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.
The Anchoress - Pennyroyal Tea
theanchoress.co.uk
The Anchoress, otherwise known as Catherine Anne Davies, has released a version of Nirvana's 'Pennyroyal Tea'. Davies has been lauded on places as diverse as Prog Magazine and Louder Than War. She said of this limited time release: "In the wake of the overturning of Roe v Wade there was only one song that I was going to tackle this month." "I've always thought that Kurt Cobain was something of an underrated songwriter. People either unable to see past the "sound" of Nirvana that wasn't their cup of tea or so aware of the stories of addiction and suicide that the songs themselves somehow got forgotten.". The synths that have replaced the grungy guitars turn this into a lament for lost choices. Get it while you can at her Bandcamp page. TM
George Sansome - Rosa Pride Of The Vale
www.georgesansome.co.uk
A simple traditional English folk song performed by Sansome and violinist Owen Spafford. This sits with his excellent self-titled album from 2020 as a great illustration of the best of traditional folk music being played for a 21st Century audience. The song itself is a traditional song from the book "Southern Songster: English Folk Songs from the Hammond and Gardiner Manuscripts", fleshed out with words from a broadside ballad from the Bodleian Library. The live recording is vibrant and alive. Sansome is also part of the trio Granny's Attic, who are on tour now. TM
Eoghan Moylan - All I Want Is Money
www.eoghanmoylan.com
Eoghan Moylan is from Connemara Galway. He describes his music as: "Indie-pop/indie-synth-rock, but really my main goal is to write songs that you can dance to on a night out and then sit down to listen to the lyrics of and have two totally different reactions." This is a lively, and certainly danceable tune, with words that examine the problems that chasing Pounds or Euros can bring. "Oh I wish I could turn back time. To when I still felt young. Before I had become. So inexplicably numb". So that makes it mission achieved. A name to watch. TM
Davide Pannozzo - Be Blessed
www.davidepannozzo.comPannozzo is a soulful, bluesy guitarist. Of the influences he cites on his website John Scofield and George Benson are the most immediately obvious. This tune veers towards Smooth Jazz, but Pannozzo's guitar work rescues it and we end up with something with rather more grit than you might expect. I suspect his music works best on album rather than as an isolated single. But this is good enough tow ant to explore his work more closely. If you think of an xtended Steely Dan guitar solo without the song then this is what we have here. TM
Laura Mulcahy - Cúmha í Ndiaidh Aisling Shéanta
www.facebook.com/lmulchlizard
This Gaelic lament has been creating waves in Ireland as an imaginative reinvention of a traditional piece. Mulcahy's clear voice is perfect for this minimal setting, and the instrumental section that makes up the second half complements her singing perfectly. A lovely delicate song, but I'm afraid that Google translate may have let me down with the translation a bit." Melancholy after a denied dream". The word melancholy is a good description but I'm sure the rest of the translation is faulty. This is however, a must listen song. TM
Cherry Head Cherry Heart - Mother Lover
cherryheadcherryheart.bandcamp.com
They call themselves an "Acoustic / Recording double act from the Tees Delta." This is an excellent song, poppy but with a country flavour to it. It's always a good sign when a song stops at 2:43 and you were hoping for more. With an extensive back catalogue to explore, they could be one of the best unknown acts to discover in 2022. They are not overly forthcoming with information about themselves on their Bandcamp page, but any band that has an album called "Chihuahua & Other Ferocious Beasts" works for me. TM
Hannah Strumner - Are You Ready To Let Go
www.hannahstrumner.com
'Are You Ready To Let Go' features singer Sam Henry who takes one verse and supplies backing vocals for the rest of the song. Sadly his verse only serves to highlight a basic weakness in Strumner's voice. She often seems to struggle to hold notes, and as the song itself Is fairly pedestrian, and could have done with a firm edit on the number of times the title is repeated this is not the most auspicious debut. Image wise she looks to be pointed at the mainstream country market, but musically the Banjo and guitar give this a less commercial sound. As this seems to be an older song re-released to support her debut album then a listen to some more recent songs may put this into context better. TM
Hannah Strumner - The Train
www.hannahstrumner.com
And indeed with Strumner's other recent single we have a much more accomplished song. She seems to have found her voice with this one, blending the country elements with the pop far more effectively. 'The Train' establishes a solid groove over a Mandolin and harmonica led tune. The closest reference point now is Vanessa Carlton, although there is less angst to the words. On the basis of this song then the album would be worth a listen.
