The Beach Boys and Randy Newman, while retaining his own unique style. When he introduces the pieces he wrote for his children, music set to the Brer Rabbit tales, as "stories of black people in white America, of survival", I don't know whether to laugh or cry. What a legend. Even three of his songs amounted to a priceless experience.
Why only three songs? Because another heart-breaking schedule clash loomed. I took myself away from the auditorium to aim for some of Atlas Sound, followed by a bit of Michael Rother and friends. Unfortunately, I ran into a main-gate traffic jam of end-of-the-world proportions. Standing in the mocking Barcelona sun, I contemplated returning to the sublime Mr Parks. The queue moved. I stuck to my guns. I arrived at the ATP stage in time for a few minutes of the classic motorik Neu! groove, provided by Steve Shelley in this case. It was great to hear that at least. I felt consoled.
Back to the Pitchfork stage for the end of Atlas Sound, consisting of Brandon Cox, acoustic guitar, harmonica and bank of effects. Although the sound was very good and it was, justifiably, very well received by the big crowd, I left with the feeling that it was the wrong venue for this gig.
Grand Snr and myself take ourselves back to the ATP stage for the very short set of Sian Alice Group. This English band generate a fine, Jason Pierce-style drone with ethereal female vocals riding on top. They come across a bit like a Bat for Lashes with more intent. And they use brass and shakers, which is always a good sign. They also employ flute, to Grand Snr's chagrin.
We stop off briefly at the rammed San Miguel stage to catch the rapturous reception for Florence and the Machine, but our lukewarm feelings about Ms Welch are only confirmed.
Just enough time to catch a few minutes of The Bundles on the Vice stage, which appears to be Jeffrey Lewis and band by any other name. Which is to say, very enjoyable as always.
Leaving the others to The Antlers on the Pitchfork stage (a band I've tried to like but haven't managed yet), I go alone to watch Grizzly Bear on the Ray Ban stage. This is one of my main highlights of the whole weekend. They sucessfully transfer the delicate chamber arrangements of Veckatimest onto a large outdoor stage, without sacrificing any of the dynamics. In a wonderful set, Southern Point and Two weeks were particularly majestic and moving. I find the surreal elements downplayed if anything, for the sake of pure heartfelt delivery, which suits the songs down to the ground. And special mention for the lighting show, which is nothing short of breathtaking, acting like a fifth member of the band. Something very special is on the way to Cork on June 25th alright (appropriately Leagues O'Toole is spotted nearby nodding in appreciation).
Time for a quick burger before the wonderful Dum Dum Girls on the Pitchfork stage. Rejoined with the Cork crew, we decide we need to be closer to the front for this one. Dee-Dee and friends bring their matching black outfits and sweet, sweet harmonies, along with a fantastic sense of conviction, to these already great songs. Jail-la-la and I will be are standouts for me. Other notable features include the drummer leathering the pared-down kit, without putting a hair out of place. Grown men are seen to swoon at the end as Dee-Dee and her guitar-playing colleague leave the stage with arms around each other. This is a band very high on the COOL index, but with an endearing vulnerability at the same time.
Due to the conveniently short set (which could not have been improved however), we have time to catch the end of Liquid Liquid on the ATP stage. Hugely infectious punk funk with cowbells, even before the hilarious intervention of the Les Savy Fav frontman (I was reliably informed it was he), who careered across the stage during Optimo in a gushing show of appreciation. LOL, as they say. Punk funk indeed.
We stayed put for Ben Frost. By 2am the ATP crowd were getting giddy but they soon had their cough softened by the Australian. It was mostly high end sound for the first half an hour (shards of guitar feedback and growling dogs featured, among other things), but when the subterraneran bass dropped, passing ships were almost thrown off-course. Highly impressive, but not for the faint of heart, and certainly not for dancing (even if some people tried hard).
And so to the Vice stage for Health. My card was already marked by Grand Snr, who still talks about their 2008 Primavera show. Restless, frantic new rave and totally lacking in pretentions, they put on a great show. Time for another pint (which took way too long to order, one of my very few complaints about the festival, the bar staff need a bomb put under them), we bump into Leagues and compare notes on the weekend, while Boy 8-Bit provides the closing soundtrack. On the way back up the hill, we have the pleasure of witnessing two Spanish girls throwing themselves repeatedly at the feet of the the bass player from Health. Gas craic. Everything was, in fact. Another great musical spring in northern Spain.
Some random highlights from a week in the city:
-the Pyrenees, majestic and snowcapped
-the bin collector on the metro platform whistling America from West Side Story
-the takeover of the Irish at the festival, to the point of it being mentioned to us by one of the staff
-the graffiti'ed shutters next to the hotel which turned into teen disco bars at the weekend
-the smell of shit on every street corner
-shorter queues for beer tickets
-the amazing price of EU2.00 for a huge bag of fruit in the Boqueria market
-the surprising number of auto workshops around Bogatell
-how dowdy the Nou Camp looks from the outside
-the table of Spaniards next to us in the food court asking what "beetroots" are (The Bloody Beetroots, Ray Ban stage, Friday night)
-the much bigger festival presence around the city this year, white bracelets all over El Born and La Rambla (also Fall t-shirts)
-the fantastic Gaudi "Dragon" building
-the sweet smell of Spanish grass (reminds me of a Robert Forster song)
-the hair of Health's bass player swinging in time with the music
-the Irish-Spanish sing-off in the metro, Sunday 6am (Grand Snr leading the way)
-the nefarious/hilarious goings-on in the trees and bushes lining the approach to the ATP stage (I swear, they should put a stage in there, it'd be one of the most popular)
 
