DOWNLOAD: “Anna” – The Happiness Project (mp3)

The latest album from Charles Spearin (Do Make Say Think and Broken Social Scene) entitled The Happiness Project will be released in Canada and the U.S. on February 14, 2009 on the Arts & Crafts label. Here’s a little explanation from Spearin on the idea behind the “Happiness Project”:

“These are my neighbours. My wife and I have two little kids and live in downtown Toronto.” Spearin explains, “In the summertime, all the kids in the neighbourhood play outside together and everyone is out on their porch enjoying each other’s company, telling stories and sharing thoughts. A year or so ago I began inviting some of them over to the house for a casual interview vaguely centered around the subject of happiness. In some cases we never broached the subject directly but none-the-less my friends began to call it my “Happiness Project”. ”

After each interview Spearin would listen back to the recording and examine the thoughts expressed. In addition, he noticed a natural melody and cadence to the speaking voices of his neighbours as they each discussed their views on “happiness”. “It has always been interesting to me how we use sounds to convey concepts,” says Spearin. “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,” he continues, “We just talk and listen. The only time we pay attention to these qualities is in song.”

Wow, that “Mrs. Morris” track on the website is whacked out. From the looks and sounds of it, this could be one the most unconventional albums to come along in a long time.