The Underground of Happiness

There's a few tunes there now like... Playlist Fixity – Becoming an earthworm (Penske Recordings) Spill Gold – Dali (Meduse MagiQ) Laurence Pike – Drum chant (The Leaf Label) Pozi – Watching you suffer (Prah Recordings) Drahla – Stimulus for living (Captured Tracks) Pill Fangs – Pain inside (Sunstone Records) The Pinheads – Feel it now (Stolen Body Records) Mdou Moctar – Ilana (Sahel Sounds) Death & Vanilla – A flaw in the iris (Fire Records) Rozi Plain – Conditions (Memphis Industries) Lali Puna – Being water (Morr Music) Vanishing Twin – KRK (At home in strange places) (Fire Records) Von Spar feat. Laetitia Sadier – Extend the song (Bureau B) Wand – Scarecrow (Drag City) Samsara – Yellow fangs (Tiny Room/Hidden Shoal) The Proper Ornaments – Please release me (Tapete) Dana Gavanski – One by one (Full Time Hobby) Bobby Oroza – Your love is too cold (Big Crown Roecords) Hiss Golden Messenger – Everybody needs somebody (Merge) Nilufer Yanya – Tears (Ato...

New music in the ether in this new year.* (*A couple of exceptions, The Shacks who I just learned of lately, released last year, and a few others from end of 2018.) Music from Oslo, Cork, Berlin, Glasgow, Brooklyn, Brisbane, North Carolina, Athens, Rotterdam, Dublin, Niger, Bavaria, Bilbao, Tucson and more in here. Enjoy. ********************* Playlist Lali Puna – Being water (Morr Music) Coldharbourstores – Disenchantment (Enraptured Records) Deerhunter – Plains (4AD) C Duncan – Impossible (Fat Cat) Tim Presley’s White Fence – I can dream you (Drag City) Cosmic Range – Breathing water (Idee Fixe Records) Sarah Louise – Rime (Thrill Jockey) The Telescopes – Don’t place your happiness in the hands of another (Tapete) The Last Sound – Cyclical pang (Fort Evil Fruit) Julia Kent – Crepusculo (The Leaf Label) Rozi Plain – Symmetrical (Memphis Industries) North Sea Radio Orchestra – The flower (Bandcamp) Shana Cleveland – Face of the sun (Hardly Art Records)...

I met Rozi Plain before her gig at The Kino in Cork in December, the final night of the Sudden Club Weekender . On a busy Sunday evening in Christmas party season, we managed to find a not too noisy corner in Ryan’s Bar on North Main Street to have a chat (just a television showing rugby league you can hear in the background). She’s a lovely character to spend some time with, full of energy and good cheer. She chooses her words carefully too, not in the sense of being cagey but to be precise I think. She started laughing at one point, I was asking her if her move to London from Bristol was hard. She seemed to agree but then baulked at the word “hard” a few times. “I’m having trouble saying the word hard”, she said, as if to say there are harder things in the world than moving to London, let’s keep a bit of perspective here. Not the average thing you’d expect to hear in a band interview and all the more interesting for that. We also chatted about her early musical memories, comi...

The centrepiece of this week's show was the interview with Rozi Plain , recorded last month when she played with her band at The Kino in Cork (great gig). You'll find about 6 minutes of that chat in the middle of this set, the full interview will be up here soon in its own right. A couple of new obsessions. The Nightjar , a band from Bristol taking folk music into devotional classical music territory with a hint of the ambient avant garde too. Brilliant. Animals That Swim , a band from the 1990s who fell between Britpop and, I dunno, post punk. They are reissuing their 1994 album Workshy on One Little Indian and it has some wonderful tunes on it - rushes of guitar, and intelligent, literate lyricism. The Laetitia Sadier Source Ensemble , a wonderful swinging tune with Brazilian undertones, ahead of European tour in April. Wonderbar. And Iggy Pop back guesting with Manchester band PINS , more spoken word - I think he should do more of that. More on these pag...

So here's the final instalment of this Best of 2016 loosely centring on Psych Pop and some offshoots. I must say it was great listening back to the tunes over the last few weeks. It seems I always say this, but it really was another great year for music. It’s also very interesting when compiling a list like this to spot trends over the year, or longer, some kind of pattern that might be developing, or on the other hand any glorious one offs. I think I always say this too but no harm in repeating. These lists aren’t meant to be representative in any way. I know there are glaring omissions here out of the sum of music released last year but this list is made up of the music that struck a chord with me and in almost all cases was played (generally quite a bit) on the show. So once more with feeling, these are in no particular order. Enjoy. ************************************************************************** 1. Weyes Blood – Front row seat to Earth (Mexican Summ...

