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.
Roma Rose - Fourteen
www.facebook.com/thisisromarose
Roma Rose is Scottish Singer songwriter who has been self-releasing songs over the last few months. The latest is Fourteen, musically out of the mould of Sarah McLachlan and Vanessa Carlton, lyrically far more substantial. A story of a friend lost at fourteen whose spirit remains with the singer throughout her life. A reviewer who clearly wasn't paying attention called it "sweet and alluring". I'll settle for moving and heartfelt. Find the lyric video on her Facebook, and I'm sure you will find it more than a little affecting. TM
Nalgo Bay - Taxi
www.facebook.com/nalgobayband
Singers Terri-Ann Prendergast and Harry Bullen have produced an intense guitar powered song that sits in the pop rock territory that bands like Snow Patrol occupy. Prendergast has a voice that sounds like a harder Clare Grogan. This is the conversation in the taxi on the way home that everyone has had at some point. "No nothing feels alright. Cause you're drinking gin on a Tuesday night" And ends as all good nights out do with food: "Oh where's my mango chutney In the curry house at 5am" A good fun song that would have been a hit in a world where good songs mattered. TM
Kat Bryan Devil's Curse
katbryanmusic.ca
Reading the title you may think you are getting a traditional folk song. So, Bryan's electropop is a surprise, a pleasant one though. Devil's Curse is she says: "A meditation on the thin line between love and lust, desire and obsession, Devil's Curse sees the Canadian singer, songwriter and producer take inspiration from society's ongoing fascination with those who walk only at night." The synths and drum machine that back her vocal lend the song a slightly sinister mood. The music was influenced by David Lynch's Lost Highway and there is a cinematic feel that does leave you on the edge of your seat. This is her second single and the other 'Circus of the Living' is just as good. TM
StEm - Game Of Life
/www.facebook.com/StEmDuoAnother single from acoustic Duo StEm. Like their previous single reviewed her a while back this is a simply sung piece with a slightly Laurel Canyon vibe to it. What is so good about StEm is that they are clearly doing music for the love it of it. Their Facebook shares a lot of videos of songs that all have the same feel of fun to them. "We write and perform melodic songs, with guitars, keys and vocals, which we hope you'll like as much as we do." Well, yes we do. TM
Fox Palmer - Forever
foxpalmer.bandcamp.com/releases
Another in the growing trend for high quality straightforward pop rock songs. Forever is sung by Fern (her surname may be Fox-Palmer or it may be McNulty, the internet is unclear) over a solid guitar riff and solo. It comes across as a on the harder edge of 80s or 90s Fleetwood Mac. This is rock music that has never been particularly fashionable, but that means it never goes out of fashion which is good news because you will want this on playlists for a good while. This was recorded in 2021, but has only just hit Bandcamp. Fern asks that we "go buy a copy you won't regret it". Yes, indeed do that. TM
Jennifer Crook - Brand New Day
jennifercrook.com
Another Canadian singer songwriter, although this one lives near Bath. A collaboration with another Canadian artist Brent Jones, this is a modern folk song backed by a full band, including guitarist Joe Coombs who seems to be everywhere at the moment. Crook and Jones voices work well together, and the large backing chorus makes this sound like a Greenwich Village protest song brought up to date. Having caught part of her set at the American Museum Americana fest a few weeks ago I can confirm she is as good live as on record so catch her when she comes to your town. TM
Beth Nielsen Chapman - With Time
www.bethnielsenchapman.com
The news single from Beth Nielsen Chapman is another sample of her new album 'Crazytown' due in September. The strings that fill the middle part of the song are gorgeous. "It's about navigating chaos" says Beth. "How, even despite everything being crazy, on some level one can trust that things are in divine order and that we will be OK." She is doing and extensive UK tour in October and November to support the album and on the basis of the two singles so far the album is preordered and tickets booked. TM
Katie Waygood - Gentleman/Cup Of Tea/Your Name
www.katiewaygood.co.uk
Am I going to pass up the opportunity to describe Katie as way good? No, for the simple reason that she is. The long guitar introduction to Gentleman is a bit reminiscent of John Martyn, but the song quickly settles into a relaxed summery groove with Waygood's vocal floating above the stop start melody. It takes courage to extend words beyond what fits easily into the music, and talent to make it work. 'Cup Of Tea' starts off on Ukulele and a simple tune. Adding handclaps, a country guitar lick or two and bongos may sound like an overloaded arrangement. It just feels like a good time being had in the studio. 'Your Name' is lead by piano and Cello and a much more somber song but more than worth your time. She describes herself as an alternative folk singer-songwriter who loves the freedom the genre gives her. She uses that freedom to great effect on these three songs. My only concern would be that releasing them together will reduce the impact each one has. Don't let that happen, buy them all. TM
James J Turner- Real Change
www.jamesjturner.com
The chorus of "we need change, real change" is a sentiment that is hard to argue with at the moment. Called "Mike Scott with a baseball bat" by R2 Magazine this is a single ahead of his fourth album. It's often easy to dismiss songs that are a simple plea for change but not this time. The violin the at swirls across the song keeps you in touch with the words, and by the end you are nodding in agreement. If this the sound of protest music in 2022 then that is good news. TM
And Did Those Feet - Islands Over Time/ Who Fills These Eyes
www.pattynanmedia.com/text/6743.html
Richard Ellin formed And Did Those Feet back in 1992 as a vehicle for his own compositions. Naming your project after the opening line of 'Jerusalem' may give you a hint as to what we have here. Sung by Ina Williams with composer Harvey Summers providing the orchestral arrangement 'Islands Over Time' is firmly in the classical crossover world and certainly reflects the band name with a bombastic arrangement. On the more folk based 'Who Fills these Eyes' Williams is joined by another singer Cecilia Jones. The hymn like quality remains but is more muted than on the lead song. They have no active online presence currently, but the songs are on Spotify. TM
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.
Pirate 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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