Broken Social Scene Presents: Charles Spearin's Wacky The Happiness Project

The 'Broken Social Scene Presents' Series —in which the core members of the many-member'd Canadian co-op release solo albums from under the safety of the band's umbrella— has, thus far, delivered a couple of discographical apples that haven't fallen far from the BSS tree. The debut solo set for rockin' frontman Kevin Drew, 2007's Spirit If..., was never going to be too big a change, but, disappointingly, Brendan Canning's Something for All of Us sounded a lot like a duller, more mediocre take on the Social Scenesters' standard sound.

No one will accuse Charles Spearin's solo debut of being either dull or mediocre. Bizarre, theatrical, or vaguely unlistenable might apply; but predictable it is not. The Happiness Project began as a series of interviews, in which Spearin would talk to his friends and neighbors —subjects ranging in age and culture— about, essentially, the subject of happiness.

Working from these recordings, Spearin would use their voice —its cadence, its rhythm, its intonation— like a conductor's baton, recruiting musicians to play a singular instrument in a fashion that matches the meter and melody of these spoken conversations. The result is bizarre; like some sort of neo-realist, home-recording perversion of Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf.

A free taste of the strangeness can be heard at the Happiness Project website. The record is due to be released by Arts & Crafts on, ahhh, Valentine's Day '09. 'Tis the perfect gift for that potential paramour you wish to utterly puzzle.

The Happiness Project Track List
1. "Mrs. Morris"
2. "Anna"
3. "Vittoria"
4. "Vanessa"
5. "Marisa"
6. "Ondine"
7. "Mr. Gowrie"
8. "Mrs. Morris (Reprise)"