 
 
The Underground of Happiness
uplifting pop music of every creed

www.myspace.com/theundergroundofhappiness

Playlist 128

Tues June 1 2010
11.00am-12.00pm
Cork Campus Radio, 98.3FM
listen live on the web at
www.ucc.ie/ccr
*listen back to this show at
http://rapidshare.com/files/394056470/UOH_Podcast_June_1_2010.mp3


Playlist

Martial Solal - Poursuite (from the soundtrack of the film A bout de souffle)
Tame Impala - Solitude is bliss
Tunng - Sashimi (playing Body & Soul Gathering, Ballinlough Castle, Co Meath, June 19/20)
Elite Barbarian - Trust is important (playing Corsica Studios, London, July 1)
The Chap - We work in bars (album launch Cargo, London, June 3)
Susie Hug with Joey Burns - A modern lie

Extra Life - Black hoodie (playing Whelan's, Dublin, June 5)
Extra Life Interview
Extra Life - Head shrinker
*d'load full interview with Charlie Looker from Extra Life here
http://rapidshare.com/files/273048690/Extra_Life_UOH_Interview_Podcast.mp3

Here We Go Magic - Hibernation (playing Electric Picnic, Stradbally, Sept 3-5)
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Bright lit blue skies
Van Dyke Parks - Stars and stripes forever
Junkboy - Home
The National - Terrible love (playing Electric Picnic, Stradbally, Sept 3-5)
Jim O'Rourke - Close to you

*next week's show features music from Audra Mae, Can, Amiina and School of Seven Bells among others

e-mail the show on
[email protected]
or text +353 (0)86-7839800
please mark messages “uoh”

Conor O'Toole,
c/o Cork Campus Radio,
Áras na Mac Léinn,
Student Centre,
University College Cork,
Cork,
Ireland.
 
May 2010 Music Picks

The Underground of Happiness
Tuesdays 11.00am-12.00pm GMT
Cork Campus Radio 98.3FM
*listen live on the web at
www.ucc.ie/ccr

www.myspace.com/theundergroundofhappiness

Another Underground of Happiness month in music.

The National - High violet (4AD)
Mature rock 'n roll album of songs for grown-ups, from the Brooklyn-based Ohioans. In some hands, that might be a recipe for boring and turgid. Not here. Due to the pitch-perfect, quasi-orchestral arrangements of the Dessner brothers, the thrillingly offbeat rhythm section of the Devendorf brothers, and the majestic baritone of Matt Berninger. The songs tell of put-upon middle Americans (of the mortgage-foreclosed/war-returned generation), floundering but stoic, in a manner reminiscient of the best short stories from that country. Intriguing epithets abound - "stand up tall at the foot of your love" (Bloodbuzz Ohio), "we'll play nuns vs priests until somebody cries" (Little faith), "you and your sister live in a lemonworld, I want to sit in and die" (Lemonworld), "it's a terrible love and I'm walking with spiders" (Terrible love) - making for the most unlikely singalong material. The latter song also has one of the most moving backing vocals I've ever heard, consisting simply of layers of reverbed "ooohs" (Sufjan Stevens lends a hand). Another reviewer rightly mentioned the restraint of the music. Don't underestimate the power of restraint. A towering piece of work.

