The Underground of Happiness

If you take a flick around these pages over the last couple of years, you'll find plenty of mention of SlowPlaceLikeHome (the search function will do it if you're stuck for time). I first heard the name in January 2012, having been tipped the wink by Albert of Plugd Records here in Cork. That was an EP, the enigmatically titled Coastal hubs for chivalry and I was immediately interested. Another two EPs followed over the following 18 months, each one a beguiling mixture of kosmische, folk and jazz tones, shoegaze and an element of the dreamier end of trip-hop. The debut album of SPLH was released a few weeks ago and here's a review of it I wrote for WeAreNoise (a couple of minor edits since original publication). Suffice to say the album is highly recommended. http://wearenoise.com/slowplacelikehome-romola-bluestack-records/ It’s great to finally see and hear the self-produced debut album by SlowPlaceLikeHome, aka Keith Mannion from Donegal, following a series of e...

The first taste of the debut album of Keith Mannion from Donegal and it’s very much in keeping with the EPs that came before it; that is to say, warm and fuzzy synth textures with buckets of heart and soul. There’s a class tune at the core, with more than a hint of kosmische to it, although considerably more uptempo than that might lead you to believe. But what I like most about it is the wonderful building arrangement, a great combination of pulses and washes and squelches. And (in a break from the earlier EPs) some vocals you can actually – mostly – decipher. Say hello to the soundtrack of your summer.