things well done | the happiness project ::
Wednesday, February 25th, 2009:: Arts&Crafts (smokin’ Canadian indie label boasting the likes of Bell Ochestre, The Most Serene Republic, and Feist) recently released a beautiful concept album called The Happiness Project by Charles Spearin (smokin’ Canadian musician best known as a founding member of Broken Social Scene). The eight-track wonder grew out of casual conversations between Spearin and his neighbors in downtown Toronto on the topic of happiness, portions of which he then extracted and worked into song. His motivation: to draw attention to the musicality of everyday discourse. Spearin explains on the album’s website:
“Normally, we don’t pay any attention to the movement of our lips and tongue, and the rising and falling of our voices as we toss our thoughts back and forth to each other. We just talk and listen. The only time we pay attention to these qualities is in song. [...] Meaning seems to be our hunger but we should still try to taste our food. I wanted to see if I could blur the line between speaking and singing – life and art? – and write music based on these accidental melodies.”
Spearin’s soundscapes of speech – arranged by him and realized, on the album, by a motley crew of musicians, including daughters, neighbors and bandmates – document the prosaic, and push it towards something sublime.
Christopher Mills (smokin’ Canadian video artist – do we see a pattern here? – who’s done work for Modest Mouse, Interpol, and The Secret Machines) created a short film to introduce the Project. Narrated by Spearin and populated by a cast of animated characters, it’s a simple concept well executed, and a gem in its own right.
Those in Toronto, Montreal or New York, will be able to catch the The Happiness Project live, with Spearin and a seven-piece band, over a few dates in mid-March (details here) For those of us in China, there’s been murmurings of the Canadian government throwing more money behind Canuck talent parading in the PRC – anyone hit Buck 65 last year? – so keep your fingers crossed. There are good things a-brewing… For more information on The Happiness Project, visit the website. Bravo, well done. //
[Panthea Lee is a guest contributor on 56minus1.]