Elite Barbarian - It's only when you get to the end that it all makes sense (Front and Follow)
Challenging but seductive brand of non-dancefloor electronica from London duo. For example, the gorgeous drift of Shore, with its mesmerising treated piano loop. Highly recommended.

Junkboy - Koyo (Enraptured Records)
Gently beautiful album, using both English and American folk tones, by Brighton's Hanscomb brothers. Equal measures pastoral and psychedelic. Shades of Bert Jansch on Let the light in. There's even a Can-style wig-out in the shape of Tones X. Trumpets also feature throughout, which is always good.

Extra Life - Your body's callin' (LoAF) (from Black hoodie EP)
Chillingly slow - you might say naked - and suspenseful cover of the R Kelly song. Amazing what you can do with just a thrummed guitar, some brushed violin and a voice like Charlie Looker's. You must hear this.

*d'load an interview with Charlie Looker of Extra Life from 2009 here
http://rapidshare.com/files/273048690/Extra_Life_UOH_Interview_Podcast.mp3


MGMT - Someone's missing (Columbia) (from the album Congratulations)
I'll keep this short. Just when you think you have this crowd sussed, they come up with this fantastic slice of Philly-style soul, complete with male falsetto, fuzztone guitar, whooshing sounds and minor-to-major keyshift. When they're finished fooling around, these fellas have a future in straight-to-the-heart pop music.

Arctic Circle Explorer's Club (LoAF)
More heartstoppingly gorgeous music in the subscribers' singles club series, featuring the likes of Sons of Noel & Adrian, Kama Aina and Montag over the last two months. Essential to your well-being.

Charlotte Gainsbourg - Time of the assassins (Because) (single)
Latest single from the great Beck-produced album IRM. Brooding church organ over the Frenchwoman's beguiling, hushed vocal.

Anni Rossi - Crushing limbs (4AD) (free to subscribers as part of 4AD summer sampler)
Catchy-as-hell tune, lead by strummed viola, with bouncing reggae backbeat, and added keyboard flourishes. From her upcoming new album.

*d'load an interview with Anni from 2008 here
http://rapidshare.com/files/299654357/Anni_Rossi_interview.mp3


Jim O'Rourke - Close to you (from All kinds of people...love Burt Bacharach) (AWDR)
The Japan-domiciled Chicagoan pays homage to the great composer/arranger. On this, the standout track - sung by Yellow Magic Orchestra founder Haruomi Hosono as "close to me" (!) - the flat beat of the original is replaced with a bossa nova piano swing, while suitably swoonsome strings arrive in support. The album also boasts the vocal talents of Thurston Moore and Yoshimi of Boredoms, among others.

Audra Mae - My lonely worry (Side One Dummy) (from the album The happiest lamb)
The loveliest show of country-style female yearning since Lucinda Williams sang Right in time.

Children Under Hoof - A collar can become a noose (self-released) (mini-album)
Terrific and enticing taster, ahead of upcoming full-length release, from Irish collective. Many shades of krautrock are accommodated, from ambient smears to jam-room improv, motorik groove to field recording and tape manipulations. Live-sounding drums lend a pleasingly organic atmosphere to proceedings. Entropy begins with birdsong, before a chugging pulse appears on top of a tribal rhythm, shadowed by clouds of mid-range synths. A male-voice recitation of some airborne hallucination emerges from the mist, surrounded by whirling whoops and rattles, until rest arrives. It's quite beautiful.

Julianna Barwick - Cloudbank (self-released) (from Florine EP)
Hymn-like, wordless tune of incredible, celestial beauty, using reverb-drenched layers of just one voice. Recalls Cocteau Twins without the drums or guitars. New Yorker now signed to Asthmatic Kitty.

Unbunny - Winning streak (Affairs of the heart) (from the album Moon food)
Lovely slice of Americana from Jarid del Deo. As if Mark Linkous guested on Bob Dylan's Desire.

Jookabox - Eyes of the fly (Demo) (Asthmatic Kitty)
Meet David "Moose" Adamson from Indianapolis. A Bollywood-meets-rockabilly guitar, handclaps, a smurfed-up vocal singing la-la-la's, a pounding 4-to-the-floor drumbeat and some vague semblance of a hip-hop chant in the background. It probably shouldn't work. That doesn't stop it being brilliant.

The Chap - Well done Europe (Lo Recordings)
Impossible not to like this record, from the Pan European avant pop outfit (based between London and Berlin). Shades of Stereolab and Cornelius within its playful polyrhythms and math rock shapes. Let it sink in a little while longer and the playfulness is replaced with an acerbic quality. The songs relate to funding grants, patronising work colleagues, and the timeless theme of combining being in a band with barwork. You may snigger at first, but you'll soon be dancing to this music. Get some.

