Kacy & Clayton and Marlon Williams Plastic Bouquet New West Records A chance Spotify encounter with the music of Kacy & Clayton led Marlon Williams on an adventure that ended up in sub-zero Saskatoon in Canada and Nashville, TN to record this wonderful collaborative album. There’s a clear simpatico between the three of them, with … Continue reading
Caitlin Harnett & The Pony Boys Late Night Essentials Evening Records Caitlin Harnett’s 2014 debut album The River Runs North was an accomplished exercise in confessional, acoustic-based contemporary folk with a strength of songwriting at its core. As part of a an established collective of movers and shakers in the Sydney Americana scene – aiding … Continue reading
Hiss Golden Messenger‘s M.C. Taylor has announced that the new album Quietly Blowing It will be released via Merge Records on June 25th. To mark the announcement, he’s released a video for the song ‘If It Comes In The Morning’, a wandering slow and soulful song, complete with shimmering keys and a lonesome saxophone. The … Continue reading
Gillian Welch Boots No. 2: The Lost Songs, Vol. 2 Acony Records Followers of Gillian Welch are hardy folk, having to endure long periods between albums to satiate their fandom. Sure they get to hear her on David Rawlings excellent albums as well but there’s no substitute for a pure Welch album, as she’s proved … Continue reading
This Frontier Needs Heroes have been releasing music for over a decade and you can hear that lived-in feel in the playing and the maturity of the arrangement and sublime vocal melodies of singer-songwriter Brad Lauretti on this new song ‘South Dakota’. It’s a mix of gorgeous, folk-tinged vocals, the grit and electric twang of the … Continue reading
Lately I’ve been listening to and writing about the sound of ambient country music. I guess it’s the state of the world – but quieter, more ruminative and relaxing sounds have become even more important than ever of late. There are the traditional ambient go-to’s such as Eno, Harold Budd, Jon Hassall, Williams Basinski and … Continue reading
This killer tune from Robert Connely Farr had us straight from the opening lines… “If it was up to me I’d burn this fucker down, hit the road and not look back on this godforsaken town.” His delivery – burnished and brusque, forlorn and on the wrong side of good intentions – is perfectly placed. The … Continue reading
Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada songwriter David James Allen is a man for all seasons. He cites some of his skills as graphic artist, DIY record producer and poet and he clearly takes that polymorphic approach with his music; effortlessly blending country, folk, psych and pop sounds into a wonderful kaleidoscopic sound that could easily … Continue reading
A LEAP FOR INDEPENDENCE Catherine Britt is beginning the exciting next phase of her twenty year career with her new album Home Truths, the first release on her own record label. by Chris Familton It’s a strange time in the world when you have to quickly pack up your things, gather your family and hightail … Continue reading
As this song starts you’re drawn in by Appalachian songwriter Pierceton Hobbs‘ interesting drawl that curls around the vowels and twists them into interesting shapes. Then the band kicks in and there’s a wonderfully laidback yet deep feel to the groove. ‘Fawn’, the title track from Hobbs’ debut album makes for a really nice introduction … Continue reading
Today we’re please to be able to premiere the new video clip from Melbourne group Honeymoon Bridge. ‘Sweet and Strange’ comes from their new cassette/digital album Volume V, released today via Bandcamp. Don’t forget that from 5pm today, Bandcamp waives their fees for 24 hours so all your money goes to the artist! The harmonies … Continue reading
Sarah Jarosz World On The Ground Rounder Records Conservatorium-trained musicians should always be approached with caution. Sure they have an A-grade level of music theory and playing expertise but sometimes that can come at the expense of heart and soul and the requisite rawness that so often makes folk and country music so compelling. On … Continue reading
Willie Nelson First Rose Of Spring Sony Music Willie Nelson just keeps on keeping on, churning out albums more regularly than artists a quarter of his age. Invariably they all hit the mark too, based on song selection, the worldly and weary tone of Nelson’s voice and his trusty six-string sidekick Trigger. First Rose of … Continue reading
The Jayhawks XOXO Thirty Tigers / Cooking Vinyl Australia It’s album number 11 for the Minnesotan band, still led by Gary Louris who has endured line-up changes and a five year hiatus through the band’s 35 year career. XOXO is The Jayhawks’ fourth album since they reunited in 2009 and it finds them still mining … Continue reading
Steve Earle & The Dukes Ghosts Of West Virginia New West Records The first sound you hear on Steve Earle’s new album is his solo voice, all gravel and grit as he leads a group chant which sits somewhere between the church and the railroad. It sets the scene magnificently for an album of songs … Continue reading
