The Underground of Happiness

Welcome to Part 2 of my Best of 2015 review. If you're a regular listener to the show, you'll know that folk music in all its forms is a staple of the playlists. And that's where we pick up here with another 22 great tunes. And as usual, it's fascinating to watch and hear what other strands make their way in - lounge, orchestral, whatever. Once again enjoy, and see you all on the other side in 2016. ************************************************************************************************ 1. Alela Diane & Ryan Francesconi – Shapeless (from the album Cold moon , Believe Recordings) A glorious winter entry to start, a collaboration between two fascinating artists in their own right. Like many in this list, it takes folk music and stretches it out until it’s transparent. In this case, classical, choral and tribal music are just a few of the ancestors visible behind Francesconi’s riveting fingerpicked guitar and Diane’s wonderfully pure and clea...

Where pop music makes room for euphoric vocal innovations with the grace of Eastern and African musics and the adventurousness of the avant garde. From one of the key voices of the best Dirty Projectors output, also Avey Tare, Flying Lotus, Vampire Weekend and more. While the killer singing may hit you first here listen out too for the wonderfully lithe backbeat with groovy rolling bassline. It’s the perfect surging counterpoint to the stratospheric glide of the voices. The birdsong back of the throat effect that adorns every chorus intro is my current favourite. There’s just no chaining it down. It is a fantastic fucking racket all round. And get full value for every inch of those syncopations with this live film as Angel and her sister Arlene lay down a series of interlocking drumbeats and handclaps before singing live with little more than a Hofner bass for company. It’s positively thrilling stuff. (And if you’re into things that look cool well it scores highly o...

A few tunes this week from artists playing Cork soon. This is the Kit plays The Cave in Mitchelstown this week, Julianna Barwick is part of the wonderful Sounds from a Safe Harbour Festival line-up in September; and also in Sepembert, August Wells bring their beautiful chamber pop sound to Coughlan's . Good times. Still tripping on Deradoorian , intoxicating stuff. Totally Mild are a Melbourne 4-piece with a great line in lovelorn indie guitar pop. The centre of the show was all Glasgow - Kathryn Joseph, C Duncan & Man of Moon - great variety and quality and all playing UK festivals over the summer. And some classic Nun Attax from the soon to be digitally released Kaught at the Kampus EP from 1981. A little Cork treasure. More on the blog. *By the way, apologies for a microphone glitch at the beginning of this show (anyone listening live would have experienced some disconcerting but soul-cleansing silences). So the first couple of links are missing from the ...

Angel Deradoorian used to be in Dirty Projectors where her voice was used to tremendous and startling effect in a choral bank. She's a solo artist now using her surname and operating out of L.A. but still sounding in fantastic voice. Nice to hear her alongside her old muckers + Bjork from 2010 serenading whales in Northern California. C Duncan is a singer and composer from Glasgow who makes beautiful baroque sounds with room for...rejoice...whistling. It was a recommendation from Kathryn Joseph that put me on to him, she needs no recommendation from me or anyone else, just take a listen and weep. Blank Realm make psych pop with a lovely glide to it, they're from Brisbane . Totally Mild are from Melbourne and make very tasty guitar pop with a twist. De Lux are a duo from L.A. who clearly enjoy Talking Heads (and who doesn't) and make a great rattle reminiscient of Tina Weymouth's bass playing and David Byrne's shouty singing. And Kevin Murphy ...