Happyness

Post Author: Meredith Schneider

London-based alternative trio Happyness – comprised of Ash Cooper, Benji Compston, and Jon EE Allan – just released their new album Write In on April 7th. In honor of the release, Benji decided to make a fun little playlist exclusively for Impose.
Check out one of their latest, “Through Windows”, below, and then lose yourself in their fun playlist.


Kathleen – Randy Newman
‘Little Criminals’ has been the only CD in my car for at least a year now (that is if you discount ‘The Lion King’ soundtrack) and this is probably my favourite song off that record. He is just one hell of a sexy man. 
Agua Beber – Astrud Gilberto
I love Astrud Gilberto’s voice because I think she sounds like an oboe – everything she sings almost feels like it’s been squeezed out of a reed and this song (particularly the ‘di-ba-do-baas’ at the beginning) is a wonderful example of that for me. 
Street Life – Roxy Music
We became a bit obsessed with ‘Stranded’ while we made this record (another great one for the car) and ‘Street Life’ is such a killer opener to that record. 
County Line – Cass McCombs
I was gutted to miss Cass McCombs when he played London a few months back. This song was first played to us by our dear friend, Evan Ushenko, who we toured with in America a few years back when he was playing with Michael Rault. This song always reminds me of him – and he is a nice thing to be reminded of. 
Ridin’ in my Car – NRBQ
After we’d mixed our album, we were flying back from Los Angeles on an aeroplane with no logo on it (which is a terrifying thing to be confronted with). The airline’s regular plane had ‘broken’, and so we were put on an old reserve plane that just sits at the airport. I don’t think it had changed much since the 70s and I was certain we were going to die on that flight. Jon EE suggested that I just listen to this song on repeat and it would make me feel better (as the plane inevitably fell out of the sky). And it did make me feel better. 
Un Soir Chez Norris – Pierre Cavalli
I love the title of this song – for some reason I can only ever hear it spoken in my head in the most english-french accent. It would make a great name for a dodgy french restaurant. 
Una Strana Coppia (from La Cage Aux Folles) – Ennio Morricone 
‘La Cage Aux Folles’ is one of my favourite films of all time. For those of you who haven’t seen it – see it. Despite often being known only for his rousing Americana stuff – I think this soundtrack is some of Ennio Morricone’s best work. I want my 50th birthday party to be exclusively soundtracked by this song. 
___
Write In is available now.