Adelaide country songwriter Matt Ward recently released a new single – ‘Tattoos, Trucks and Country Music’. It’s got a big, rich full-band sound with a streak of soul running through it. There’s a hint of ZZ Top in there too, along with the kind of strong and bluesy, country-rock production of contemporaries like Paul Cauthen. … Continue reading
Sydney songwriter Callum Wylie has a brand new single ‘Close To You‘ out now and it’s the perfect introduction to his forthcoming debut solo album Marfa. Callum possesses the grace and relaxed delivery of some of the greats as he blends the finest aspects of folk and country sounds into his own sound and style. … Continue reading
There’s something to be said for simplicity in songwriting and The Montvales, a duo from Knoxville, Tennessee, have captured the essence of melody and feel on their new bluegrass/folk single ‘Oh Louise‘. The catchiness comes from their sweet vocal interplay and banjo playing that provides the rhythm, swing and highly hummable melodies. The track comes … Continue reading
Swedish songwriter Nicky William has released his new single ‘I Fell In Love With Her‘, a minimal swoon of a song that recalls deep-voiced favourites of ours such as Leonard Cohen and Bill Callahan. The gentle sway of the song is an intoxicating and rich sound, propelled by warm, melodic bass and towards the end … Continue reading
There’s a woodsy, hypnotic quality to this new track from New York songwriter Rachel Angel. ‘Strapped’ quickly finds its pulse and the equivalent of circular breathing in the cyclical guitar. It’s wonderfully mesmerising as her ethereal voice intones and drifts across the speakers. It’s a bucolic Mazzy Star folk vibe that sparkles and floats along, … Continue reading
New York quartet Echo Bloom recently released ‘Three Little Birds‘, the opening track from their forthcoming new album Wake. The song caught our ear immediately with its Iron & Wine and Calexico sound that incorporates a wonderful junk shop percussive quality that Tom Waits would be proud of. There’s also a wonderful emotive wail courtesy … Continue reading
D.C Cross Terabithian No Drums Records Bridge To Terabithia is a 1977 novel (and 2007 film) about two kids who discover an abandoned treehouse and create their own fantasy world to escape the trauma of their daily lives. Darren Cross has dialled into his own sonic Terabithia, in this unprecedented time of upheaval, and created … Continue reading
Any song that starts with the line ‘Satan is my father” is a winner straight off the bat in our books. It’s nicely balanced by the line “My mother is an angel”, from Kentucky band Wayne Graham, in collaboration with Nuremburg folk group The Green Apple Sea. This track has a wonderfully lazy, back-porch vibe … Continue reading
Simple, sad and sombre sounds courtesy of Minneapolis resident J.E. Sunde, taken from his upcoming new album 9 Songs About Love, due out on 20th November on French label Vietnam (distributed by Because Music / Universal). ‘I Don’t Care To Dance’ is clearly in debt to the work of Leonard Cohen but one can also … Continue reading
In recent years there have been a number of articles written about the difficulties and resistance that female country artists have faced in improving the gender parity at music festivals and getting their music played on American country radio. in April 2019, Dr. Jada Watson of the University of Ottawa, in consultation with WOMAN Nashville, … Continue reading
To mark its one year anniversary, Mark Moldre has today released the fourth single and fifth video clip from his acclaimed 2019 album Fever Dreams. ‘White Lightning‘ is a raised-glass country sway, an intoxicating tale of love lost and found – with soft shuffling drums, woozy electric guitar and a loose and heady, end-of-the-night vibe. ‘White Lightning’ was a … Continue reading
AN INTIMATE CONVERSATION Thousands of songs have been written about heartbreak but on her latest album, Old Flowers, Courtney Marie Andrews has found a captivating way to breathe honesty and intimacy into the subject matter. By Chris Familton It’s late in the afternoon in Nashville, TN and Courtney Marie Andrews is reflecting on her past … Continue reading
We like the dark side of folk music, the weird and wonderful sounds that conjure up spirits from the shadows of the heart and mind. Underworld Orchard are a group featuring Hannah Olivegren (Zomes), Steven Strohmeier (Arbouretum, Beach House) and Baltimore experimental music fixture Liz Downing. Together they weave a magical, hypnotic sound, a serenade … Continue reading
Here’s our mid year list for 2020. In alphabetical order, the albums (and one EP) that have hit our musical sweet-spot over the last six months. Big hitters and newcomers cosied up together in a smorgasbord of country, folk and Americana goodness. Dig in and have a listen… Andrew Tuttle Alexandra Andy Golledge Namoi EP … Continue reading
Rod Smoth is the nom de plume of Mississippi songwriter and guitarist Reed Smith who recently released his self-titled album. Continue reading
