Rather than conforming to just one of the emotions listed in its deceptively simple title, ‘Happy Sad’ works as a fusion of the two, finding a glorious middle ground that is utterly joyous in its unrivalled melancholy. Perhaps looking back now with knowledge of Tim’s passing adds a certain poignancy to these songs and their emotional content, but surely one completely ignorant of the artist’s history would have a hard time denying ‘Happy Sad’s otherworldly beauty. ‘Gypsy Woman’ may seem an abrupt change from the mood and mellow style of the other material, but even if it does seem more at home on ‘Greetings from L.A.’, the adventurous spirit and folk-jazz textures fit perfectly here. One of Tim Buckley’s finest albums, which says volumes for it’s place in the annals of musical history.—Christian
