Beyond The 45
Singles, EPs, Downloads
The Fatea office also serves as a home for our weekly Along The Tracks show on Blues & Roots Radio and as a rule singles and Eps have generally gone in that direction whilst Fatea generally concentrates on albums and live reviews for our full length feature, but with more artists going back down the single route to keep themselves in the public eye, we thought it was time to reflect that in our offerings and as rules are made to be broken or at the very least adapted, welcome to the Singles Round Up.
Jim Chorley - Fly Swift Little Sparrow
www.jimchorley.com
Jim Chorley has been incredibly prolific over the last year, and the steady flow of music doesn't appear to be showing signs of stopping yet. Fly Swift Little Sparrow is the first release of the year for Jim, but there's plenty more to come in the form of singles and Eps over 2021. This single is the best one yet, with it's gentle and poetic message to live in the moment and be grateful for the beauty in the fleeting moments of time. Jim Chorley's vocals are always full of warmth, but this is perhaps his most sensitive performance to date. Fly Swift Little Sparrow raises both expectations and excitement levels for a great year ahead for Jim. AJ
Angel Snow - Low
www.angelsnow.net
The latest release from Nashville's Angel Snow deals with the toxicity that can exist in certain relationships, and the exhaustion and anxiety that this can lead to. Despite the heavy subject matter, Low is a completely captivating and almost hypnotic track which is beautiful to listen to. Full to bursting point with sincerity and pathos, this is a sympathetic, non-judgemental look at what it's like to be in such a noxious relationship, and quite simply a beautiful track. AJ
Copper Viper - Opal & The Bear
www.copperviper.com
Opal & The Bear is the first studio released from London based Copper Viper since their acclaimed debut album Cut It Down, Count The Rings. There are signs of a slight evolution in style from that release, moving in slightly from the sparser arrangements. As well as the usual duo of Robin Joel Sangster and Duncan Menzies, they are joined too by Issy Ferris and Archie Sylvester on backing vocals (the latter providing bass, drums and electric guitar too). This helps give an enormously rich sound to the track, which can't help but draw you in. With another release planned for the end of March, and a second album to be recorded later in the year, this could be a fantastic year for Copper Viper. AJ
Josh O'Keefe - Build A Wall
www.joshokeefe.com
With more than a nod to Bob Dylan, Build A Wall has a simple power to it, and a simple message too. It won't be too hard to grasp the subtext with this one, building a wall will see your empire fall has more than a hint of the political about it. It's a message give all the more strength by the simplicity of the arrangement, but while stylistically this could have been released a generation or two ago, this is undoubtedly a song for our modern times. AJ
Berries - Copy
www.berriesband.co.uk
Copy is the first single from the London trio since signing to Xtra Mile Recordings, and it's a wonderful alt-rock, riff heavy, guitar driven track. With its themes of trying to live up to other people's notion of happiness, and how soul-destroying that can end up becoming, it's certainly relatable in these modern times of wall-to-wall social media. Copy has that perfect feel of rough around the edges rawness, but with everything combining to create a track that is just outright fun to listen to. I suspect we'll be hearing much more about Berries in the coming months. AJ
I Am Boleyn - From Paris To Berlin
www.iamboleyn.com
Having grown up in St. Petersburg, I Am Boleyn now spends her time shuttling between London and Stockholm. It's easy to here the European influences on this piece of electronica. There's something delightedly retro about From Paris To Berlin, combining the electronic sounds of the 80s with something altogether more modern. This is neon tinted electro pop dance music at it's finest, and you can't help put sway along to it's gorgeous rhythms. AJ
SteveWarnerFolk - Grace
https://www.stevewarnerfolk.com
"Grace" is the latest single from SteveWarnerFolk and like it's predecessors, you can tell from the opening chords that it's been put together by a man that really understands his craft. As with the narrative, there are those little touches that raise it above the crowd, but not so much that it ties it's self in knots or become condescending. "Grace" is an intimate song, one that in live form would be best enjoyed in a club or coffee bar, rather than a festival stage or in the recorded form as a fine way to relax and take in the world. NK
BlackDogHat - A Drop In The Ocean
blackdoghat.bandcamp.com/
Twenty twenty one, already has a long way to go to show that it's better than its immediate predecessor. It is a year that is filling up with singles and eps from bands that would normally remind us they are still there by releasing an album and getting out there and touring it. Releasing a full album without a tour is big risk, so tracks replace venues as markers. Song writing collective BlackDogHat have just released "A Drop In The Ocean", which is a masterclass in reminding of the importance of keeping a head, when those around you are losing theirs. It's remarkably restrained but makes it's feelings known. NK
Fatea Showcase Sessions
The Fatea Showcase Sessions are a series of downloads featuring acts that we've really enjoyed and think that more people should get the chance to hear.
Corsair is the current session and features 16 fantastic artists check out the website to find out more about them and download your copy
www.fatea-showcase-sessions.co.uk for all the artist information.
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