Aldous Harding blew many people’s minds with her debut, self-titled LP three years ago. Since then she’s been keeping busy with plenty of live shows and more recently, completing the recording of its follow-up, Party. It was recorded by PJ Harvey’s right-hand man John Parish and the first single is the dramatic Horizon. It’s a … Continue reading
Across eight albums, Devendra Banhart has explored all corners of folk and esoteric pop music with both authenticity and free-form eccentricity. He’s played it straight and pure, joyous and playful; all the while pushing the boundaries, from instrumental ragas to songs with artfully obtuse titles such as ‘Tit Smoking In The Temple Of Artesan Mimicry’. … Continue reading
A decade ago, Devendra Banhart was the poster child for the American acid-folk movement that rose out of a close-knit community. As with all scenes, the different members went on to pursue their muses into contrasting and varied territory with Banhart continuing to explore eccentric song form. At first he took it into a more … Continue reading
Darren Cross made his name as a founding member of collage pop provocateurs Gerling but these days he’s one half of folk noir duo Jep and Dep and a solo artist trading in dark avant-folk. Surprisingly, this is Cross’ debut solo album and in many ways it embraces his past and present musical explorations with … Continue reading
Elvis Perkins has been floating around the music business periphery since his very good debut solo LP Ash Wednesday came out in 2007. His latest which was released in February is I Aubade which is a much denser, layered and raw collection of folk ruminations that veer towards the eclecticism of a band like Califone … Continue reading
2014, what another great year for Americana music, especially here in Australia where the scene seems to be growing in leaps and bounds. An example of that was Love Police launching the inaugural Out On The Weekend festival in Melbourne with a smaller version in Brisbane and a ton of sideshows in Sydney. All reports … Continue reading
Will Oldham has released the second single from his 2014 album Singers Grave a Sea of Tongues and it finds the ever mercurial songwriter and sometimes actor shimmying and preening with an impressive beard extension. Of his new album we said: It sits comfortably between his folk and country domains and is laden with austere … Continue reading
Aldous Harding has seen her musical reputation grown in leaps and bounds this year on the back of her superb self-titled album. It’s a bewitching and enchanting collection of songs of which we said: The first striking characteristic is Harding’s voice, perhaps one that might deter some listeners, but for those with any affection for … Continue reading
Will Oldham has, by his own prolific standards, been a tad quiet on the album front since his Everly Brothers-inspired album from 2013. That all changed when today he announced a new Bonnie “Prince” Billy record called Singer’s Grave ・ a Sea of Tongues will be released on September 23rd via Drag City and Spunk here … 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
James Jackson Toth is a prolific songwriter and musician by anyone’s measure. Recording under a number of names and in collaboration with a range of other musicians such as Michael Gira (Swans), he seems most himself when operating as Wooden Wand. On his new album Farmer’s Corner (his 14th by our count) he brings one … Continue reading
written by Chris Familton In 2009 The Low Anthem introduced themselves to the world with their 2nd album Oh My God, Charlie Darwin. With high profile championing from the likes of NPR and Mojo Magazine they quickly became part of the post-Bon Iver/Fleet Foxes world with their rustic americana and harmony-rich folk. Smart Flesh … Continue reading
If you haven’t heard of Josh T. Pearson then you definitely have a hole in your record collection. Pearson was the main guy behind Lift To Experience who delivered one of first great albums of the 21st Century (and all time in my opinion). It was burnt out desert folk and blues that bloomed into … Continue reading
