The Happiness Project [Vinyl]

Charles Spearin | Format: Vinyl

Product Details

• Vinyl (March 24, 2009)
• Original Release Date: March 24, 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Arts & Crafts
• ASIN: B001M4L5YS
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #361,404 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Mrs. Morris

2. Anna

3. Vittoria

4. Vanessa

5. Marisa

6. Ondine

7. Mr. Gowrie

8. Mrs. Morris (reprise)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Moments of greatness, April 15, 2009

By 

James Cordes "risotto grotto" (Scottsdale, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Happiness Project (Audio CD)

I came across this album after listening to "Anna" on the Arts & Crafts Label SamplerArts & Crafts Label Sampler (Amazon Exclusive), available for free download on Amazon (and highly recommended). That track, #2 on the album, reminded me instantly of the English duo Lemon Jelly - same sweet horn riffs and jingly percussion that puts a smile on your face. What surprised me when listening to the album was how many different directions Spearin heads in. "Vittoria" features a blaring big band horn section, while "Ondine" features slippery strings, piano, and harp drawing the listener's attention to the wild pitch changes in a child's whining voice.

This project, with a novel driving concept of the innate music of natural language, seems like a goldmine for those searching for new art forms, but for me the album peaks when Spearin really nails the rhythm and melody in a spoken phrase, then uses that phrase as the foundation for the music.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant concept ...executed to perfection, January 27, 2012

By 

Jeremy Christensen "Deaconblues" (UT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Happiness Project (Audio CD)

My introduction to Charles Spearin came some time ago, when I downloaded the 2009 Arts and Crafts Sampler (because I like to download stuff and see if it grows on me...) When "Mr. Gowrie" came up on shuffle during my commute home, I was instantly intrigued. This exploration of the music in speech patters was a mind-twisting concept, and I boggled at the complexity of the rhythms and melodies Spearin had coaxed out of his conversation with (presumably) Mr. Gowrie. Over a period of several months, I found myself coming back to this track for another listen, another attempt to find some other subtle connection I might have missed between the dialogue and the music that was so carefully crafted around it. Last night I decided to track down the rest of the Happiness Project and download it. I couldn't be more pleased with this decision. Each track is a unique exploration into the speech patters, personality, possibly even the soul of a different person. Each track shines in its own right.

"The Happiness Project" has changed how I listen to other people speak. I want to thank Charles Spearin for reminding me that music is everywhere, all the time. All you have to do is listen...