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.
Nina Ricci - Black Is The Color/Lowland
www.ninariccimusic.com
The seeming trend for artists to pay homage to their iconic inspirational figures, think Emma Swift, 'Blond On The Tracks', is further exemplified by this double-single from Nashville-based artist Nina Ricci, who, having previously released 'Fare Thee Well:A Joan Baez Tribute' which recreated Baez's self-titled 1960 debut album, here goes back even further to present two songs performed by Baez on the 1959 'Folksingers 'Round Havard' LP.
Firstly we are offered 'Black Is The Color', a version that rings true to the original, both in terms of tempo, guitar picking and vocal rendition, albeit Nina's rendition, at 3 minutes 20 seconds is somewhat longer than the original. The other song on this single release is the more obscure 'Lowlands', not the, perhaps a expected, more familiar 'Sad-Eyed Lady Of the Lowlands' but rather the traditional song recorded by Anne Briggs amongst many others. Here Ricci's vibrato and tone pay due deference to Baez, whilst as with the former track, it is clear that her arrangements possess and display her own sensitivity and are not merely 'cloned' copies. DP
Courteous Thief - Give A Little Love
www.courteousthief.co.uk
Having started his musical journey busking on the streets of Galway and then Sydney, Courteous Thief, (Gary Roberts), is an acoustic, independent singer-songwriter from North Wales who has, since releasing his debut album 'Symphony' in 2009 to great acclaim, has also gained national and international airplay on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Introducing and BBC 6 Music. Live performances have seen him supporting the likes of Turin Brakes, Chris Helm, Catfish And The Bottlemen, Mark Morris (The Bluetones) and Tom Hingley (Inspiral Carpets) with performances at some of the UK's top festivals.
Taken from his forthcoming 'Acoustic Sessions' album, this track is truly mesmerising piece. Over the four minutes of its length, the gentle acoustic guitar is an ideal accompaniment to his, at times, plaintive vocal style. "We all need mountains, we all need sky" is certainly an assertion with which most would agree, and surely no one would argue with his "Give a little love.. Give a little smile in the morning.. my darling". A wonderful song indeed, well-worthy of a listen, and belated congratulations too on the recent birth of his second child. DP
The Last Inklings - Hunter's Folly
www.thelastinklings.co.uk
Twenty twenty seems to have been particularly harsh on the Last Inklings. Their debut EP "Alchemy" was incredibly well received, gaining a shortlisting for the Fatea Awards as well as good airplay across the airwaves and internet. They were also the last band I saw indoors that year, catching their warmup gig at the Square and Compass, before their actual EP launch was cancelled pretty much along with the rest of the year, but the Last Inklings are made up of hardy stuff and they weren't going to let a cancelled year hold them back.
If "Alchemy", is what might have been, "Hunter's Folly", the first single from the forth coming debut album, will hopefully be a sign of what will be for the duo. Featuring the soon to be trademark, cello and mandolin combination, together with two voices that work well, both in harmony and taking separate leads, "Hunter's Folly" is a self penned, hare and hound story from the hare's point of view. Lee & David have added a new richness into the sound that enhances the natural organic feel of their take on alt.folk. Fingers crossed that twenty twenty one delivers for them as this indicates that are going to deliver for us
Flaming June - The Ballad Of Daniel Dawson
flamingjuneuk.bandcamp.com
May certainly seems to have been a grand month for great single releases, and now add to the list this offering from Flaming June, the performing name of FATEA Award winner Louise Eatock, here with Alex Herring. The first single, 'The Ballad of Daniel Dawson', taken from her new album 'Hope in a Jar', tells the true story of a young man from Newmarket, Suffolk, who was tried, and found guilty of fixing races by poisoning horses. Hanged at Castle Hill in 1812, this up-tempo, foot-stomping song, whilst sung from the point of view of the judge, also gives Daniel a posthumous voice too, whilst also alluding to the harsh realities and punishments of the 19th Century.
The single is available now on all digital streaming and download platforms and certainly acts as much more than merely an amuse-bouche for the full album - it is an accomplished song, very competently delivered. The time, energy and effort that Louise has put into learning how to record and produce over the lock-down period has more than paid dividends. DP
Green Diesel - Underworld
www.greendieselfolk.com
Faversham's finest folk-rock five-piece hit the mark once again with their new single, 'Underworld', ahead of their much-anticipated new album release, scheduled for later this summer. The song itself is inspired by Philip Glass's celebrated soundtrack to the 1982 experimental film Koyaanisqatsi, one element of a quite extraordinary trilogy of films and soundtracks.
Imagine a hybrid of Renaissance, Trees, Dando Shaft and very early Genesis and you might come close to identifying the soundscape produced on 'Underworld', written by the band's new drummer Paul Dadswell. Alternatively, eschew lazy comparisons and enjoy this piece for what is it, an authentic slice of contemporary folk-rock-psychedelia at its very best, embracing heady ruminations on "The moment of choice between living in the past and embracing the future. Endlessly suspended between the familiar and the unknown." Available in digital formats and as a limited vinyl edition, the accompanying video, a cracker, can be viewed here. DP
Joshua Burnell - Shelagh's Song
www.joshuaburnell.co.uk
We all have a lot to thank our mothers for, and it appears that Joshua Burnell is no exception, his mum seemingly suggesting that he write a song dedicated to reclusive folk singer Shelagh McDonald. The story, however, behind this pean to the 70's icon, is much more intriguing and a visit to his Facebook page here will reward the reader admirably (part 3 of the tale might also have been uploaded by the time this review is published).
The single itself is the epitome of high-class contemporary singer-songwriting. Touchstones might be superfluous with such a unique talent as Joshua, but Dave Evans-esque song-structure and vocal delivery spring to mind. Guaranteed to brighten these somewhat glum May days, Joshua continues to cement his reputation with this splendid single release. DP
Ian Roland & The Subtown Set - Nothing Could Grow There
ianroland.com
Written during the first COVID 19 pandemic lockdown in the UK in June 2020, Ian Roland & The Subtown Set release their first single 'Nothing Colud Grow Here' from the new album currently being recorded.
A poignant, and still timely song, it reflects the fear, isolation and concerns for survival felt across the world both during that time and still ongoing today. The destruction of the natural world; biodiversity loss; the exponential rise in consumption over recent decades; the fallout from the pandemic in terms of economic hardship, loneliness and separation. It is a cry echoing the cries of all of us and a plea for transformative change to rethink our relationship with nature and each other. It is a plea for the need to move away quickly from the "greed and capitalism" that has brought us to this cliff edge.
This highly recommended, delicate and beautiful song, enhanced by Simon Yapp's perfectly judged string arrangement is available to download from Bandcamp, and the accompanying video can be viewed here. DP
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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