The Underground of Happiness

The final weekly show for the time being has a number of my favourite things in 2018 so far.

Caroline Says, a dream pop of devastating hush.
Jim Ghedi, beautiful chamber folk and each element holding its own.
La Luz, stalking noir pop with an unbeatable bassline.
Kacy & Clayton, great country rock with an unforgettable lead vocal.
Jack Hayter's wonderful heart on sleeve narratives.

And new Jessica Risker, folk music with gorgeous/unsettling psych tones.

Keep in touch on these pages.



The Underground of Happiness
uplifting pop music of every creed

www.theundergroundofhappiness.blogspot.com
Twitter: UndergroundOfHappy

Playlist 486
Tues Apr 17 2018
11.00am-12.00pm
(repeated on Tuesdays 8.30pm)
UCC 98.3FM
listen live on the web at www.ucc.ie/983fm
*listen back to this show here
goo.gl/C2Skvv

Playlist
The Byrds – She don’t care about time
Kacy & Clayton – A lifeboat (playing Cathedral Arts Quarter Festival, Belfast, May 7)
Jessica Risker – Cut my hair
Jim Ghedi – S…

New John Parish album coming soon. The first song from it is a remembrance of the late Mark Linkous feat. PJ Harvey, both of whom worked with Linkous. And some wonderful slowcore Americana from the man himself. Gone too soon, 8 years already.

Bedouine plays Dublin in May, a sublime slice of soulful folk from her debut album.

Both Fixity and The Bonk playing live shows this month. Sample their brilliantly atmospheric mongrel jazz.

And Lee Hazlewood giving expression to a mature years world view with grace and genius string arrangements.

More on these pages.



The Underground of Happiness
uplifting pop music of every creed

www.theundergroundofhappiness.blogspot.com
Twitter: UndergroundOfHappy

Playlist 485
Tues Apr 10 2018
11.00am-12.00pm
(repeated on Tuesdays 8.30pm)
UCC 98.3FM
listen live on the web at www.ucc.ie/983fm
*listen back to this show here
goo.gl/UJAsbD

Playlist
Sparklehorse – Homecoming queen
John Parish feat PJ Harvey – Sorry for your loss
BOYTOY – Mary …

New Jess Williamson (pictured) on the show this week. A bit of a departure based on her previous stuff I've heard. She apparently moved from Texas to California. Sounds like a good move. Blue sky psych pop shall we say.

Caroline Says (Caroline Sallee) moved to Austin Texas from Alabama and recorded her second album late at night in her apartment with gorgeous hushed vocals.

Landless are a 4-piece a capella Irish group. Here's a spellbinding lament from their debut album.

Jim Ghedi - great folk instrumentals undercut with classical strings and a lovely trumpet part.

And The Double Six of Paris. Giving Ray Charles an upbeat jazz treatment.

More on these pages.



The Underground of Happiness
uplifting pop music of every creed

www.theundergroundofhappiness.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/theundergroundofhappiness
Twitter: UndergroundOfHappy

Playlist 484
Tues Apr 3 2018
11.00am-12.00pm
(repeated on Tuesdays 8.30pm)
UCC 98.3FM
listen live on the web at www.ucc.ie/983…

27 tunes to mark the 27th anniversary of Serge Gainsbourg's death in March 1991.

The Provocateur Extraordinaire.

Playlist
Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin – Je t’aime (moi non plus)
Serge Gainsbourg – Le poinconneur des Lilas
Mick Harvey feat. Anita Lane – The song of slurs
Serge Gainsbourg & Brigitte Bardot – Initials B.B.
Serge Gainsbourg – Mambo miam miam
Jane Birkin – C’est la vie qui veut ca
Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin – Ballade de Melody Nelson
Jean-Claude Vannier – La girafe au ballon
Charlotte Gainsbourg – Le chat du café des artistes
Mick Harvey – Intoxicated Man
Jean-Claude Vannier – Danse de l’enfant et du Roi des Mouches
Anna Karina – Roller girl (from the soundtrack of the film Anna)
Michael Stipe – L’hotel
Beck – Wave
Charlotte Gainsbourg – Rest
Serge Gainsbourg – New York USA
Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin – 69 Année Érotique
Serge Gainsbourg & Michel Colombier – La Horse (from the soundtrack of the film La Horse)
Mick Harvey with Chan…

Robust and inspiring folk instrumentals (mainly) from the rural Yorkshire/Derbyshire border of the north of England.

6 or 12 string guitar takes the lead for the most part and with some authority.

The album reminds me a little of William Tyler. There’s a similar endearing feel of immersion in the simple joy of playing.

Like the gorgeous opener ‘Home for Moss Valley’ with the genius addition of a string section behind the guitar picking for added lilt and bounce.

The sublime harp accompaniment in ‘Cwm elan’.

The momentum of perfectly judged percussion and (what sounds like) bodhrán in ‘Bramley Moor’.

The beautiful wash of guitar drones at the beginning of ‘Fortingall Yew’. A bleed of melody. And that song’s climax when the strings rise up to take a lead from the guitar and add the seriousness or gravitas of classical music.

The wonderful communal vocal moment of ‘Phoenix Works’. A documenting. A flying of a flag. Double bass and a great drum stomp.

A sense of…

It's Serge Gasinsbourg's 27th anniversary this month. Time to mark the occasion although no excuse is needed.

The ageless 'Bonnie & Clyde' with Brigitte Bardot and a lovely late years version of 'La Javanaise' by Jane Birkin.

A beautful hushed Yo La Tengo number sung by Georgia.

Breezy jazz pop from the top drawer from The Sea & Cake.

And lush power pop from Mr Ben Montero of Melbourne via Athens.

More on these pages.



The Underground of Happiness
uplifting pop music of every creed

www.theundergroundofhappiness.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/theundergroundofhappiness
Twitter: UndergroundOfHappy

Playlist 483
Tues Mar 27 2018
11.00am-12.00pm
(repeated on Tuesdays 8.30pm)
UCC 98.3FM
listen live on the web at www.ucc.ie/983fm
*listen back to this show here
goo.gl/FsG4qg

Playlist
Serge Gainsbourg & Brigitte Bardot – Bonnie & Clyde
Jane Birkin – La javanaise
Katie Von Schleicher – Glad to be here (playing The Great Escape Fest…