Sydney songwriter Fleur Wiber has impressed with her previous releases, both solo and with Chris Carrapetta. Her latest release is ‘Plastic Skyscrapers‘, a song that perfectly the blends classic and contemporary strains of country music, yet still with a gentle cosmic folk drift in its DNA. Drums shuffle, guitars twang & tumble along while a … Continue reading
Introducing Skinny Dyck, straight out of Lethbridge, Alberta. He’s just put out his third release with the EP Palace Waiting, featuring this dusty dance-floor gem ‘Ripe There On The Vine‘. As he explains, the song is “a modern sounding, traditional rooted country song with a cheeky, optimistic message capturing the waiting game that ensures before … Continue reading
Texan singer/songwriter and upright bassist Melissa Carper released her single ‘Ain’t A Day Goes By‘ last month. It’s the lead single from her forthcoming LP Ramblin’ Soul, out on November 18th via Mae Music/Thirty Tigers. According to the advance press release, the album ventures into blues, early rock and roll, and old-school soul, along with Carper’s signature … Continue reading
Jen Mize hits the soul, blues and Americana afterburners on this killer second single from this new project with her eight-piece band The Rough N’ Tumble. Sparse and deeply soulful, ‘All Riled Up‘ digs a deep and infectious groove. There are some great contemporary sounds being created with this kind of stylistic blend (Tami Neilson, … Continue reading
Sometimes the simplest songs are the most affecting. The bare and poetic conveyance of heartfelt thoughts and emotions always ring the truest and Austin, TX songwriter JD Casper has done just that. The song came to him in an inspired moment over a morning coffee and JD says “I hope he listens to this throughout … Continue reading
AMERICAN AQUARIUM CHICAMACOMICO LOSING SIDE RECORDS / THIRTY TIGERS On their ninth studio album, American Aquarium and frontman BJ Barham take a deep dive into loss and ultimately seek to provide solace and hope to the listener. Their brand of emotive Americana is perfectly suited to this kind of subject matter as they tread the … Continue reading
We covered an earlier single of Rachel Angel‘s, ‘Strapped’, in 2020 and it’s a pleasure to again be invited into the swirling and evocative pop-laced country folk sound she does so effortlessly. Taken from the new album Midnite Heart Attack, released earlier this month, ‘Closer To Myself‘, is a tour de force of how to … Continue reading
RYAN ADAMS ROMEO & JULIET PAXAM RECORDING COMPANY Three years since the NY Times article that revealed his totally inappropriate behaviour with past partners, fellow musicians and fans and cast him into the musical wilderness, Ryan Adams has been slowly rebuilding his career on his own label. Wednesdays (2020), Big Colors (2021) and Chris (2022) … Continue reading
Sydney group Lady Lyon have been impressing with each single release over the last couple of years and now they’re heading towards the release of their new EP Charity Bag, set for release in April 2023. They’v also been keeping busy with a string of opening slots for the likes of Jen Cloher, C.W. Stoneking, … Continue reading
Following on from his excellent 2020 album Hey Stranger (and a subsequent single and EP), CJ Stranger has released the soaring and intricate new single ‘You May Run‘. At first glance it’s an upbeat folk rock sound but it quickly reveals multiple layers and dynamic twists and turns. The rhythmic strumming is reminiscent of some … Continue reading
It may sound simplistic on the surface but there are all manner of influences lurking below the surface of Sea Mouse‘s song ‘Cold and Lonely’, the opening track on their new EP Evil Heart. Hendrix, The White Stripes, The Black Keys, Led Zeppelin, The Datsuns, garage rock and electric Mississippi blues. They approach all those … Continue reading
WILCO CRUEL COUNTRY DPBM RECORDS ‘Country’ as in the USA or ‘Country’ as in the genre? Cleverly it’s a subtle blend of both on this new 21 track double album from the band that long ago took an experimental and ‘anything goes’ diversion, from alt-county to post-country. More than that it’s a wide-ranging, intimate and … Continue reading
DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS WELCOME 2 CLUB XIII ATO RECORDS After a run of albums that painted a perceptive picture of modern America and the ramifications of its recent political history, Drive-By Truckers switch the focus to their own formative years as young men seeking adventure and taking tentative steps towards rock ‘n’ roll dreams. Club XIII … Continue reading
As we hurtle towards the start of spring in this part of the world it’s always nice synchronicity when a song comes along that feels like the aural and sonic equivalent of that sense of warmer days, a skip in the step and new growth. Brisbane-Meanjin indie-folk quintet Full Power Happy Hour have a brand … Continue reading
ARLO MCKINLEY THIS MESS WE’RE IN OH BOY RECORDS This is Arlo McKinley’s third album but it was his last one, Die Midwestern that really elevated him into the pantheon of great contemporary country and folk songwriters. The good news is that he’s followed that superb album with another absolute gem. This Mess We’re In … Continue reading
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