Here's another 23 tunes to complete my mid year round up of favourite music on the show in 2016 so far. It's the companion piece to the July 26th show making 41 tracks altogether. Even at that, I'm sure I've forgotten a few. For now enjoy. Rozi Plain - Marshes Morgan Delt – I don’t wanna see what’s happening outside Nick Garrie – The nightmare of JB Stanislas Damien Jurado – November 20 Nadia Reid – Reaching through Nap Eyes – Lion in chains Pedro Soler & Gaspar Claus – Cuerdas al viento Brigid Mae Power – It’s clearing now Kevin Murphy – Your heart’s a circle around me Emma Pollock – Intermission We Show Up On Radar – Rockety rock This is the Kit - Les plus beaux William Tyler – I’m gonna live forever (If it kills me) Giorgio Tuma – Maude hope Tindersticks – Second chance man Lake Ruth – The inconsolable Jean-Claude Astronauts – Civil Engineer Man of Moon - Sign Ulrika Spacek - Porcelain Melt Yourself Down – Dot to dot The Comet Is Co...

That time of year again when we take stock. It's good to take stock, be thankful for what you have, mourn what you miss, make plans for the future, rekindle memories. Musical memories are obviously pretty specific, conjuring up a place, a time, the people you were with, or maybe just how the music made you feel. It can even seem like music transports us back to a more innocent time. Last January really does seem like a long time ago and some of this list dates back that far. Musical memories are always personal and often completely private. This list is the first part of a four-part (probably) series. I'm a bit of a hoarder so lists tend to be long. But everything here is treasured by me. I'm calling it Kosmische/Instrumental/Soundtrack/Jazz/Dance . As usual, tags are somewhat arbitrary but let's go with those. And the tunes are in no particular order. I'm aiming for the second part of the review sometime between Christmas and New Year's if you're a di...

There's a new album from Giant Sand out, Howe Gelb and friends, and as usual there are some beautiful things contained within. We heard 'Pen to paper' from it on this week's show, a gorgeous late night meditation on writing, contact, communication, perhaps travel and ageing even, with sublime filtered piano, shuffling drums and a smoky nostalgic vocal. It's wonderful. Also wonderful is the late Rod McKuen contemplating Haiku poems and waitresses in bandanas over double bass. It's hilarious and poignant at the same time. New music from William D Drake , a great stomping medieval folk number; Orchestra of Spheres getting gloriously funky about the number universe; Virginia Wing with lissome psych pop. Polar Bear focusing on the light of the universe, Rozi Plain dealing a gorgeous kosmische. And Sheffield duo Nai Harvest with a welcome update of Husker Du. More on these pages. May 19 2015 w/ Giant Sand,Polar Bear,Orchestra of Spheres,Virgi...

First published on www.lowtrees.net A beautiful album of folk drones enlivened by vintage synths and inventive danceable backbeats. We've already spoken here of the beguiling kosmische lilt of ‘Actually’ and the spacey pitter patter club atmosphere of ‘Jogalong’. But check the glorious Tortoise-like brass swells of ‘Best team’, the bleeping keys with two step drum machine of ‘Five beans’ and the gorgeous late night shuffle of ‘Quarry’ and it’s obvious that this is a highly unusual hot pot and nothing like your average folk album. We must also mention Plain’s authentic singing-to-itself vocal style, a unique instrument with inflections capable of turning words into unending earworms. Describing music as having a sense of adventure is a bit of a cliché these days but there’s a genuine feeling of horizons expanded and a questing personality behind these songs. Triumphant genre-bending stuff.

A couple of great Thrill Jockey releases to kick off this week. Mary Lattimore & Jeff Zeigler play Dublin soon when they'll presumably roll out some of these beautiful spiralling harp arpeggios (harpeggios?) with ambient electronic backing. And Circuit des Yeux is American Haley Fohr with a landmark singing voice. Speaking of great singers, Daniel Knox would make your heart melt. Arborist with Kim Deal on guest backing is another beauty. Virginia Wing with a wonderful post-Stereolab intervention, danceable. Lower Dens brilliantly smuggling unsettling observations into electro pop. Jean Jacques Perrey & David Chazam , a superbly playful addition to the Moog library genre. Colleen plays Cork next weekend, spacious dub explorations. And Rozi Plain (pic) with folk drones and kosmische synths which are glorious and uplifting. More on these pages. Apr 28 2015 w/ Circuit des Yeux,Arborist,Daniel Knox,Virginia Wing,Lower Dens,Polar Bear,Colleen++ by The Underg...

