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.
Christina Alden & Alex Patterson - Etta's Song
www.christinaaldenandalexpatterson.com
Written for their bay daughter, Etta's song is a delicate pastoral folk song. Starting with birdsong and features intertwined guitar and fiddle parts, around a story of "the cold winter nights we spent cradling our new baby and the quiet and calm of the early hours huddled up in our little house". Very much part of the current wave of younger folk musicians who are recording and touring music that is the equal of any of the illustrious names of the past. TM
Jo Harman - The Reformation/Movin Me
www.joharman.com
A single from her Live In Camden album. Harman is a stalwart of the British Blues scene, and her powerful soulful voice is ideally suited to this song. The single also features Movin Me, a duet with Mike Farris, which trails a show at the same Jazz Café venue in November. This is a great song. A smooth gospel groove driven by organ and a guitar solo that leaves you hoping for a few more bars. TM
Sam Feinstein - Chasing The Bull
www.facebook.com/samfeinsteinmusic
Feinstein says this is "a bombastic satire mocking the stock and cryptocurrency markets and highlighting the scams that run wild these spaces. I ask my audience to take a hard look at their investments to see if they are chasing bull-markets, or chasing B.S." A tune that reminds you a bit of Zappa in places. A chaotic brass arrangement over his vocal that doesn't quite match up to the claim that "people say my voice sounds like Tom Waits".TM
Brigid O'Neill - Live A little Lie Oh
www.brigidoneill.comBlending her influences which include Mary Black and Emmylou Harris has produced a pop/folk/country blend that works very well. Over an almost U2-like backing track O'Neill's clear voice has a a lot of the qualities of her heroes, notably Alison Krauss. A lot of the feel of this song harks back to Wrecking Ball era Emmylou, and the writing and production are worthy to stand alongside that album. TM
Little Lore - Brown Liquor John
littlelore.uk
Little Lore, otherwise Tricia Duffy, is a London based, Indie-Americana singer-storyteller. Her press tells us: "When you combine British wit and wordplay with cherished Americana roots, musical magic starts to happen" and she's right. Combining the sardonic lyrics of Kirsty MacColl with a pedal steel driven tune have indeed made magic. She says ""I had been thinking about a story of a man who has everything except happiness" "Congratulations are in order. It's time to entertain. His Rolex watch, imported scotch. It's bonus time again" Great stuff, looking forward to hearing more of Little Lore. TM
Rebecca Richards - Unluckiest of Hearts
www.rebeccarichardsmusic.com
This is Welsh singer Richards' debut single. 'Unluckiest of Hearts' is a classic piano-based blues ballad. A product of the age-positive movement Talent Is Timeless' for songwriters over 50, Richards' voice and song fit in the same area as Katie Melua. The bluesy guitar solo from Sam Andrews adds the bit of bite that Melua's songs often lack. As a debut single this is top drawer contemporary smooth vocal Jazz and it will be interesting to see where she goes next. TM
Wookalily - Ghost
wookalily.wordpress.com
A sinister sounding bowed Double Bass dominates this song. The harmony vocals lend this a very American Gothic feel, with a twee guitar solo and what might be a Theremin adding to the overall unsettling feel of this song. They call this "ambitious folk music, intertwining the disciplines of blues, rock, punk and more to create a unique and singular musical menagerie that must be witnessed to be truly experienced." The reverse vocals later in the song complete the sinister sound. I'm sure they are as they suggest a great live draw, watch out for them. TM
Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin - Only The Earth
www.facebook.com/EOCeannabhain
Dublin based singer, flute and concertina player has an individual sound, with the closest comparison to his voice being, Dead Can Dance's Brendan Perry. The environmental message is underscored by the whale song recordings , including bass bellows that rattle the speakers and the conscience. "We only want the earth. We only want the love". This is taken from an upcoming album which now joins the keenly anticipated list. TM
John Blek - St. John's Eve
johnblek.com
Irish singer Blek has produced an interesting mix of electronica, strings and acoustic folk on a song that could have been recorded by Echo and The Bunnymen in the early 80s. The epic quality of much of the indie pop of that era is captured here. St John's Eve is June 23rd and a time of bonfires and feasting in many catholic countries. Frustratingly I've just missed him playing in this part of the world, next time then. Great song, seek it out. TM
Ruby Muse - Forgive The Moonh
www.rubymuse.co.ukRuby Muse is singer-songwriter Jools Heyes and ambient guitarist Malcolm Heyes, and it comes as no surprise that their music features in films and TV. Calling their music alternative folk/blues & electro-Americana covers a lot of ground, but the cinematic qualities of their sound stops it becoming the sort of wallpaper that often comes with the tag "ambient". Other words they like to describe themselves are: "Fragile, gentle, fabulous, poetic, meditative, loving, delicate, surreal". All of which this song is, and worth your close attention. TM
The Last Southern Ghost - Sorry that I crashed into your blue sky
www.facebook.com/thelastsouthernghost/
An Americana One Man Band from Wales, imagine Bryan Adam fronting the Rolling Stones with added Banjo. An epic high energy rock song of the sort you didn't think they made anymore. A wall of sound that the voice strains to reach over. There's very little information out there about the man, the band or the song, but who cares when it's this good. TM
Michele Ari- Explode
www.micheleari.com
And more top-quality rock from Florida singer Michele Ari. Working with Psychedelic Furs guitarist John Ashton and a couple of other alums of that band this has a 1979 new wave feel that "is a four-minute sojourn in the realm of crystallized Brit Pop taken from the playbook of Ari's early inspirations such as Debbie Harry, The Psychedelic Furs and Roxy Music", according to PR site Fans For Bands. And who can disagree with that. Single of the week in a week with a lot of competition for that title. TM
Lars Bygdén - Spaceships
www.larsbygden.com
Swedish singer/songwriter Bygden has produced a dark, brooding warning against "getting fooled by billionaires trying to make you believe that our solution is located in space." His distant vocal, and the fifties sci-fi effects over a pounding backbeat underscore each line of his message. An anthemic tune that may be his best work yet. TM
DiElle - Time Will Heal
www.diellemusic.com
Another single from her EP/project 'One Girl One Guitar' Di Elle is very definitely up there with the best of the current folk singer guitarists. As with her previous singles which we have praised here this is just another reason to ask the question; why haven't you bought the EP yet? Delicate acoustic folk that you need to hear. TM
Livet Nord - Suddenly She Passed By
www.livetnord.se/en
Livet Nord is a classical violinist from Gothenburg. She has played in a variety of world music contexts for over 20 years, and this finds her in a Nordic folk setting. The piece was written for a circus performance about sorrow and solace that premiered in Stockholm, February 2022. There is a fairground feel to this, and a wistfulness to her playing that is highly effective, and could easily lull you to sleep, in a good way. Quite beautiful. 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.
Folk Friday Radio
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