The Underground of Happiness

The human voice. Singers. Vocalists. Solo. In groups. Harmonies. Dissonance. A capella. Sotto voce. Screeches. Swoops. Croons. Devotional. An attack. A glide. A growl. A swoon. A yearning. Jazz. Blues. Folk. Pop. Psych. Electro. Classical. Doo Wop. Whatever. Sometimes the simple effect of massed voices. Sometimes singing just for the joy of it. Sometimes a voice not technically great but still with something great about it. Intonations are involved too. Maybe not even words. A voice below the brain. Giving breath to feelings. Backing vocals. Sometimes so crucial and innovative they are the true heart of a song. Backing vocals that don’t deserve to be called backing. Some of my favourite singers and vocal arrangements and performances. Enjoy. ************************************************** Playlist Cocteau Twins – Cherry coloured funk (4AD) Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares – Pilentzee Pee (4AD) Julianna Barwick – The magic place (Asthmat...

Having just read the fascinating 4AD biography, I'd been biding my time to play something from the staggering Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares , a Bulgarian female choir given an "indie" UK release first in 1986. It was an album that had quite an impact on many other 4AD artists, including Liz Fraser of Cocteau Twins , who was already ploughing a most individual vocal furrow, in fairness. Two from the Hidden Shoal label this week, the sumptuous dream pop of Chloe March , the feverish psych strummings of Brother Earth . Also Caribou , it's sounding like an instant classic that new album; a re-release for Gravenhurst , lovely psych folk with an electronic undertone; Ty Segall channelling Brett Anderson of Suede but pulling it off; East River Pipe , haunting and poignant wrapped in glorious guitar pop. And Kemper Norton , as intriguing and spooked out as ever. More on these pages as always. Oct 21 2014 w/ East River Pipe,Caribou,Bell Gardens,SPLH,Voix Bulg...