Folk
Daniel Blumberg releases three new tracks ahead of album
Daniel Blumberg’s 2018 release ‘Minus’ never drew the recognition it deserved. A profound record of late Scott Walkeresque scale with songs balanced on an improvisational high wire, it was a massive leap from the indie noise gaze of his former bands Cajun Dance Party and Yuck. Now Blumberg is offering the next instalment of his …
TRACK: Fair Mothers’ ‘Monochrome’ is unflinching, stark and so beautiful
YOU’LL never be able to accuse Kevin Allan, the creative force behind Scottish folk outfit Fair Mothers, of dashing off a quick, vapid pop hit for the lulz. That isn’t to say he isn’t capable – the musicianship he presents is deep and adept; but whereas for some music is a career, for Kevin, it’s …
EP: Coma Wall – Ursa Minor
With little else to do beyond staring at a wall and quietly losing the plot during a global pandemic, Undersmile has done what many of us have done to keep sane – they’ve indulged in a little nostalgia, headed up to the attic and had a dig through their archives. Presumably, somewhere in the dark …
Track: Native Harrow release new single ‘Shake ahead of forthcoming ‘Closeness’ album
For over 20 years the Loose label has built its canny reputation on sifting out the best Americana and alt.country for your listening pleasure. The Felice Brothers, Sturgill Simpson, The Handsome Family, Hurray for the Riff-Raff have all passed through their doors and now it looks like Native Harrow, The Pennsylvania duo of Devin Tuel …
EP Review: Moscow Apartment – Better Daughter
The delicate fragility of the music and the achingly beautiful melodies that permeate ‘Better Daughter’ by Toronto duo Moscow Apartment plays a fundamental part in why this EP is so good. It is not, however, all that there is. Lyrically and in attitude, the band, despite its youth, is far deeper and more complex than …
Meet: We interview Shirley Collins ahead of her new album Hearts Ease
At Back Seat Mafia we are eagerly awaiting the release of sixties folk pioneer Shirley Collins new album ‘Heart’s Ease’ via Domino on 24th July. After 2016’s epic ‘Lodestar’ which marked her return to recording and performing after a 35 year pause, we wanted to talk to Shirley about the new record and what the …
Exclusive: Tommy Ashby does Blood Wolf Moon live in session for Backseat Mafia
We fell for Scottish singer-songwriter Tommy Ashby’s recent Blood Wolf Moon single, its aching melancholy set against this bubbling acoustic guitar, so we were absolutely delighted when he agreed to do an At Home Session for us here at Backseat Mafia and record the track, taken from his forthcoming EP ‘Everywhere is Home’, out this …
Track Toronto indie folk band Decoration Day release ‘Lanark County’
Taken from their forthcoming debut album Makeshift Future, Toronto folk band Decoration Day have released a new single, Lanark County. It’s described by guitarist and songwriter Justin Orok as a vision song. “It follows a kind of surreal dream logic,” says Justin. “The imagery comes out of this just-below-the-surface hostility I would feel when visiting idyllic …
TRACK: In Earnest’s ‘Put Me Under’ swoons in out of the darkness
SOUTHEND trio In Earnest have taken their bow in the world with a delicate, emotive single, “Put Me Under”. The band say the single “is an honest, personal account of depression and loneliness, aiming to encourage conversation around mental health”. It has a transatlantic folk-rock delicacy, with the vocals of front-couple Sarah and Thomas tracing …
Track: Frank Turner covers NOFX Falling In Love Taken From Split Album With NOFX
Frank Turner has just released a cover of NOFX’s ‘Falling In Love’, taken from the forthcoming split covers album West Coast Vs. Wessex between himself and NOFX, which is due for release via Fat Mike’s own Fat Wreck Chords label on July 31, 2020. Both artists take five tracks each. As well as Franks five covers, West Coast Vs. Wessex, captures NOFX filtering …