The Underground of Happiness

You know the way there are some things in the world that are almost too beautiful? Well two new songs from English-born-but-New-York-based Essie Jain fall into this category. Via the Dig for Fire website. Essie Jain: Stand In The Light from Dig For Fire on Vimeo . Essie Jain: Indefinable from Dig For Fire on Vimeo . Jesus, I could listen to that all day. It's glorious. There's a kind of fragile quality about the music, but not gratuitously so - it's perfectly in keeping with the themes and arrangements of the songs. And not so wispy that it might disappear if you touched it either. Earthy, more adult. I had in mind to post something about Essie for a while, since she brought out her last album of children's lullabies on her own label, Light in the Morning . This is from last January, on these pages. Essie Jain - Until the light of morning (Light of Morning) Already loved in the UOH bunker (one of my albums of last year before it was even released). No f...

The Underground of Happiness uplifting pop music of every creed www.theundergroundofhappiness.blogspot.com www.facebook.com/theundergroundofhappiness Tues Mar 8th 2011 11.00am-12.00pm Playlist 166 (repeated on Tuesdays 8.30pm) Cork Campus Radio, 98.3FM listen live on the web at www.ucc.ie/ccr *listen back to this show at http://rapidshare.com/files/451561451/UOH_Podcast_Mar_8_2011.mp3 Playlist   Bernard Herrmann - Prelude and rooftop (from the soundtrack of the film Vertigo ) Erland & the Carnival - Emmeline Treefight for Sunlight - Facing the sun Essie Jain - Lay down  ( playing Union Chapel, London, Mar 12 ) A Lazarus Soul - Truth recorder Malachai - Let em fall Grimes - Intor/Flowers Radiohead - Lotus flower Susumu Yokota - A ray of light (Oen sujet remix) (Fear of a tidy mind compilation) Emphemetry - Four million silhouettes Nils Frahm & Anne Muller - 7 fingers Gruff Rhys - Follow the sunflower trail (Theme tune for a national strike) Sin Fang - Be...

A fresh and hopeful New Year to all. Apparently it's spring already (and there's revolution in the air) - in Ireland usually marked by the return of Wind. Some tunes following, which have been doing a great job of making us forget about the dodgy central heating at UOH HQ. They should keep the most reptilean among you warm, and the most revolutionary cool. All albums, unless otherwise noted. The Phoenix Foundation - Buffalo (Memphis Industries) Cracking opening single from album of same name by the Wellington, New Zealand band. The tune is equal parts giddy, joyous and amiably psychedelic (let's face it, the plot concerns a seafaring buffalo), with an irresistible "woo-hoo" middle eight. The jangly guitars, high-fretted bass and spot-on arrangement make me think of fellow kiwis The Chills (something everyone should be made to do, daily). The whole thing is as fresh as a daisy and tends to remind you why you fell in love with pop music. Practice singing along w...

That time of year for lists again. A vaguely arbitrary exercise, although strangely satisfying. Especially when it's been another great year for pop music . Below is what has been soundtracking the UOH cabin for the past year. Read. Discard. Listen. Enjoy. I've also put together a Best of 2010 Podcast which I'll send details of in another post. Til 2011, stay warm. The Underground of Happiness uplifting pop music of every creed Favourite Albums of 2010 (71, in no particular order) Syd Matters - Brotherocean (Because Music) Sone Institute – Curious memories (Front & Follow) Dum Dum Girls - I will be (Sub Pop) NLF3 - Beautiful is the way to the world beyond (Prohibited Records) Joanna Newsom - Have one on me (Drag City) She & Him - Volume Two (Double 6) Christy & Emily - No rest (Klangbad) Field Music - Field Music (Measure) (Memphis Industries) *d'load interview (phone) with David & Peter from Field Music here The Ruby Suns - Fight softl...