Folk
Not Forgotten: Comus – First Utterance
I first became aware of Comus back in early 1996, when First Utterance enjoyed its first foray onto CD. Described by a reliable publication as “Freaky Folk Prog”, the largely acoustic music, idiosyncratic vocals and traditional instruments sounded right up my particular strata. Sadly I was a penniless student at the time, so intrigued was …
Album Review : The Skiffle Players : Skifflin’
The Skiffle Players are possibly the first skiffle supergroup in 60 years. A group of west coast alt.country notables, featuring Cass McCombs, Neal Casal, Dan Horne, Aaron Sperske, and “Farmer” Dave Scher. Names familiar to people who have listened to Beachwood Sparks, the Cardinals (ex backing band to Ryan Adams and Gin Wigmore), and various solo …
Not Forgotten – Bob Dylan – Blood on the Tracks
Blood On The Tracks is that rare thing, an album that deserves every word of praise heaped upon it. At this stage in his career Bob Dylan had done his best to shake off the oh-so cliched ‘voice of a generation’ tag. His mid 60s electric trilogy had been rightly celebrated, but it had made …
Track: Sam Fowke – Red Handed
Yeah, he’s got a beard, that Sam Fowke. What of it, so loads of those singer songwriter types these days. As well as beard cultivation, the Gloucester-born, Cardiff based musician also likes fine jumpers and long walks on the beach, and probably days when he can combine the three. And I didn’t even make that …
Track: Heron Oblivion – Your Hollows
Heron Oblivion are making it easy for us to love them with their new single Your Hollows. Although they’re a new band out of San Francisco, they boast members of Sic Alps, Six Organs of Admittance, Howlin’ Rain and Feral Ohms amongst others, as well as Meg Baird of Espers. Taken from their debut self-titled …
Album review: The Long Ryders – Final Wild Songs
If the Flying Burritos invented country rock then the Long Ryders pretty much created Americana so it was always bizarre there was no decent retrospective of their impressive back catalogue. Now they have courtesy of Cherry Red who have pulled together a four CD box set with tracks selected by singer/guitarist Sid Griffin and bassist …
Album Review: Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – Pond Scum
We’ve a lot to thank John Peel for. When he died I remember feeling the shock as if he were a family member almost, rather than a radio host I had never met. But the legacy he left, especially in terms of the mountains of sessions recorded as part of his show, remains a resource …
Meet: Ed Tullett + ‘Saint’ – released from forthcoming album Fiancé
We met Ed Tullet, the twenty two year old singer, songwriter and remixer who has gone from strength to strength these past few years and talked about his album Fiancé, the creative process and Marzipan. 1. How have things been in the run up to the release of your new album Fiancé? Great – …
Album Review: Turin Brakes – Lost Property
To me Turin Brakes are like an old friend I’ve lost regular touch with over the years that I bump into in my local one evening. We’ve not seen each other for a while, but after some initial awkwardness, we end up having one of those nights out that sticks in your memory and reminds …
Album Review: Villagers – Where Have You Been All My Life?
I liked Villagers from the moment my friend Susie slipped their debut album into her car CD player as she gave me a lift to the train station one lunchtime in early 2011. The fact that they were effectively a him (Conor O’Brien), that he / they were signed to the ever-dependable Domino Records and …