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.
Brooke Law - Not For Love
www.brookelaw.co.uk
A London based singer, Brooke Law has managed the tricky balancing act of sitting in the place where she ahs enough bite to her music to appeal to the Americana crowd while also having enough modernist touches (machine gun drum machine breaks and so on) to work for those more interested in the pop charts. A good song with an epic guitar solo and a big voice shows why there is something of a buzz about her currently. The British Taylor Swift? TM
Muntjac - Yesterdays (Radio Edit)
www.instagram.com/muntjacmusic
Muntjac describes himself as a "Singer-Songwriter from UK. Influenced by Nick Cave, Bowie, Leonard Cohen, Radiohead." There's a lot of Cohen in his voice, and I can see the Radiohead similarity. The intriguing use of a violin to take the solo adds to the mournful feel to this song. Literate and thoughtful lyrics that start by paraphrasing Shelley's Ozymandias by way of the Russian revolution. These are all Yesterday's Men he says. A true statement and one to consider in the current state of our world. TM
Love On Drugs -Stranger Danger
www.facebook.com/loveondrugs
Love on Drugs, otherwise Swedish singer Thomas Pontén and his band say they "curiously and passionately blend americana and indiepop" If Springsteen went Power Pop this is how he would sound, breezy guitars and a brief Organ solo to close make for an upbeat pop song that keeps you pressing the repeat button. This is just a good pop rock song that would get you turning the car radio up and singing along. TM
Kat Bryan - Center Of The Earth
katbryanmusic.caA song about climate change influenced by the unusual, to say the least, weather of 2022. She points out that we are "victims of our own arrogance" and should be listening to the science and the protests. To get such a blunt message across effectively needs a good tune to back it up and the skittering electronic percussion and edgy piano are just what the song needs. 'I hope that Centre of the Earth makes people want to dance, but I also hopes it inspires people to think critically and to question.' Objective achieved… TM
Jennifer Crook - Aftermath
jennifercrook.com
If you needed proof that classic pop song writing is alive and well in 2022 then Jennifer Crook's Aftermath is where to look. A clear voice, vaguely reminiscent of Kirsty MacColl, as is her songwriting, guitar lead music, with a Hank Marvin style solo, from the seemingly ever present these days Joe Coombs, make this timeless pop music, a bit sixties, a bit eighties and all quality. "In the aftermath when you're crawling in the dust. And you're clinging to the wreckage and the loss" Great single. TM
Skelf - Your Hometown
www.facebook.com/Skelfmusicofficial
In some parts of Scotland a 'Skelf' is an annoying person. The artist who calls himself Skelf is far from irritating though. A great rock song driven along by driving drums and grungy guitar, Skelf has produced a single that recalls some of the best pop songs of the last 20 or so years without ever sounding derivative. Your Hometown is, in a week with some genuinely brilliant singles on offer probably the pick of the bunch. TM
Mary In The Mirror - Pain
maryinthemirror.com
Mary In The Mirror makes a point of her Bristol connections on her website. Comparing herself to Bjork and Kate Bush is setting the bar high. This may be the "sound of Bristol", but it's not new. The layers of percussion and bass were being done by the original Bristol Trip Hop pioneers back in the 80s and 90s if you went to the right clubs in the city. The Beth Gibbons comparison I can see in terms of delivery but not vocal style. There's heaps of room to do something new with the "Bristol sound" and listening to her other songs on Facebook suggests Mary may well be the one to deliver it, her song 'Monster' is great. Looking forward to what she does next. TM
Nathaniel Bellows - Well Water
www.nathanielbellows.com
The latest single from Author and Songwriter Nathaniel Bellows has a distinctly John Martyn feel to it. Atmospheric and entrancing, this washes over you much as Martyn's early work does. A pet and short story writer as well as a musician Bellows has produced three fine albums of his songs as well as writing novels and short stories. On the basis of this song needs further investigation. TM
Di Elle - She Is The Moon
dielle.bandcamp.com
Another single from her 'One Girl One Guitar' project, Di Elle is very definitely up there with the best of the current folk singer guitarists. As with her previous single reviewed here last month this is a thing of delicate beauty. If you haven't sought out her music on the basis of 'her Is My heart' then the moment to do so is here. TM
Secrets Of Fire - Runes
secretsoffire.com
"Imagine 'Britney meets Siouxsie Sioux, fronting Foo Fighters' and you'd be 1/2 way there!" For me this is more The Pixies fronted by Shirley Manson. But whatever comparison you want to make this is a powerful piece of alternative rock both classic and bang up to date. A propulsive bass line and garage band guitar make the perfect backing for Astrid's voice. If Blondie had got back on track in the 90s this is what they should have been playing. TM
Isolde Lasoen - Ghosting
www.isoldelasoen.com
Belgian singer, drummer and multi-instrumentalist, Lasoen has produced an 80s laced single that is as you might expect from her day job in bands like DAAN and Absynthe Minded built around the drums. She claims influence from Meronomy and there is more than a little of that band about 'Ghosting'. The mix of 80s guitars and drums with a voice you might expect to find on a delicate folk song make this an unusual, but great fun introduction to her music. She has an album out early in 2023, so hopefully more singles before that. TM
Greenshine - New Moon On Friday
greenshinemusic.com
Greenshine is a Cork based family trio, Noel Shine, Mary Greene and their daughter Ellie. The sound is almost more Appalachian than Irish. The harmonies are very Old Timey country, but the Accordion keeps the song rooted in their native place. With Pedal Steel added to the mix there is a lot going on here. That this is a dreamy gentle song that draws you in to its romantic feel. Traditional folk is another genre with a lot of great music being produced and Greenshine are a band very much worth a listen. TM
Caleb Caudle - I Don't Fit In
https://www.calebcaudle.comTaken from his album 'Forsythia' Caudle is backed by a stellar cast including, Carlene Carter, Elizabeth Cook on vocals and session players, Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, Dennis Crouch and Fred Eltringham. A slide guitar dominates this bluesy piece of Americana, and Caudle's voice is just perfect for the relaxed groove that it settles into. The songs on the album are "a manifesto of Caudle's life philosophy". He does in fact fit in very well, with his own style of roots based playing and singing. If as he hints on his website this is his last album that would be a shame. TM
Ivor Game - Autumn
www.ivorgame.com
Game has been touring across the Uk and elsewhere for some time. This brief (under 2 minutes) song is an understated, unpretentious tune delivered in a voice that while not technically the best, has a quality that I'm sure captivates live audiences. He has released an album very two years since 1996 so there is plenty to discover in his music. TM
Ali Comerford - Cool Girl
www.facebook.com/alicomerfordmusic
A new single form Irish singer Ali Comerford. Her album 'Knots' from last year was excellent and this is just as good. Playing Viola rather violin gives a slightly different sound. Taking bits of folk and blending in Downtempo drums and keyboards makes this a perfect soundtrack for a sunny Autumn day, Comerford might not think she's the cool girl, we beg to differ. 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.
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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