Yesterday we revealed our favourite 2018 local releases from Australia (and NZ). Today we go global with our 40 favourite albums of 2018. We were going to make it a list that excluded the local albums, seeing as we’ve already published those favourites, but as with previous years we decided we don’t want to separate …
2018 was another strong year for the local alt-country, folk, blues and Americana scene here in Australia. We’ve put together a list of our favourite local releases, plus one New Zealand album that made the list this year. We highly recommend all of these records – check them out on streaming services, buy a CD …
Think the spirit of Nick Drake and the quiet musical irreverence of Devendra Banhart on this beautiful slice of cosmic folk music from Israeli group Prophecy Playground, led by singer-songwriter and composer Or Izekson. It comes from their forthcoming album Comfort Zone. Continue reading
Kicking off the new week with some raw blues from Willie Farmer. Fat Possum Records are releasing a new album of his recordings via their imprint Big Legal Mess on March 1st. Willie Farmer is ready to stop being an auto mechanic. He’s had his own shop in Duck Hill, MS (slightly to the east … Continue reading
Lush folk sounds on this new track from Brandon Hoogenboom, an American singer/songwriter who was actually based in Australia for a while and played with the band Set Sail. Now he’s back in the US and he’s just released his debut solo LP For Mabel. Have a listen to this track, ‘When You Know’, and … Continue reading
Neil Young Songs For Judy Shakey Pictures Records/Warner Music In 1976 Neil Young embarked on a North American tour with Crazy Horse. His opening act was himself, raw and acoustic in large auditoriums across the country. Joel Bernstein and Cameron Crowe were along for the ride and when Bernstein was roped in as a guitar … Continue reading
On a busy morning this song stopped us in our tracks with its beautiful vocal harmonies and the lyrical guitar playing. It comes from Canadian Abigail Lapell, a folk songwriter who released her third LP Getaway at the start of February. Lapell manages to combine a haunting noir aesthetic to her music with a pure … Continue reading
THE MIRROR OF TRUTH On his new album The Crossing, Alejandro Escovedo takes an unflinching and poetic look at America and the immigrant experience. By Chris Familton Alejandro Escovedo has been surrounded by music his entire life. His father played and listened to Mexican music, his mother loved big band jazz music and his rocker … Continue reading
Damien Jurado has a new LP called In The Shape Of A Storm coming out on April 12th via Mama Bird Recording Co, his first for the label. Here’s ‘South’ the first intimate and organic sounding taste of the album. Damien has always worked fast, but In the Shape of a Storm came together with … Continue reading
The album Golden Boy is coming in May but this will bridge the gap somewhat, the latest single from Skyscraper Stan, ‘On Your Corner’. Written in a Darwin hotel room halfway through a gruelling solo tour and recorded at Woodstock studios in Melbourne, the song is a beautiful and slow, soul comedown, complete with a … Continue reading
Here at PTW HQ we’re very excited to be able to share ‘Undress’, the brand new single and title track from the forthcoming new LP by The Felice Brothers. Since they released their last album, Life In The Dark, in 2016, the band have undergone some lineup changes with a new rhythm section – Will … Continue reading
Callum Wylie caught our ear the first time we heard him sing, that forlorn ache of a voice that folds country and folk music into each other, with a touch of weary soul. It perfectly suits his minimal and lyrical guitar playing and songs that have a way of painting evocative characters in often difficult … Continue reading
Just before the end of last year I came across this track from Swedish songwriter Lina Horner and have been meaning to write about it and spread the word about her music. ‘Where To Go?’ is a smoky, soulful bluesy track that at times reminds us of Joan As Police Woman but also has filigrees … Continue reading
As well as working tirelessly putting together festivals such as The Gum Ball and Dashville Skyline on his family property in the Hunter Valley of NSW, Matt ‘Magpie’ Johnson also finds time to write music with Magpie Diaries. Sanctuary is their debut album and finds them inhabiting a sweet spot right at the nexus of … Continue reading
Mark McGowan hails from Glasgow and he’s released this fine single, ‘Betty’, which comes from a four track EP Speakeasy which was released late last year. Stark and stripped back with sweet fingerpicking, the focus is on McGowan’s voice with it’s rich and textured folk tone that recalls a more sensitive Ray LaMontagne. Continue reading
Charles Wesley Godwin has an interesting back story. Born and raised in Morgantown in the Appalachian hills, to a coal miner father and schoolteacher mother, he ditched college football and picked up the guitar before discovering he had a knack for playing and songwriting during overseas study in Estonia. Since then he’s shared stages with … Continue reading
The US might be deep in the throes of winter but down here in the Southern Hemisphere it’s hot, damn hot – and this track suits the weather just right. A warm, bucolic country soul tune that rolls and rambles along beautifully. Okey Dokey hail from Nashville and they teamed up with psych-soul singer Liz … Continue reading
