Something a bit different today, this track ‘Drugstore Cowboy’ from Swiss duo John Dear and drummer Alma June. It’s a howling stomper, a mix of the urban angst and hollering backwoods blues. There are shades of The Black Keys in their sound which isn’t afraid to get noisey and raucous with heavily reverted guitars and … 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
Watling & Bates are Kym Watling and Geoffrey Bates, songwriters from Unumgar, on the western edge of the Northern Rivers of NSW. This new song of theirs grabbed our attention with its blend of bush ballad and gothic country – all shimmering notes, a slow noir crawl and story of a mysterious disappearance of a … Continue reading
Soul music is an integral part of what we call Americana music. Just one of the many elements that make up that sound. Boo Ray incorporates it wonderfully on this new single that has one hell of a catchy chorus, complete with horns and soul-dripping harmonies. It’s country music but it rocks and swings like … 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
On a busy morning this song stopped us in our tracks with its beautiful vocal harmonies and the lyrical guitar playing. It comes from Canadian Abigail Lapell, a folk songwriter who released her third LP Getaway at the start of February. Lapell manages to combine a haunting noir aesthetic to her music with a pure … Continue reading
As well as working tirelessly putting together festivals such as The Gum Ball and Dashville Skyline on his family property in the Hunter Valley of NSW, Matt ‘Magpie’ Johnson also finds time to write music with Magpie Diaries. Sanctuary is their debut album and finds them inhabiting a sweet spot right at the nexus of … Continue reading
Mark McGowan hails from Glasgow and he’s released this fine single, ‘Betty’, which comes from a four track EP Speakeasy which was released late last year. Stark and stripped back with sweet fingerpicking, the focus is on McGowan’s voice with it’s rich and textured folk tone that recalls a more sensitive Ray LaMontagne. Continue reading
The US might be deep in the throes of winter but down here in the Southern Hemisphere it’s hot, damn hot – and this track suits the weather just right. A warm, bucolic country soul tune that rolls and rambles along beautifully. Okey Dokey hail from Nashville and they teamed up with psych-soul singer Liz … Continue reading
Here’s a great new (to us) voice – the six-piece James Edwyn & The Borrowed Band. Elements of folk rock, soul and country collide in this song that tumbles into a fine chorus before drifting back out into more reflective verses and shades of The Felice Brothers. The Glaswegian band released their second album High … Continue reading
ACROSS THE DITCH In musical terms, and to Australia audiences, New Zealand may be best known for its indie exports (based around the Flying Nun label), the various pop shapes of Neil Finn and associates and heavier acts such as Shihad. Yet there is, and always has been, a fertile country & folk scene throughout … Continue reading
TALES FROM TWO CITIES Jo Meares reveals the complicated process of recording his new album and how he learnt to embrace his own voice. By Chris Familton Over a series of albums, Jo Meares has slowly whittled away at his craft of songwriting and the delicate placement of those songs on atmospheric musical canvases. Dark … Continue reading
Savannah Conley has been getting a bit of attention of late, with her torch-song country soul sound. She’s got one of those voices that dances on melodies while searching the bottom of a whisky glass. ‘Same Old Eyes’, from her EP Twenty-Twenty, rides on a slow and lonely backbeat and shimmering guitars. Lovely stuff. If … Continue reading
A DIFFERENT SKYLINE Paul Andrews took a leap of faith and boarded a plane to Nashville with the finest songs he could write. The result of that experience is the new Family Fold album Ashfield Skyline. Rising from the ashes of 00s indie band Lazy Susan, Family Fold released their first album Lustre Glo in … Continue reading
This track caught our ear with its noir verses and power pop on codeine chorus. It’s lush and swooning in the way it glides and soars at different times. Rich Webb hails from Melbourne and Stoner’ comes from his album Le Rayon Vert which you can check out on Spotify and purchase via his website. … Continue reading
