The Underground of Happiness

Second album from the London 5-piece (who used to be Dark Captain Light Captain in the days of their wonderful debut Miracle Kicker ), full of propulsive rhythms and hushed vocal harmonies. Where their debut album was bound to make you think of an imaginary Elliot Smith soundtrack to The Wicker Man (folk with a twist, we’re saying), the beats are more prominent this time around. We’ve already spoken about the first single Submarines , a salutary tale built around a powerful hi-hat and snare two-step backbeat and a matrix of acoustic guitars – it also features a meltingly gorgeous melody. One of the most noticeable new threads this time is some lovely high-tone bass work (for example, 3 years to go – am I the only one who thinks it sounds like a slowed-down baggy beat, a la Ride? In fact, the shuffling Ex detective has a hint of this too, come to think of it…I’m all in favour by the way – and Different and easier , which comes on like a folky Stereolab, complete with an intriguing...

And lastly for today, a song that's already much loved around these parts, but a different version. We were on about Submarines , the first single off the new album by Dark Captain , back in August . Here's some film of four of them (I think they can reach seven, if the weather's good) performing an acoustic version of the song at the Lo & Behold gallery in London . It ups the ante on the original in terms of intimate hushed vocals and cunningly replaces the guitar line with a flute. That may not be everyone's cup of tea but I must say it charms the pants off me. Dark Captain - Submarines (Acoustic at Lo & Behold) from Lo+LOAF TV on Vimeo . And for comparison, the superb original. We'll be talking more about the album later in the month.

This East London band used to be called Dark Captain Light Captain , but they've shortened down (I reckon fans used to shorten the name anyway). Their new single carries on very much where the longer band's material left off. Big beat drums, assorted subtle krautrock-type drones, hushed vocals, raindrop piano and a delicate, spindly acoustic guitar line. It's a beautiful tune and likely to worm its way under your skin very quickly. Out August 30th on CD and download. http://soundcloud.com/lo-loaf-recordings/sets/dark-captain-submarines *By the way, the press blurb says " like Fleetwood Mac being chatted up by The Violent Femmes in a bar in which Robert Wyatt is dancing his heart out to minor key club classics ". I love this idea and I want to know if this scenario can be created and documented. I'm sure people would pay money for the privilege. **And for good measure, here's one of the singles from their last album, Miracle kicker , the sublime Jealo...