The CanCon Catalogue

I'm not usually a fan of experimental music projects. Check that-- I usually like the concept, but I'm not likely to actually listen to them for fun. That is not the case with Charles Spearin's The Happiness Project. I first heard of it on an episode of the Vinyl Cafe with Stuart McLean in which the show's host invited various musicians to share home recordings with them. There was some good stuff on there, including bits from Chad VanGaalen and Ohbijou, but the highlight was two tracks from Charles Spearin's (he's in Broken Social Scene, by the way) then in-progress The Happiness Project. I immediately made a mental note to check it out when and if it was released.

Well, that day is upon us. The Happiness Project has been available online for a while now, and sees its physical release today. And, appropriately for its proximity to Valentine's Day, The Happiness Project is all about love-- of family, of friends, and of community. The project began "a year or so" ago when Spearin started inviting neighbours over to talk about happiness. He would record the sessions, listen back to them to find interesting moments-- "in both meaning and melody"-- and then loop those while he and other interested musicians attempted to emulate the speech with the instrument of their choice. True to it's name, the Happiness Project is extremely pleasing-- it's hard not to crack a smile when someone manages a spot-on emulation of a speech pattern, as in the track "Mrs. Morris" (found below) when the speaker asserts "It makes you happy" and the brass instrument underneath the vocal track matches her rising intonation and rhythmic delivery precisely. If you're looking for a musical gift this February 14, be it for yourself or someone else, then Spearin's Happiness Project is definitely worth checking out. It makes you happy.

The Happiness Project is available in stores today, or for digital download in Gallery AC

Mrs. Morris


Anna (available as a free download at The Happiness Project website)