A DECADE OF MAKING SWEET SOUNDS After a decade of relentless touring, from street corners to bars and festivals, The California Honeydrops have forged a strong bond with their audiences. Drummer Ben Malament discusses the band’s achievements with Chris Familton, ahead of their return to Bluesfest in 2019. This will be the third year in … Continue reading
Here’s a voice that will grab you right from the outset. Agata Karczewska is a Warsaw-based singer-songwriter with a deep American sound. Bluesy gothic Americana folk is the order of the day on ‘Envy Is My Sin’, a song that showcases her bold and rich voice and makes for a strident and soulful sound. Recommended. … Continue reading
Here’s the recently released single from Demi Mitchell, the first since she released her fine album The Overflow last year. This track hangs wonderfully in the air, built on tension and a noir aesthetic courtesy of ringing guitar chords and a shroud of reverb. It’s a kind of smokey gothic Americana, one of those songs … Continue reading
When a genuine old soul inhabits a voice it conveys genuine emotion and a lived-in rawness to the sound of a song. That was what struck us when we heard this version of ‘House Of The Rising Sun’ by Swedish gothic folk and blues musician Old Kerry McKee. McKee has a history in punk and … Continue reading
Lots to love about this laidback, forlorn track from D.H. Scott, a singer/songwriter who was born in Bakersfield, CA but now resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Scott has a wonderful ache and grain to his voice, at times reminiscent of Townes Van Zandt. This great track is the story of a man (Casey Todd) who he would … Continue reading
Steve Gunn The Unseen In Between Matador Steadily, across a career now spanning a dozen years, Steve Gunn has progressively moved from the abstract, experimental and collaborative to a singular artistic with his own distinct sound. From American Primitive guitar beginnings where he was enthralled by the likes of John Fahey and Sandy Bull to … Continue reading
There’s a dreamy late-night roadhouse vibe on this track from two Asheville, NC musicians – Gold Light (Joe Chang) & Snakemusk (Beau Campolong). Mazzy Star is an obvious reference point given it’s soaked in a similar noir heartache and organic shuffling sway but this also has more of a 60s folk vibe built into its … Continue reading
This is just the kind of folk voice we fall for. The mix of ache and vulnerability, offset with a spirit and strength. There’s a wonderful lilting melody line that threads through ‘Dance With Me’, taken from Kora Feder‘s new album In Sevens which was released last week. There’s a sweetness to the song, as … Continue reading
We love a track where the instant the singer sings their first note they’ve got your full attention. Tommy Alexander does that for us with this new track ‘Rejection’. He keeps things super simple with a measured vocal delivery that hangs meaning on every line. “Rejection is the hardest thing” he sings before a forlorn … Continue reading
Emily Fairlight is a New Zealand songwriter who’s based in Dunedin but has spent time in Australia and India during her formative years. ‘Body Below’ is the opening track from her new LP Mother Of Gloom, a warm and intimate set of songs that highlight her ability to find shadowy moods in her music and … Continue reading
Wyndham Garnett is a multi-instrumentalist, singer songwriter, producer currently living in Los Angeles. He is a founding member of the group Elvis Perkins in Dearland and a former touring member of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and ‘Spark’ is the quite wonderful first taste of his new seven track album/EP Fistful Of Stars which is set … Continue reading
I like the plaintive, spacious sound on this new track and clip from old time/bluegrass Same Francisco-based band Late For The Train. They draw this song out into a beautiful meditation on emotion and the colour blue. It’s bound together with the wonderful vocal interplay and fine fiddle playing from Laura Benson, especially at the … Continue reading
Here’s a new video clip for the track ‘Indians Never Die’, from Black Belt Eagle Scout, the name that Katherine Paul records under. She hails from the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community in what is now known as Washington State and this song comes from her debut LP Mother Of My Children which was released in September … Continue reading
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
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
