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
Sam Shackleton has just released his album ‘Causeway Recordings’ on Bandcamp and streaming services. It’s a raw and captivating collection of originals and some traditional folk songs that showcase his rich and expressive voice and his clawhammer banjo, guitar and harmonica playing. His sound is primarily folk but it also draws from country and blues, … Continue reading
I first came across Mitch Dillon‘s work with another of his bands – Attractor Beams. There he had a superb garage rock meets The Replacements sound. Here he doesn’t travel a great distance from that sound but it is a more distinct alt-country feel. ‘Do You Want Me to Forget?’ is less parched and brittle, … Continue reading
Here’s the first single from Tim Easton‘s new album of the same name, due out on August 27th. We’ve got a heap of fond memories of seeing Tim perform down here in Sydney and at the Dashville Skyline Festival in the Hunter Valley. Such a brilliant songsmith, live performer and guitarist who knows deftly navigate … Continue reading
Brooklyn singer-songwriter Nick Watt released his new album a few weeks ago and one of its highlights is ‘Chimes in the Wind’, a Cohen-esque folk ballad that won us over with metronomic and percussive finger-picking, warm bass notes and his austere and rich vocal intonations that add the requisite drama and forlorn mood to the … Continue reading
Ahead of the release of his new album My Friend Defiance (Blind Date Records) next week, Jeb Cardwell has shared these two tracks – ‘Blood Moon’ and ‘Storm Clouds’. The former is a low-slung rhythmic delight, steeped in the effortless cosmic country sound of Tony Joe White and J.J. Cale with it’s loping groove and … Continue reading
Hot nights and a sultry blues rock groove are the order of the day on this new track from Indiana-based David Quinn. We last wrote about Quinn when he released his excellent album Wanderin’ Fool last year. This year’s new album Letting Go finds him broadening his sound and continuing his rich vein of songwriting. … Continue reading
Los Angeles band Idle Joy recently released their second album Your Stars and one of its highlights is the widescreen country rock of the song ‘Little Rain‘. Characterised by hot-wired guitars that slash and burn, jangle and twang across a loose and swaggering rock ‘n’ roll landscape, the song starts slow and steady before gathering … Continue reading
Charley Crockett, today announced his latest studio album Welcome To Hard Times, released July 31st on Thirty Tigers. A bold new record from the definitive young voice in country and western’s modern reinvention. Produced by Mark Neill, with songwriting contributions from Pat McLaughlin and Dan Auerbach, Welcome To Hard Times’ is a genre-bending mix … Continue reading
Today we’re featuring two new songs from Grey River & The Smoky Mountain, a folk group from Athens, Greece. Both tracks showcase the sensitivity with which they approach their music. The soulful vocal and the sparse instrumentation. There’s a bluesy country quality to their sound too, with shades of a darker gothic delivery. Both songs … Continue reading
Last week we premiered ‘Lies’, the excellent new single and video clip (shot by Adalita) by Melbourne sister duo Charm Of Finches. Now, ahead of the release of their new album Your Company (produced by Nick Huggins – Jen Cloher/Bonnie “Prince” Billy/Laura Imbruglia) we’re very pleased to be able to preview the album in full … Continue reading
Newcastle singer/songwriter Ben Leece has had a big year with a nomination for the inaugural Australian Americana Music Prize and winning Alt-Country Song of the Year award at the 16th annual Independent Music Awards with his song ‘Trace’. Now he’s adding a brand new album to those achievements, with the announcement that the Shane Nicholson-produced No … Continue reading
Nikki Lane has been hard at work over the past couple of years, writing and recording the follow-up to her successful 2014 album All Or Nothin‘. The first single to be released from the new LP (due out via New West Records on Feb 17th ) is the title track ‘Highway Queen’. Preorders with all manner … Continue reading
We’re big fans of Ryley Walker here at PTW. He’s emerged over the last few years as part of the modern exploratory guitar movement that includes Steve Gunn, William Tyler, Cian Nugent, Chris Forsyth, Daniel Bachman and others. The common theme that runs through all of their music is a sense of freedom to follow … Continue reading
William Crighton has been gaining a reputation over the last couple of years for his solo and band performances that trade on intensity, honest songwriting and passionate delivery. There are country and folk influences at work in his music but it really boils down to the songs and the brooding yet melodic sounds he shrouds them in. … Continue reading
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