School of Seven Bells - Babelonia (Full Time Hobby)
Speaking of the 'lab, serious shades of them on this too, from the upcoming SVIIB new album. Skipping and fluttering dream pop with a strong backbeat, the Deheza twin sisters again sharing vocals, which are less treated than before. Sounds like a step up from their first album. Impressive.

Oh No Ono - Internet warrior (Depreciation Guild remix) (Leaf) (from Internet warrior EP)
Beautifully woozy shoegaze take - on the Danish band's plainly mad original - by The Pains of Being Pure at Heart off-shoot. Appropriately, it throbs.

Gigs:
Cap Pas Cap, The Quad, Cork, June 11
Body & Soul Gathering, Ballinlough Castle, Co Meath feat. Tunng among many others, June 19/20
Lucky Dragons, ESB Substation, Cork, June 23
Grizzly Bear, Midlake, Camera Obscura & Villagers, Harmonic at The Marquee, Cork, June 25
Philip Glass, City Hall, Cork, June 26
 

Just a quick reminder of this week's show coming up tomorrow morning:

The Underground of Happiness
Tuesday June 8th 2010
11.00am-12.00pm GMT
Cork Campus Radio 98.3FM
*listen live on the web at
www.ucc.ie/ccr

*this week's show features music from Cap Pas Cap, Windsor for the Derby, Sons of Noel & Adrian, Amiina and Curtis Mayfield among others

www.myspace.com/theundergroundofhappiness
 
The Underground of Happiness
uplifting pop music of every creed

www.myspace.com/theundergroundofhappiness

Playlist 129

Tues June 8 2010
11.00am-12.00pm
Cork Campus Radio, 98.3FM
listen live on the web at
www.ucc.ie/ccr
*listen back to this show at
http://rapidshare.com/files/396659741/UOH_Podcast_June_8_2010.mp3


Playlist

Unbunny - Winning streak
Amiina - Ásinn
Smoke Fairies - Sunshine (playing Richard Thompson's Meltdown Festival, Southbank Center, London, June 15 w/ Paolo Nutini)
The Leisure Society - Save it for someone who cares (playing Richard Thompson's Meltdown Festival, Southbank Center, London, June 17 w/ The Duckworth Lewis Method)
Sons of Noel & Adrian - Black side of the river (Arctic Circle Explorer's Club, jointhecircle.net)
Rich Bennett - Misty Valley
Cap Pas Cap - We are men (playing The Quad, Cork, June 11)
Elite Barbarian - Shore (playing Corsica Studios, London, July 1)
Curtis Mayfield - The makings of you
Wildbirds & Peacedrums - The well
Local Natives - World news (playing Oxegen, Punchestown, July 8-11)
Windsor for the Derby - Queen of the sun
Mystery Jets - Flash

*next week's show features music from Audra Mae, Faust, Grizzly Bear and Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti among others

e-mail the show on
[email protected]
or text +353 (0)86-7839800
please mark messages “uoh”

Conor O'Toole,
c/o Cork Campus Radio,
Áras na Mac Léinn,
Student Centre,
University College Cork,
Cork,
Ireland.
 
Just a quick reminder of this week's show coming up tomorrow morning:

The Underground of Happiness
Tuesday June 15th 2010
11.00am-12.00pm GMT
Cork Campus Radio 98.3FM
*listen live on the web at
www.ucc.ie/ccr

*this week's show features music from Audra Mae, Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, Lost Idol, Montag, Here We Go Magic and Patrick Kelleher among others

www.myspace.com/theundergroundofhappiness
 
The Underground of Happiness
uplifting pop music of every creed


www.myspace.com/theundergroundofhappiness

Playlist 130
Tues June 15 2010
11.00am-12.00pm
Cork Campus Radio, 98.3FM
listen live on the web at
www.ucc.ie/ccr
*listen back to this show at
http://rapidshare.com/files/399335637/UOH_Podcast_June_15_2010.mp3


