There’s an interesting back story to Alynda Lee Segarra, the 26 year old songwriter behind the rather non-Americana nom de plume. She ditched home at 17, travelled the USA by thumb and jumping trains before settling in New Orleans, focusing on music and discovering her own style with quite breathtaking results. Her voice is the … Continue reading
Sydneysiders doing Mexicali folk music? On the surface that may sound like a genre exercise but Dusty Ravens prove themselves to be dealers in the authentic, mixing up styles and mood just enough to let a subtle Australiana sound filter through the mariachi flavours, as they do on the Richmond Fontaine meets Paul Kelly vibe … Continue reading
Simone Felice returns with a new solo album that includes contributions from his kin The Felice Brothers and Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites of The Lumineers. It finds him sounding more relaxed, mature and carefree than ever before and at under 40 minutes it’s a masterclass in economical, emotive and melodic songwriting. It harnesses the … Continue reading
Ex-The Delivery guitarist Dave Favours has stepped out on his lonesome with an assured and accomplished debut album that pays respect to some of his influences amid well-crafted originals. The Saints, Ramones and The Rolling Stones (Loving Cup) get the Favours treatment yet his own songs like the rowdy and rockabilly-leaning single Linda Marie and … Continue reading
Robert Ellis’ 2011 album Photographs caught many an ear with its efficient and emotive songwriting and guitar playing and gave him an international audience. The Lights From The Chemical Plant finds Ellis expanding his repertoire, stepping outside of the restraints of pure Americana to embrace pop elements, diverse country influences and lush production while still … Continue reading
Rosanne Cash stepped out of her father’s shadow many years ago and has increasingly delivered deeply emotive and personal albums. This may be her best yet, eschewing country music cliches while still remaining firmly rooted in the rich storytelling world of Americana music. There are swampy, Southern musical landscapes reminiscent of where Dylan now resides … Continue reading
It’s been another superb year of Americana releases both here in Australia and from around the world. It also feels like a well balanced collection of great music that makes up out twenty favourite albums of 2013 with alt-country rocking guitars, sensitive songwriters, both male and female, as well as a spread of ages that … Continue reading
by Chris Familton Two years on from Jordie Lane’s well received second album Blood Thinner, the Melbournian returns from some overseas jaunts with a new EP of warm, bucolic folk and alt-country songs that further enhance his stock as a quality singer/songwriter. Lane is one of those contemporary singers who sounds very much like the … Continue reading
by Chris Familton Messrs Peno and Salmon reconvene for their third record under The Darling Downs moniker and as befits their general proclivity for exploring different musical forms they’ve gone and taken another sonic diversion, this time into 60s-tinged folk. Of course them being them they don’t restrict themselves to just folk. There are strains … Continue reading
by Chris Familton Surprisingly this is the first collaborative album from Lo Carmen and her pianist father Peter Head and hopefully it won’t be the last, such is its endearing mix of country soul and late night jazz. Primarily the songs are built on Head’s elegant and melodious playing and Carmen’s playful purr of a … Continue reading
by Chris Familton Swedish songwriter Johan Örjansson is the latest in a strong line of Scandinavians who manage to dial into authentic interpretations of folk and Americana. First Aid Kit, The Tallest Man on Earth and Kings of Convenience among others have nailed the melodic richness and vocal sensitivities of folk music and Örjansson is … Continue reading
Folk singers have been coming out of the woodwork at a rate of knots in recent years and while many fall into the generic strum and whimper category they do serve to highlight the qualities of the good ones that rise to the top. The Hunter Valley’s Melody Pool is one to take note of … Continue reading
We’re a bit off the pace with our mid year list of albums that have impressed us the most so far in 2013 but here they are. Some may not appear on our end of year list, many more will be added in the coming months and no doubt there are some we’ve missed. Here … Continue reading
by Chris Familton Roger Knox’s new album, his first in nine years, is a ambitious and expansive affair that seamlessly weaves together American and Aboriginal strands of country music with a strong social conscience and a laconic sense of humour. The collaborative aspect of Stranger in My Land is important but not one that overshadows … Continue reading
by Chris Familton It has been two years since Hollie Fullbrook released her critically acclaimed debut album and since then she has been touring it through Europe and slowly but surely working on new songs. Haunts is an EP comprised of demos and b-sides mostly written prior to Some Were Meant For Sea so even … Continue reading
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