There’s never a bad time for happy music. Happy music comes in a variety of intensities, from peaceful and comforting to joyful and ebullient to silly and fun. The type of happy music one listens to can be tailored to one’s tolerance level and mood. When one is not yet ready for Ren & Stimpy’s “Happy Happy Joy Joy,” there are plenty of calmer alternatives.
One of the fun things about this year’s list is that the music often evokes childhood, but in more than one case involves actual children as well. When we were children, most of us loved playful music; now that we’re older, there’s no reason to leave such music behind. If these albums inspire one to take up toy xylophone or play wooden blocks, all the better!
Bex Burch ~ There is only love and fear (International Anthem)
“What are your favorite sounds?” Bex Burch invited friends to bring their selections to the studio, and collated them into this ebullient mix. Even the titles are happy: “Fruit Smoothie With Peanut Butter,” “Joy Is Not Meant to Be a Crumb,” “Follow Me, I Make You Happy.” The artist’s handmade xylophone is the star of the show, nestled in a bevy of birds.
Blue Lake ~ Sun Arcs (Tonal Union)
The music may sound Appalachian, but it comes from Copenhagen. The artist has lived in Dallas and Denmark, and the dual influence shows. Reflecting on summers spent in Sweden, he records music bursting with color, light and life. Happiness and contentment are universal experiences, and with the right attitude, what one feels in one land can be translated to another.
Carmen Jaci ~ Happy Child (Noumenal Loom)
This is one of two albums on our list that we knew would land on the list the moment we received them. Carmen Jaci not only makes happy music, she wears happy clothes and makes happy videos. We would love to visit a playground with her, or a carnival, or an amusement park. Was Carmen a happy child? We don’t know. But she’s a happy child now.
Eleven Magpies ~ Two for Joy (Self-Released)
The album was born out of grief, but battles its way to joy. After the death of his mother, Ian Ross turned to music for comfort, and Two for Joy ~ based on the nursery rhyme, “one for sorrow, two for joy” is the result. The title track is one of many upbeat selections, but closer “Murmuration” is the string-laden highlight.
Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective ~ Many Voices: Ensemble (NMC Recordings)
Do you have a giant hippopotamus? These kids do, and they’re not afraid to use it. The project is packed with songs written for 8-10-year-old performers, who were also part of the compositional process. Chimes, handclaps, triangle, woodblock, chants and yelps are all part of the repertoire, the most endearing piece being “What’s for Dinner?”
Kate NV ~ WOW (RVNG Intl.)
This is our other instant inclusion, an album bursting at the seams with innocence and joy. The videos are a key component of an album that sounds like elementary school recess, every playful key, horn and exhalation an expression of release. We could drink cups of coffee all day long and not sound this upbeat; the mood comes naturally to Kate NV.
Matthew Halsall ~ An Ever-Changing View (Gondwana)
Jazz makes an appearance on our list with trumpeter Matthew Halsall, whose latest album is in love with the great outdoors. Tracks such as “Tracing Nature,” “Mountains, Trees and Seas” and “Sunlight Reflection” express an appreciation for the natural world, while the mallet instruments sing its praises. This is a relaxing affair, like lying down in a field of grass overlooking the sea.
Robin Saville ~ Lore (Morr Music)
Do you like bells? Do we have the album for you! Lore is filled with their sounds from beginning to end, producing a peaceful patina. As half of Isan, Robin Saville is known better for his electronic work, but this more organic outing represents his softer side. The album is also a birder’s plea, to save natural habitats before they are gone.
Rumpistol ~ Going Inside (Raske Plader)
The album, the third of a trilogy, was specifically made for those struggling with stress, anxiety and depression. And the cool thing is, it works. The music exudes healing and calm, making liberal use of chimes, waves and birds. Music therapy need not happen in an office; through this album, it can also occur at home.
Tomáš Šenkyřík ~ Jaro (Spring) (Self-Released)
What could be happier than venturing outside in spring to collect the sounds of a world waking up from winter? These may be the sounds of spring, but they can cheer the soul all year round. The dawn chorus is rich and full, and the image of the artist’s child asleep on the bicycle is especially endearing. The fire-bellied toad makes a guest appearance, a unique and treasured find.
Richard Allen
a closer listen 