Stripped back acoustic folk is the order of the day on this new track from Franklin, Tennessee-born Elaine Coles. Recorded with John Mailander (fiddle), Cory Walker (banjo), Jake Stargel (guitar) and mastered by Austin Lee in Nashville, the song has both a haunting musical backdrop and and rich and heartfelt vocal style that goes deep into both soul 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
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
UK singer/songwriter Emma Miller has released the first single from her debut EP due out in the new year. ‘Merry Go Round’ is a rich swoon of a song that showcases her wonderful voice. It has hints of someone like Courtney Marie Andrews in its tone but it’s placed in more of an English folk … Continue reading
The Quill is a collective astral-folk orchestra based in London, headed by Nicky Francis. Nicky’s music is of a psych-folk sensibility, paired with grand pieces of explosive orchestral crescendo. Each track of the debut album The Tower at Hunter’s Moon (release due in the northern hemisphere autumn 2018), is characterised by large-scale rhythmic arrangements, silky strings and choir elements. … Continue reading
EXPLORING THE GUITAR FRONTIER The guitar is synonymous with country and folk music, it’s the glue that ties it all together and has always been an essential songwriting and performing instrument in those genres. In the world of Americana music the guitar is also a medium for exploration and experimentation on the outer fringes of … Continue reading
Aldous Harding blew many people’s minds with her debut, self-titled LP three years ago. Since then she’s been keeping busy with plenty of live shows and more recently, completing the recording of its follow-up, Party. It was recorded by PJ Harvey’s right-hand man John Parish and the first single is the dramatic Horizon. It’s a … Continue reading
Out of a dreamy mist emerges ornately plucked notes and the heavenly voice of Lucy Roleff. That’s how her album begins and continues over the next beautiful 36 minutes. Classically trained, the Melbourne songwriter sits in the same haunting, autumnal territory as Nick Drake, Aldous Harding, slow motion gothic country and occasionally the European icy … Continue reading
Melbourne folk artist Lucy Roleff has just released her new album This Paradise and to draw you into her acoustic world of ornate melodies, that sound both intimately fragile and dreamily otherworldly, we give you the clip for the beautiful first single Aspen. This Paradise was recorded with Tony Dupé (Holly Throsby, Grand Salvo) at … Continue reading
Tori Forsyth (Hunter Valley, NSW) has released the clip for her new single Black Bird today. The indie-folk singer has a 5 track EP of the same name out now. Continue reading
Mark Moldre continues on his quest to release a clip for each of the ten tracks on his excellent 2013 LP An Ear To The Earth. ‘O, Dreamtime’ is a special family affair with Moldre’s 14 year old daughter creating the video on her iPad. It’s a stellar effort, suiting the song wonderfully with its … Continue reading
Aldous Harding is on a roll at the moment with a mid year European tour, Australian dates receiving rave reviews and a new album on the horizon. Now she’s also released a disconcerting and hypnotic video clip to accompany the grace and bruised beauty of ‘Stop Your Tears’. Continue reading
Yours truly (Chris – PTW editor) and the mysterious shadowy figure known as Daz have joined forces to introduce a new regular evening of live alt. country, folk and blues music to Sydney. From early August Heartbreaker Sessions will take place fortnightly on Sunday evenings at Freda’s in Chippendale. Nice and handy to Central Station we’ll … Continue reading
A quirky and eccentric voice instantly rises out of the swirl of delicate finger-picked acoustic guitar and wafting organ and instantly one is placed within the hypnotic surrounds of ethereal folk music. Think Nick Drake, Tiny Ruins, Vashti Bunyan and even a pastoral Portishead at times. Pratt’s light psychedelia has a sometimes lo-fi yet consistently … Continue reading
Folk music comes in many styles and levels of intensity from brisk strumming and foot stomping to plaintiff torch song but it’s alway at its best when stripped back to its essence – words and accompanying raw instrumentation. On her debut album Lyttleton’s Aldous Harding (Hannah Harding) has a direct line to the heart and … Continue reading
