Album Review: Clare Bowditch - The Winter I Chose Happiness

On her fifth album, The Winter I Chose Happiness, Melbourne singer/songwriter Clare Bowditch is exploring the idea that not all great art has to be born from misery and pain; to make this record Bowditch decided it was time to pursue happiness. She listened to a lot of Dixieland jazz (Black American music's exuberant reaction to their freedom from slavery in the American South in a new century, the 1900s), became a life coach and took an acting job on popular Australian drama, Offspring.

Brimming with the gleeful cheer that has always been a major part of Bowditch's personality, this album comes to life in a way that even Bowditch's sublime What Was Left couldn't. There are shades of the Dixieland jazz that Bowditch turned to for inspiration but mostly the feel of this album is lush, modern pop – more Arcade Fire than Adele. Instruments are layered over a foundation of piano and Bowditch's warm, inviting voice.

Artists usually pack the front half of an album with the most impressive songs but the mark of this album's quality is that the last song is possibly the best Bowditch has ever written. A co-write with man of the moment Wally de Backer (aka Gotye), Are You Ready Yet's grounded, booming drums are offset by the wonderfully airy harmonies and the ever-present piano line.

Though Bowditch has always made interesting, smart pop, this album is a cut above. By pursuing happiness as her subject matter, Bowditch has given herself free rein to make an album that balances adult concerns with pure joy, and proves great art can be made from the brighter emotions.