The Underground of Happiness

And so the final instalment of this Best of 2015 review, which has a Soul/Dream Pop tag ostensibly but really is a collection of odds and ends left over. (Floating Points, for example, could certainly have belonged in Part 1 if I had my head on straight a few weeks ago.) These round ups are by nature a time travel exercise, some of the music here being a year old. But even since Part 1 of the review in mid-December, the world seems a very different place. It's now a post-David Bowie time, a post-Mick Lynch time, mortality comes for all of us, better get used to it. Enjoy the music while you can. ************************************************************************************************ 1. Marker Starling – Husbands (from the album Rosy Maze , Tin Angel Records) Spring 2015 was all about my obsession with this song, a glorious discovery and an enduring memory from the year. From February - There’s an automatic association for Steely Dan, I think, a kin...

There’s one kind of thing where artists favour the avant garde while making nods in the direction of pop music. There’s another kind of thing where artists make pop music (and even better, avowedly) with the fringes teased by avant gardery. The last Julia Holter album, Loud City Song , seemed to me to have the aloofness of the former, some great moments but ultimately standoffish. This new album has patented an engaging brand of mutated showtunes, of which this single is a fantastic example. There’s mouth whistling, crazy but relatable sax solos, synth string arpeggios and a lovely endearing vocal melody. There’s a distinct warmth to it but still an intriguing strangeness. It is (avowedly) pop music gone weird and don’t you just love it.

This week's show seems to have become a compilation of recent favourites, so more from: Robert Forster , in sweltering ballad form The Chills , belting out wonderful big-hearted pop songs with ringing guitars Julia Holter , drifting gossamer-light enigmas Blank Realm , no views, no wave, no shortage of storming psych pop Laura Cannell , ancient timeless folk strains. Also great new tune from Owensie with help from Conor (Villagers) O'Brien on backing vox. And Kevin Murphy , likewise back with more top drawer folk soul songwriting. More on these pages. Oct 13 2015 w/ Deerhunter,Kevin Murphy,Julia Holter,The Chills,Laura Cannell,Darren Hayman++ by The Underground Of Happiness on Mixcloud The Underground of Happiness uplifting pop music of every creed www.theundergroundofhappiness.blogspot.com www.facebook.com/theundergroundofhappiness Twitter: UndergroundOfHappy Playlist 373 Tues Oct 13 2015 11.00am-12.00pm (repeated on Tuesdays 8.30pm) UCC 9...

A few nice pairings in this week's show. Robert Forster - "my soup-stained vest, my critical eye" Bob Dylan - "God said to Abraham, give me a son, Abe said, God you gotta be puttin me on" Joanna Newsom with leaping folk singing and a stirring medieval undertow Julia Holter crashing brilliantly through the naff barrier with delicate singing and unashamed sax solos Leo Abrahams going to town on Brian Eno, who sings guest Brian Eno going to town on 70s pop music Sun Ra going to the future. More on these pages. Sept 29 2015 w/ Robert Forster,Bob Dylan,Joanna Newsom,Julia Holter,Sun Ra,Leo Abrahams,Leaf Library by The Underground Of Happiness on Mixcloud The Underground of Happiness uplifting pop music of every creed www.theundergroundofhappiness.blogspot.com www.facebook.com/theundergroundofhappiness Twitter: UndergroundOfHappy Playlist 371 Tues Sept 29 2015 11.00am-12.00pm (repeated on Tuesdays 8.30pm) UCC 98.3FM listen ...

The Underground of Happiness uplifting pop music of every creed www.theundergroundofhappiness.blogspot.com www.facebook.com/theundergroundofhappiness Playlist 213 Tues Mar 20 2012 11.00am-12.00pm (repeated on Tuesdays 8.30pm) UCC 98.3FM listen live on the web at www.ucc.ie/983fm *listen back to this show here https://rapidshare.com/files/2852672361/The_Underground_Of_Happiness_Mar_20_2012.m4a Playlist Lightships - Sweetness in her spark The Salim Nourallah Treefort 5 - Everybody knows Mairi Morrison & Alisdair Roberts - Mile marbhphaisg air a' Ghaol Yann Tiersen - The trial Hooded Fang - Brahma The Agency - Not singular Chairlift - I belong in your arms It's a Musical - For years and years Shearwater - Breaking the yearlings Yawning Chasm - Life is elsewhere Julia Holter - In the same room ( playing Forbidden Fruit Festival, Dublin, June 4 ) Milagres - Doubted ( playing Electric Picnic, Stradbally, Aug 31-Sept 2 ) Salli Lunn - The first cause F...