Customer Reviews

The Happiness Project [Vinyl]

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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.

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...