The story behind Corb Lund’s eight album involves a trip with his band the Hurtin’ Albertans down from Canada to Memphis’ legendary Sun Studio for a completely live recording session over two nights. That approach has certainly reaped rewards with the album sounding raw and alive. There is a real sense of the players bouncing … Continue reading
Mood and atmosphere are key factors in the creation of immersive and transportive music and Jo Meares’ new album is richly imbued with them. Eerie forlorn harmonica, delicate and heart-wrenching piano notes, slow shuffling drums and exquisite guitar courtesy of Jeff Lang are the backdrop to Meares’ tales of love, pain and emotional turbulence, rendered … Continue reading
Until recently there’s been something of a divide between pop-country and alt-country but now they seem to be finding common ground more often. Jenny Queen’s new album achieves that and now Tracy McNeil finds similar gold by mining the tried and true washes of guitar distortion, twang and tremolo that characterise melancholic americana with added … Continue reading
There was a whiff of novelty act when these Swedish sisters singing country-tinged folk music with a You Tube hits-heavy cover of a Fleet Foxes song first appeared in 2008 but any cynicism quickly evaporated when people heard their songs and fell in love with those voices and harmonies. Three albums down the track they … Continue reading
We’re halfway through 2014 already, crazy huh?! In my opinion it has been a superb start to the year with some outstanding albums released, many of which will still be firm favourites at the end of the year. You can hit links on the many of the albums listed below to read our reviews. … Continue reading
Robyn Chalklen and Chris Parkinson are the core duo of The Yearlings and this, their fifth album, finds them at the top of their game. All The Wandering is the kind of album that fires melancholic shots straight to your heart. With weeping pedal steel courtesy of Lost Ragas’ Shane Reilly alongside a raft of … Continue reading
In the world of alt-country there are those artists who stick to traditional storytelling, instrumentation and playing, mixing that hybrid of country, rock and folk, often with stunning results from tried and tested ingredients. Others, like The Felice Brothers, are prepared to test out new musical waters, evolve and expand their sound. From their early … Continue reading
The last few years has seen Little Bastard gain a reputation as one hell of a live band, the septet causing raucous, drunken partying with their punk-spirited folk and bluegrass. Now they’ve finally stepped off the road to try and bottle some of that stage magic on their debut album. The good news is … Continue reading
Folk music comes in many styles and levels of intensity from brisk strumming and foot stomping to plaintiff torch song but it’s alway at its best when stripped back to its essence – words and accompanying raw instrumentation. On her debut album Lyttleton’s Aldous Harding (Hannah Harding) has a direct line to the heart and … Continue reading
Jenny Queen is an Ohio native, based in Sydney, who sits on the stylistic fence on her third album. Her sound is firmly in a pop country vein that wouldn’t be out of place on the soundtrack to the TV series Nashville yet there is a constant undercurrent of mild emotional turbulence and the sense … Continue reading
Jolie Holland has always operated outside the conventional restraints of folk, jazz and country music. She’s dabbled in and blended those styles and more but on Wine Dark Sea she throws them all in the air, managing to juggle and reconnect them (and others) in thrillingly madcap, visceral, primal and intellectual combinations. Instruments rattle, grate … Continue reading
Hollie Fullbrook’s debut album and other releases as Tiny Ruins have been critically lauded, as have her many live shows over the last few years. Brightly Painted One, her long overdue follow-up to Some Were Meant For Sea continues the exceptional journey of this New Zealand singer/songwriter whose reputation is now one that spans continents. … Continue reading
The Irish folk singer returns with a new album of songs that are noteworthy for both their skeletal, laid-bare arrangements and the instrumentation provided by The Phil Ware Trio – Phil on piano, Dave Redmond on double bass, Kevin Brady on drums. Comprised of a number of covers and a couple of Bloom originals this … Continue reading
Rodney Crowell must have decided to strike while the iron was hot by releasing Tarpaper Sky barely a year after his award-winning album with Emmylou Harris came out. That decision was a great one as the new album is a consummate collection of Americana songs, richly detailed, effortless and timeless. ‘God I’m Missing You’ is … Continue reading
Tami Neilson has long established herself as one of the finest local progenitors of Americana music since relocating from her native Canada to New Zealand. She’s scored numerous awards and critical praise and Dynamite! continues her magical run with her finest collection of songs to date, both in their spirited performance and superb songwriting. Clocking … Continue reading
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