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
Here’s the authentic country sound of Arlo McKinley, taken from his forthcoming debut solo album, Die Midwestern, out August 14 on John Prine’s independent Oh Boy Records. It’s a fine opening shot, with that line “I don’t wanna get high anymore” and a classic balladeer sound, part straight country , part outlaw, mostly just a … Continue reading
We’re digging the sound of this track from Molly Maher, a song that blends western and Mexicali styles in a way that tumbles and clatters around with a loose and graceful quality. It’s like Tom Waits, light-headed on tequila, jamming with Calexico in a dusty backstreet on a sunny afternoon. Lovely stuff and there’s more … Continue reading
Charley Crockett has released a beautiful new video, for the song ‘Run Horse Run’, from his forthcoming new LP Welcome To Hard Times – available July 31st 2020. “The video is part of a cinematic series of music videos, where Crockett plays the same lonesome character traveling through the American wilderness. This episode features Crockett … Continue reading
The delightfully named Scurvylicious concoct a wonderfully vibrant sound on this new song ‘Wiser‘. The Melbourne band open the track with a slow, swaying jangly guitar sound – like an afterthought at the start of the song. Near the minute mark it kicks into first gear with prominent bass driving things along and the mantra … Continue reading
Here’s a great, ramshackle country song that rolls along on the momentum of its melody, sung by a certain Evan Dando. As songwriter Nic Dalton explains, the song came about when ex Lemonheads bassist Jesse Peretz asked Dalton to compose a song for a short film of his. From one Lemonheads bassist to the next, … Continue reading
Melbourne alt-country/Americana songwriter Mitch Dean released his debut solo album Holding Back The Levee last Friday. “I wanted to make something that sounded like all the albums I love to listen to. From Neil Young through to The Jayhawks.” Evocative storytelling, rich musicality and the heartfelt conveyance of human emotion. Those are some of the hallmarks … Continue reading
Melbourne’s Dan Brodie has directed a clip for a new single from his fine 2019 album Funerária do Vale. This track has a gentle, meditative quality. Sombre and sad, it paints sweet and tragic moments, fragments of memories wrapped up in a poignant portrait. “You were impossible to possess, an aberration, an emptiness, our love … Continue reading
We’ve always got a soft-spot for that point where country and folk meet slowcore. There are elements of that in ‘Love On Repeat’, the latest single from UK group Shattercones. The song comes from their EP Oppenheimer, which is out now. You can here the sound of acts like Tindersticks, albeit with a heavier gothic … Continue reading
‘The Lonely Hunter’ is the third track released from The Wine of Youth, the new album by San Diego-based singer-songwriter Zach Phillips. Based around a simple repeating guitar motif, Phillips weaves some sublime vocal melodies that rise and fall, circling those exquisite guitar notes and the subtle rhythm section. Lovely stuff. “The Wine of Youth” is … Continue reading
‘Black To Blue‘ was one of the last recorded performances by Australian Glen Hannah (R.I.P.), written by John ‘K’ Krsulja in 2016 in memory of the passing of producer and friend, Karl Broadie. The music video is a tribute to both Broadie and Hannah, two creative spirits that touched many other musicians and music fans … Continue reading
Following on from Wagons‘ fine Songs From The Aftermath album, the band have been hard at work recording a new EP, of which the dark and spooky ‘Need A Ride?’ is the title track. There’s a cosmic malevolence at hand on the single, with psychobilly influences, some Suicide and a demonic ‘Nebraska’ Springsteen – all … Continue reading
A retro vibe is the order of the day with the spoken word approach from Kelley Swindall on her new single ‘You Can Call Me Darlin’ If You Want’, the title-track from her new album due out in 2020. The song hits its stride with the perfectly formed country-soul chorus and some nice harmonica playing. … Continue reading
Brandon Dodd What A Way To Die Independent ‘Absolute’, the opening track on Brandon Dodd’s debut solo album sets a high standard with its warmth and intimacy, a wonderful blend of country, folk and heart-on-sleeve soul. The subtlety and restraint in the guitar playing and Dodd’s voice introduce a solo artist who has treaded the … Continue reading
Kansas City native Fritz Hutchison has just released Wide Wild Acres, an album that bristles with heartfelt intent and cascading melodies that tumble across a landscape of Americana and indie rock. ‘Fortunate Flaws’ sounds like a lost Creedence Clearwater Revival meets Wilco gem, built on the back of Hutchison’s gloriously lazy and wide-ranging voice. The push and pull … Continue reading
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