Playlist
Free Energy - Hope child
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Can't hear my eyes (playing Lovelite, Berlin, June 20)
Lost Idol - Lightwerk (playing Daylight Session @ Union Chapel, London, July 17)
Lost Idol - A sorrowful thing (The IQ two-plum re-jig)
Montag - Dream machine (Arctic Circle Explorer's Club, jointhecircle.net)
The Chap - Well done you (playing Indierock Festival, Pescara, June 25)
Audra Mae - My lonely worry
Iretsu - Humbuzzer
Jamie Lidell - I wanna be your telephone
Faust - Imperial lover
Christy & Emily - Amaryllis
Here We Go Magic - Moon (playing Electric Picnic, Stradbally, Sept 3-5)
Patrick Kelleher - Finds you (Threadpulls remix) (Threadpulls playing Body & Soul Gathering, Ballinlough Castle, Co Meath, June 19)
Vessels - Happy accident

*next week's show features music from Grizzly Bear, Camera Obscura, Mountain Man, School of Seven Bells, Hauschka and Letter from Belgium among others

e-mail the show on [email protected]
or text +353 (0)86-7839800
please mark messages “uoh”

Conor O'Toole,
c/o Cork Campus Radio,
Áras na Mac Léinn,
Student Centre,
University College Cork,
Cork,
Ireland.
 
Just a quick reminder of this week's show coming up tomorrow morning:

The Underground of Happiness
Tuesday June 22nd 2010
11.00am-12.00pm GMT
Cork Campus Radio 98.3FM
*listen live on the web at
www.ucc.ie/ccr

*this week's show features music from Grizzly Bear, Camera Obscura, Hauschka, Minnie Riperton, Mountain Man and Gayngs among others

www.myspace.com/theundergroundofhappiness
 
Playlist 131 - June 22 2010

The Underground of Happiness
uplifting pop music of every creed

www.myspace.com/theundergroundofhappiness

Playlist 131

Tues June 22 2010
11.00am-12.00pm
Cork Campus Radio, 98.3FM
listen live on the web at
www.ucc.ie/ccr
*listen back to this show at
http://rapidshare.com/files/401680612/UOH_Podcast_June_22_2010.mp3


Playlist

Ghostape - I feel your soul
I Break Horses - Goodbye sweet dreams
Camera Obscura - My maudlin career
Grizzly Bear - Two weeks (Grizzly Bear/Midlake/Camera Obscura/Villagers playing Harmonic @ The Marquee, Cork, June 25)
Minnie Riperton - Les fleurs
Letter from Belgium - Christmas Eve
Mountain Man - Animal tracks (playing Crawdaddy, Dublin, July 2; also Glastonbury Festival, June 27)
Gayngs - Cry
Flipron - The coolest names in showbiz (playing Glastonbury Festival, June 24)
Windsor for the Derby - Autumn song (playing Whelan's Upstairs, Dublin, July 30)
Hauschka - Ginsterweg
Efterklang - Modern drift (Oh No Ono Cologne-Paris remix) (Efterklang playing Serpentine Sessions, Hyde Park, London, June 28, w/ Grizzly Bear)
School of Seven Bells - Babelonia (playing Latitude Festival, July 17)



*next week's show features music from Children under Hoof, Tortoise, Secret Cities, Olafur Arnalds and The National among others

e-mail the show on
[email protected]
or text +353 (0)86-7839800
please mark messages “uoh”

Conor O'Toole,
c/o Cork Campus Radio,
Áras na Mac Léinn,
Student Centre,
University College Cork,
Cork,
Ireland.
 
Just a quick reminder of this week's show coming up tomorrow morning:

The Underground of Happiness
Tuesday June 29th 2010
11.00am-12.00pm GMT
Cork Campus Radio 98.3FM
*listen live on the web at
www.ucc.ie/ccr

*this week's show features music from Serge Gainsbourg, Secret Cities, School of Seven Bells, Tortoise, Olafur Arnalds and Markus Mehr among others

www.myspace.com/theundergroundofhappiness
http://www.ucc.ie/ccr
 

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21 Day Calendar

Mohammad Syfkhan 'I Am Kurdish' Dublin Album Launch
Bello Bar
1 Portobello Harbour, Saint Kevin's, Dublin, Ireland
Mohammad Syfkhan 'I Am Kurdish' Dublin Album Launch
Bello Bar
1 Portobello Harbour, Saint Kevin's, Dublin, Ireland
Gig For Gaza w/ ØXN, Junior Brother, Pretty Happy & Mohammad Syfkhan
Vicar Street
58-59 Thomas St, The Liberties, Dublin 8, Ireland
Bloody Head, Hubert Selby Jr Infants, Creepy Future - Dublin
Anseo
18 Camden Street Lower, Saint Kevin's, Dublin, Ireland

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