The Underground of Happiness

A thrilling mix of drones, motorik and kosmische from Tim Gane (ex-Stereolab) with friends Joe Dilworth and Holger Zapf , and a couple of mouthwatering vocal cameos from Bradford Cox of Deerhunter and Sonic Boom . There’s enough of that familiar analogue synth bounce to keep Stereolabbers happy. But plenty more dirty filthy beats and sky gazing melodies, hints of everything from industrial to garage rock to psych-noir soundtracks, with a plethora of cracking (mostly danceable) tunes. Tis only early but definitely one of the albums of the year.

Ex Stereolab all over this week's show. Tim Gane's new band Cavern of Anti-Matter have a great debut album full of machine drones and kosmische tones. Meanwhile Laetitia Sadier sings guest on the new Giorgio Tuma album, beautiful drifting dream pop under the shadow of Morricone. The Goon Sax are from Brisbane and make lovely off kilter guitar pop very much in the style of early Go Betweens (as it happens the band features Louis Forster , son of ex Go Between Robert). M Ward is back with a new album, another gorgeous excavation of his roots of rock n roll influences - doo wop, country, soul et al. And his old compadres in Giant Sand are touring soon, including Cyprus Avenue in Cork on April 14th (with Jason Lytle too of Grandaddy fame). And some baroque pop - The Zombies, Nick Garrie and The Association , a certain glorious psych edge is never far away. More on the blog. The Underground of Happiness uplifting pop music of every creed www.theundergroun...

Thrilling jangle pop with actual political engagement from what seems like another age (in fairness it was originally released almost 30 years ago) from the band that gave birth to Stereolab (kind of). Providing proof if it were needed that the famous C86 sound could accommodate teeth underneath its smiling face. The guitar of Tim Gane supplies the chiming hooks but the vocals of Malcolm Eden give great emotional heft, as on the very poignant ‘The well of loneliness’. They are many, we are few There’s not much we can do As it happens, it’s one of the least overtly political songs in this collection but one of the most touching.