please help me buy a nice CD for my friend

[Cappuccino]

sometime she buys me them

she buys me stuff like opera and Jools Holland

we are not trendy

and we like to be happy and discover something lovely and lifted up by sound

does anyone have any suggestions for something as a surprise?

herman dune - giant

an amazing cd

the track 'i wish that i could see you soon' is my all time favourite happy song

ooh that is cheerful I have been YouTubing

however it is a bit lightweight for my friend

she likes a Big Noise

(I have been very much cheered by it though thanks!)

Arcade Fire? Not exactly cheering - very weighty issues, but very very big noise.

Swirly and uplifting and just big.

Lots on YouTube.

I am really enjoying Another Cup by Yusuf (the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens). It's not Big Noise though ... but it is lovely and lifted up by sound!

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Guillemots album might be just the thing - swirly and uplifting, and a real grower, I love it.

well I am having a good time

Magic Numbers? Lovely and quite gentle.

Nick Drake? Five Leaves Left is very nice.

the hours - narcissus road
or anything by elbow?

anyone else?

am looking for 'filling the room with sound' stuff

Enigma, very soothing music.

Newton Faulkner - Handbuilt by Robots
loads of guitar
and an amzazing cover of Massive Attack's teardrop ...

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ooh that sounds very scary and new

we don't normally do new

(we think Massive Attack is 'new')

Saw Newton Faulkner at V - he was brilliant.

Big noise - Cocteau Twins? Heaven or Las Vegas is not too 'difficult' a one of theirs and it's got lots of lovely 'big' swirly sound to it (esp. Iceblink Luck) and Liz Frasers vocals are to die for no matter what she sings... I find this very uplifting and happy-making!

More recently (that came out a good few years back!)I'd echo whoever said Arcade Fire (although the first album rather than the second for 'uplifting') and Mercury Rev - All is Dream and The Secret Migration are brilliant.

If they're more into music than lyrics, Talk Talk's later offerings (from The Colour of Spring onwards) might do the trick - quite orchestral and sweeping and I do find it quite uplifting too.