Another beautiful semi-folk cut from the Winchester native ahead of her third album due out in May. Firstly, a giant bass drone rumbles along like some kind of oversized sidewinder, shuffling clicking percussion at arm’s length. The first enigmatic lines – “It will be reported to be a difficult year, a tumultuous year.” Then the gorgeous high tone punctuation of a singalong vintage synth line, eyes fixed on the stars. Each lyric line has this cosmic release, the groove rolling along underneath as the plot (something concerning familes, relatives, something ancient, possibly archetypal) works through. Until a crescendo – “Don’t get over it, this is actually it” - the vocal rising in harmonies into a higher register for extra emphasis. Then it fizzes out in just 3 minutes, short and snappy as a pop song. It has more in common with kosmische than pop or even folk. You might feel the urge to dance to it although maybe slower than you’re used to. An exultation am...

Started with a bit of a soul run this week. Superior country soul boogie from Durham NC from Hiss Golden Messenger , then up the road to Richmond VA for delicate orchestrated soul pleadings from Natalie Prass . And classic Minnie Riperton from 1970, more of a cosmic soul variety. Rozi Plain - new music, fascinating folk/kosmische drones; Colleen - new album is all about the dub/reverb, she plays Cork in May. Some great Elliot Smith from 1997 and Jessica Pratt from 2015, channelling part him, part English folk, part who knows what but I love it. And a great new (to me anyway) voice in the shape of Cat Palace , deep boneshaking gospel tones. Feb 24 2015 w/ HGM,Natalie Prass,Minnie Riperton,W&P,Rozi Plain,Colleen,Jessica Pratt++ 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 Playl...

A brilliant declaration of progressive folk values from two of Britain’s most distinctive contemporary voices, and regulars on the show's playlists over the last few years. Rachael Dadd brings ukulele strums, shakers (in fact a box of matches apparently) and a loping drumbeat with a charm-the-pants-off-you chorus vocal line from the Kate Bush school (“ca-ca-co-co-yup”) to an uplifting worksong. In Rozi Plain’s case, her signature syncopated guitar, softly insistent backbeat, a glorious kosmische synth line and a bank of celestial harmonies develop an eminently danceable groove, perfect for the stoic nostalgia of the lyric. One sprightly and bouncy, the other a sort of motorik murmuring. Put together, they make an intriguing yin and yang. It’s all most beguiling and joyous and, in short, very classy pop music.

A tune that we've played on the show several times of late is the new Rozi Plain single, See my boat , which comes out next week on Need No Water Records (on lovely red vinyl, too). The Bristol-based artist has been touring the UK lately with KT Tunstall and is very much part of what seems to be a vibrant folk-ish scene in that city, along with the likes of This is the Kit and Rachael Dadd (both of whom you've heard of here before). The single starts life as an intimate, fingerpicked affair with chiming guitars, before transforming into a delirious folk stomp with handclaps, massed vocals and a four to the floor bass drum. There's even room for a swirling ending with some French jazz violin on board. It's massive craic altogether, and what's more, it's a storming tune. http://soundcloud.com/neednowater/roziplain-see-my-boat The previous single, Humans , is similarly irresistible, in a folk music gone off the rails, kind of way. The video features bal...

Qluster - Haste Tone (Bureau B, from the album Fragen ) From Hans-Joachim Roedelius, who (along with Dieter Moebius and others) brought you Kluster, Cluster and Harmonia, and sound installationist Onnen Bock. Meditative, swelling synths ebb and flo like the tide, punctuated by discreet bells and obscure gurglings, until a beautiful piano and flute duo sails into view. Sublime stuff from a master. QLUSTER - LIVE PREVIEW 2011 from luma launisch on Vimeo . Cashier No. 9 - Lost at sea (Bella Union, from the album To the death of fun ) An uplifting wall of 60's sound, with a melancholy vocal in the middle and a lonesome harmonica in the wings, from the Belfast band's David Holmes-produced debut album. Tympani and castanets make up the intriguing supporting cast. There's the glorious whiff of the Brill building about the songwriting too. And here's the equally great first single from the album, Goldstar , sounding a shade like The Stone Roses taken in hand by Lee H...