Neko Case’s journey from alt-country chanteuse and indie songstress (The New Pornographers) to something that now resembles a symbiotic fusion of the two has been one that has sometimes found her struggling to find a niche and suitably broadminded audience. On her most recent album she sounds the most settled and of herself and so … Continue reading
Ranger Spacey kicked things off with a set of hooky guitar music that sat at the crossroads between Pavement and The Band. They were a relaxed and jovial band who interacted with a relaxed vibe that suited their sunny-sounding music. Their drummer stood out as their backbone, able to switch effortlessly from skin pounding to … Continue reading
Ex-The Delivery guitarist Dave Favours has stepped out on his lonesome with an assured and accomplished debut album that pays respect to some of his influences amid well-crafted originals. The Saints, Ramones and The Rolling Stones (Loving Cup) get the Favours treatment yet his own songs like the rowdy and rockabilly-leaning single Linda Marie and … Continue reading
Davey Craddock (WA) first came to our attention on 2012 with his Going Home EP that included the excellent single Keep On Waiting. Now he has two new songs that herald a detour into grander dynamics and some great organ playing in the vein of The Band. 100 Days and There Will Be Light both showcase … Continue reading
Sydney singer/songwriter Caitlin Harnett has a new album on the way and she’s kindly given us a teaser of what we can expect from The River Runs North when it is released later this year. The album was recorded live to tape at Little Bullhorn Studios in Ottawa in 2013 and from the snippets here it … Continue reading
Tracklisting Gene Clark – American Dreamer (American Dreamer soundtrack) Calexico – Alone Again Or (Love cover, Alone Again Or EP, 2003) Davey Craddock & The Spectacles – Keep On Waiting (Going Home EP, 2012) Bill Monroe – Blue Moon Of Kentucky (Country & Western Hit Parade 1947, compilation) Phosphorescent – Cocaine Lights (Pride, 2007) Oakley … Continue reading
On February 27th ‘The Wild Men of Folk’ will be playing at Lizotte’s Kincumber. Featuring Mike McCarthy, Mark Moldre, Kris Morris and Adam Lang the foursome will be playing a mix of their own material and sharing a few favourite covers ( incl. Mississippi John Hurt, Lucinda Williams, Tom Waits, Gillian Welch, Steve Earle, Lefty Frizzell and … Continue reading
I’ve been a big fan of Hollie Fullbrook (Tiny Ruins) since I heard her debut album Some Were Meant For Sea which she followed-up with an excellent EP. Now she has a new record, Brightly Painted One coming out on May 2nd via Spunk Records and you can hear the beautiful and ethereal first track … Continue reading
Robert Ellis’ 2011 album Photographs caught many an ear with its efficient and emotive songwriting and guitar playing and gave him an international audience. The Lights From The Chemical Plant finds Ellis expanding his repertoire, stepping outside of the restraints of pure Americana to embrace pop elements, diverse country influences and lush production while still … Continue reading
Lost Ragas are a new band based around the supremely talented Matt Walker, a songwriter, guitarist who I first discovered on his I Listen to the Night collaboration with Ashley Davies back in 1997. That was of course very much a blues-based record while this project marries the blues and country music. They released their … Continue reading
Mark Moldre continues in his quest to release a clip for every song on his 2013 LP An Ear To The Earth and this could be his best yet. Filmed amid the mid-renovation bricks and tiles of bandmates Jamie and Scott Hutchings’ childhood home the video perfectly complements the percussive elements of the song. Continue reading
Sydney songwriter Dave Favours is releasing his excellent new LP Wet Suburban Sunday this week and to accompany it he’s posted a great Jeff Siberry directed clip for the single Linda Marie featuring a Sasquatch and black and white footage of rivers, tunnels and train tracks. Continue reading
The massive worldwide success of The Lumineers has had them on the road for over a year but now a break in the weather is in sight Neyla Pakarek tells Chris Familton. With a European tour in its closing stages and a pause from touring over the Christmas period, Neyla Pakarek is already looking toward … Continue reading
Rosanne Cash stepped out of her father’s shadow many years ago and has increasingly delivered deeply emotive and personal albums. This may be her best yet, eschewing country music cliches while still remaining firmly rooted in the rich storytelling world of Americana music. There are swampy, Southern musical landscapes reminiscent of where Dylan now resides … Continue reading
Nixon, released in 2000, was the turning point for the Nashville band led by Kurt Wagner. It was a richly ornate LP that layered soul music on the band’s Americana roots and to these ears it was an exotic, beautiful and utterly immersive record. Now Merge have given it the reissue treatment as the first … Continue reading
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