Ivor S.K. - Sweet and Low (Acoustic version)
www.ivorsk.com
Australian Ivor Simpson Kennedy has a great smoky bluesy voice, and a style that owes no debts to any particular earlier artist. This acoustic guitar based song has an electric guitar solo, and what sounds like percussion tapped out on a beer bottle. It's a great fun song and is the lead single off an upcoming album called Mississippi Bound. In a world where Blues increasingly means bombastic guitars this is fresh sound. TM
Gabi Garbutt - Subterranean Stars
www.gabigarbutt.com
A neat twist on the breakup song this is a much better song than Morgan Johnston's previous single, 'The End', which we heard a couple of months ago. More bite to the production this is still very much in the mainstream country mould, but as she continues to improve with every song released this could be the song that gets her the exposure she certainly deserves on effort and talent alone TM
Monitors - No Irish No Blacks No Dogs (unplugged)
www.facebook.com/MonitorsOfficial
"A band built on friendship across three cultures, that's the foundation for Monitors; settled in mainland Europe, they combine talent from Liverpool, Biha? (Bosnia), and Paris". Monsitors protests are normally electronica based, but this revisiting of a song from their back catalogue is designed to focus you the listener on the message. The band say of feeling the need to re-record this song. "Unfortunately, the subjects and issues discussed in the song remain as prevalent today in 2022 as they were when the original song was written in 2018".TM
Chris Antonik - Pilgrim
www.chrisantonik.com
While not as immediate as his last single 'Waves of Stone', Pilgrim is still a great piece of modern hard rock with guitar lines that don't drop into the cliches usually awaiting the unwary player. Hi album 'Morning Star' is out at the start of August, and while he points himself at the Blues end of the market he should appeal to anyone who loves good guitar based rock music. As I suggested in the review of 'Waves OF Stone, his album is on the wish list and the local tour date pencilled in the diary. TM
Dylan James - Let's Talk
www.dylanjmusic.com
For someone who calls himself "a self-taught, ingenuitive [whatever that means], innovator", Dylan James' first proper single, this is a surprisingly conventional song. Produced by Matt Owens, who is on a roll at the moment with the Americana Fest in Bath and some great music of his own, it is still a great slice of Americana & folk tinged pop rock. And if that covers a lot of bases them so does the song. Where its cores is on quality, in the writing, singing and production. Another indication that good old fashioned values are coming back to straight ahead rock music. With an album due out in 2023 watch out for James and remember where you heard it first. TM
Jamie Button - Icons
www.facebook.com/jamiebuttonmusic
Starting with a flourish that Springsteen would be happy with Icons is a third single from Scottish singer Jamie Button. He has attracted attention on iTunes with his previous singles, and this one should repeat that. With an album out in September anyone who fancies a bit of Brit Pop with some added grit should certainly be giving Janie Button a listen. There is also a flavour of past Scottish bands from The Proclaimers to The Delgados which can only be a good thing. TM
The Margaret Hooligans Red Rider
themargarethooligans.com/home
What a brilliant band name. And hooliganism is what we have here. Meg Cratty (electric ukulele, lead vocals), Mr. Strontium (drums, teapot, back-up vocals) are The Margaret Hooligans. "Underground garage dance proto punk with a blatant disregard for conventional riffs or acceptable themes for songs." If you want to find the limits of what is possible on a Ukulele when it is matched with Animal from The Muppets this is where to go. Totally off the wall, and totally brilliant. TM
Lethias Natorium - Lullaby
penahughesjohn.com
A gothic rock project from singer-songwriter Pena Hughes-John that sits somewhere between Laurie Anderson, Kate Bush, and Grace Jones. A collision of electronics, strings and voices produces a soundscape that would have been at home in the early eighties. The New Romantics would have taken this to heart as an art statement. A few listens are needed to sort out what is going on and by then you will be hooked. Further releases are emerging and once you get your head aligned to what she is doing you can't fail to be intrigued. TM
Helen Counts - Shaky Ground
https://www.helencounts.com/home
Counts offers us a modern electric indie rock/folk song. With plenty of competition in this space there needs to be something extra to make your song stand out. It surprised me to find she is from Madison, Wisconsin. as there is a very English feel to her music. Counts has a big enough voice to get over the full electric arrangement without difficulty. She has been recording on and off since 2002 and white there is nothing wildly original about anything on offer here, the effect of a strong chorus over a well strummed Stratocaster shouldn't be underestimated. TM
Erja Lyytinen - Bad Seed
www.erjalyytinen.com
Erja Lyytinen has been an established artist on the blues circuit since the early years of this century. Waiting for The Daylight, her tenth album will be out in October and if this a taste of it then mark is as eagerly awaited. This is a funky driving song that features the best elements of modern electric blues. The influence of Bonamassa seems inescapable these days, but if you bracket her with artists like Joanne Shaw-Taylor and Susan Tedeschi then you aren't far wrong. There is a lot of great blues coming from Europe currently, and Finnish native Lyytinen is right at the top of that list. TM
Sorcha Richardson - Shark Eyes (Radio Edit)
www.sorcharichardson.com
Irish singer has a couple of releases to her name. This dream pop style single is an ideal summer single, just the thing to paly at your beach party. She is described as Ireland's most exciting young artist, although that is along with a number of others it has to be said. IN her case it may just be true. The distant vocal and keyboard solo that closes the song give the whole thing an ethereal quality that is highly attractive. Her album 'Smiling Like An Idiot' will be released September, watch out for it. TM
Johnny Campbell feat: Commoners Choir & The Skelmanthorpe Brass Band - A Right To Roam
johnnycampbell.co.uk
Normally a solo artist, Johnny Campbell brings together the Commoners Choir and Skelmanthorpe Brass Band to accompany him on the manifesto song,. "A Right To Roam". The right to roam has been long contested, but hard fought for freedoms are once again under threat. It is undeniable that some landowners took advantage of lockdown to curt off rights of way and deny people their legal rights of access. Johnny Campbell's song nods at the campaigners of the past, whilst aiming for the target of right now. NK
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