Heather Valley is a new name to us but she has one of those voices that sinks deep like plush velvet and a smooth whisky. It’s intimate and golden in tone and on ‘Lovejoy’ she frames the song beautifully with pedal steel and a rhythm section that’s right in the pocket. Citing her influences as … Continue reading
A swampy shimmer underlies acoustic guitar and the wonderful voice of Ben Mitchell as he sings of ignoring the things you can’t control in life and giving into the flow and destiny of existence. It’s a simple song musically – and I mean that in the best possible way. The elements are all there, reduced … Continue reading
It’s been a long time coming but man it’s worth it to have this brand new single from Sydney songwriter Caitlin Harnett. ‘Make You Feel Blue’ comes from her new album, set for release in the new year. It’ll be her second full-length, the first featuring her band The Pony Boys. The single is a … Continue reading
Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real Turn Off The News (Build A Garden) Fantasy / Caroline Australia Lukas Nelson has been busy over the last few years since his and Promise Of The Real’s last, self-titled, studio album. There have been tours as Neil Young’s backing band, their own shows, Nelson’s musical work on … Continue reading
Tami Neilson’s magic run continues with the announcement of a brand new album called CHICKABOOM! coming on February 14th. The first single/video has been released today and it’s a short sharp vibrant slice of rockabilly with hooks galore and a great clip to go with it. On the new album Tami has paired up with … Continue reading
Creating a mood is so important to this kind of music. Atmospheric folk where there are ghosts in the air and spirits in the glass. There’s a really nice warmth to this track from Dawn Riding‘s new album Last Spring. They describe the sound as part ‘Unknown Legend’, part ‘Car Wheels on a Gravel Road’ … Continue reading
Eilen Jewell Gypsy Signature Sounds There’s always the sense of an artist playing her own game when it comes to Eilen Jewell. She lets her muse dictate where she places her creative energy, whether that’s whole albums devoted to obscure blues or Loretta Lynn songs, providing backing vocals to other artists such as Pinto Bennett, … Continue reading
Super sweet and soulful sounds on this new track from The Painted Roses. There’s a folk-rock undercurrent but it’s draped in honeyed harmonies, whiskey-soaked vocals and a rolling rhythm section. Nice stuff indeed from the Utah quartet. Continue reading
Melbourne songwriter Mon Coeur has unveiled a wonderful video (directed by Willy Pleasance) for her song ‘Evergreen’, taken from the EP Grief Journal which is out now. The song deals in autumnal colours where wistful melancholia drifts warmly from the speakers, enriched by her exceptional alto vocal melodies. There’s a strain of traditional English folk … Continue reading
THE LIFE OF A BIG BOSS MAMA The Australian market is becoming more of a priority for Tami Neilson, she’s was recently here in May for the Blues On Broadbeach Music Festival and now she’s set to return for the Dashville Skyline and Out On The Weekend festivals. Chris Familton gets the lowdown on all the … Continue reading
Perth alt-folk femme trio, The Holy Smoke have just released their new EP The River, featuring the exquisite harmonies of the gospel-flavoured opening track ‘Down To The River’ and the closing cut ‘Will There Be a Light’. The latter is an earthy and soulful folk reverie that again highlights the symbiotic vocal connection that Delilah … Continue reading
Hard grooves aplenty on this Americana soul track, the title cut from Toronto native Jeremie Albino‘s debut album Hard Time, out August 9th. It’s a more polished and more tightly produced sound than another of our current favourites, Charley Crockett. Albino has a folk voice but he’s doing some interesting things by placing it in … Continue reading
Here’s a new song from Sara Rachele, a songwriter from Decatur, GA who trades in some wonderfully atmospheric torch-song, Americana, soul noir. Think Mazzy Star (who she’s covered), Lera Lynn, and Katie Brianna. The new single ‘Allelu (I Found You)’, from her forthcoming album Scorpio Moon (August 2nd), was recorded live to tape in Brooklyn, … Continue reading
“…inhabiting a sweet spot right at the nexus of country, soul and psychedelia.” Magpie Diaries released their impressive debut album Sanctuary last year (read our review) and with it came some wonderful singles – ‘When Love Comes’ and the latest, ‘Honey’. They’ve been getting out a lot lately with plenty of live shows in 2019, … Continue reading
Kate Vargas, the NYC-based, half-Mexican singer-songwriter, already has a few albums under her belt, including last year’s fine For The Wolfish & Wandering. Now, after a songwriting experience at the Holiday Music Motel (see below), she’s released the jazzier sounding ‘Nothing Turns My Lock’ single. Vargas’ appeal lies in her husky voice and her willingness to explore … Continue reading
