The Underground of Happiness

The album launch show. Pyrrhic . The album is lovely. Shades of Beth Orton but also MBV. The live show though brings to mind pre-1960s roots of rock n roll. It’s all good. Howls and squalls and white noise and irrepressible grooves. A hint of Twin Peaks even – Julee Cruise Angelo Badalamenti David Lynch. Dark heart within the sweet melody. Perfect. A cover of Some velvet morning by Lee and Nancy putting the seal on impeccable taste. A great show. Nudy Boy Nature on support. That’s Jim Christie who is the drummer with Elaine Malone and The Bonk. Among other things. Plus friends. Beach Boys. Garage rock. Jazz. In phase. Out of phase. Rhythms. All in all. We like that a lot. Pyrrhic by Elaine Malone inertia by Nudy Boy Nature

And one more bonus chapter. One more dan for the road. Back to Plugd where the year almost started. Dan Walsh with friends. Specifically... Elaine Howley on keys and vocals. Cathal MacGabhann on organ. Elaine Malone on guitar. Chris Quigley on guitar. Micheál Fitzgerald on bass. Krautrock Christmas 7 . Improv. Krautrock. Jams. But not aimless. Dan on the tiller. Deciding when each beat, each sequence has run its course. Seamlessly chiselling a new beat out of the old one. A new direction. Right hand man on bass. Laying down ferocious markers. High tone. High fret. Plectrum. Battering the fucking thing. Proper to the horizon bass playing. Proper autobahn grooves. Stabs of organ fed through wahwah. Snaking guitar fuzz. Reverb vocals circling and repeating. The whole thing probing the meaning of repetition. Like Can going off on one. In all. Let’s call it a year there so. Thanks Dan and friends. See you again in 2023.

Chapter 11 Later that night Leagues had HTRK in Cyprus Avenue . That’s Hate Rock. An Australian duo who come on like a half asleep Cocteau Twins. In case you’re wondering that’s a beautiful thing. Fuzzy. Narcotic. Full of soul and heart. Wonderful show. Beforehand Elaine Malone played as Mantua . I liked her EP from a few years ago. Jazz inflected indie guitar songs. Tonight she performed a volte face that would make Dylan going electric seem like a minor tweak. She emerged onto a dark stage. Sat down cross legged. Played harmonium. Chanted ancient melodies. I say chanted but don’t get the wrong idea. Elaine’s a fine singer. Just she wasn’t so much singing here as channelling. To fantastic effect. With neverending drones. It was very impressive, the music and the new (to me at least) direction. Rhinestones by HTRK MANTUA by MANTUA

A collection of recent favourites here at UOH Towers. Mostly new or upcoming releases. Across genres. The way it should be. Plus a few of an older vintage. Enjoy. Playlist Elaine Malone – You Josephine Foster – Shepherd moon of starry height (Fire Records) Todd Tobias & Chloe March – Lillavva (Hidden Shoal) Kamasi Washington – Will you sing (Young Turks) Szun Waves – Moon runes (The Leaf Label) Spike & Debbie – Always sunshine (Tiny Global Productions) The Free Design – Make the madness stop (Project 3) Alison Statton & Spike – Open portal (Tiny Global Productions) Terry – The whip (Upset The Rhythm) Comet Gain – If not tomorrow (Tapete) Hater – I wish I gave you more time because I love you (Fire Records) The Chills – Deep belief (Fire Records) The Big Lovin’ – Adiadiadio The Honey Hahs – River (Rough Trade) Michael Nau & The Mighty Thread – When (Full Time Hobby) Lee Hazlewood – My autumn’s done come (Light in the Attic) Kathryn Jo...