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.
Morgan Harper-Jones - Swimming Upstream
www.facebook.com/morganharperjones
Harper-Jones says she is "pursuing music as a side to fund my knitting career". A thoroughly modern pop/folk song, with the seemingly obligatory nods to Kate Bush and Tori Amos. This has been coated in an ethereal backing of voices and keyboards and comes to the also now routine sudden end. Despite the use of many of the production tricks of the moment this is a fine song written by Iain Archer, and Harper-Jones' performance rises above the production. Listening back to her earlier work she is a name to follow. TM
RÃoghnach Connolly - The Island
www.facebook.com/rioghnachconnollymusic
Connolly is BBC Radio 2's Folk Singer of the Year and based on this song you can see why. A Piano and Cello led tune that has a hymnal quality to it, while also retaining a delicacy that makes for an atmospheric haunting song. She has a Joni Mitchell quality to her voice, without ever sounding like a copyist. The Jazz, Soul and Folk feel that slides in and out of her performances ranks her as one of the best Irish (or any other country) singers currently. TM
Reg Meuross - Good Morning Mr Colston
www.regmeuross.com
The legacy of Edward Colston in Bristol is on the face of it a simple thing, but South West based singer Reg Meuross has done a quite brilliant job of highlighting the far more complex issue that this actually is. A simple tune and arrangement allow the words to take centre stage. This is the first single form 'Stolen From God' a song cycle that will "tell the challenging and often harrowing tales of the region's past". This song confronts the difficult truths of Colston's philanthropy and if this is the way the album will play out, I can't wait to hear it. Single of the Year. TM
The Ocelots ft Ashley Watson - Addlepated
theocelots.bandcamp.comBrandon and Ashley Watson described this as a "love song between fictional fairytale characters". Addlepated means having a muddled or confused mind. There is little confusing about this straightforward piano ballad. The harmonica underlying the voices gives this a relaxed casual swing that livens up what could be a downbeat tune. One of those songs that sits outside time and could have been written anytime since about 1930, which is a measure of real quality. TM
Hack-Poets Guild - Daring Highwayman
hackpoetsguild.com
A group comprising Marry Waterson, Lisa Knapp and Nathaniel Mann means you start off with high expectations. This rhythmic song, with its spoken lyrics and only a hint of a tune under the plucked violin, percussion and fulfils those expectations. Reinvigorating old tunes and themes for a new album due out in March, they have an intriguing take on the traditional song. It also means we can expect 2022's run of great folk music to continue into 2023. Folk Radio UK said of them "This lot was doing leftfield before it became popular, and anything they are involved in is always a breath of fresh air". Hard to disagree. TM
Michael Lane - I Can't Live Without You
www.michaellanemusic.de/
Berlin singer songwriter Lane has produced another entry in a fine year for the folkier end of rock. His warm vocal delivery and the gentle groove of the song is yet another proof of how out of touch radio is with where the important music is happening. This would be a what passes for a hit these days the moment it appeared on Radio 2. He produces poppier music as The Fold as well, but the folk/pop/rock material here is far superior. Seek him out. TM
The Ciderhouse Rebellion joined by Molly Donnery - Mo Bhuachaillin Donn
theciderhouserebellion.com
The first recorded output from a series of "collaborations between The Ciderhouse Rebellion and some of the most exciting and brilliant singers on the folk circuit". Molly Donnery joins Adam Summerhayes on Fiddle and Murray Grainger's accordion to produce a stark simple song. The story is of a girl who dreams of reaching the age when she can leave for the mountains with the boy she idolises and imagining him descended from the semi-legendary last high king of Ireland. ON their Facebook page they mention that they have an album recorded with Donnery. Intimate and entrancing. TM
Karen Jonas - I'm On Fire
www.karenjonasmusic.com
Americana singer songwriter hands us an early taste of her new album with a take on Springsteen's song. Streets ahead of the bombastic 'Born in The USA' version, which buried the slightly dreamy quality of the words. Jonas brings that out and adds a rawness to the lyrics. For an accomplished song writer, she also has a way of taking someone's else's tune and giving it her own stamp. Her version of 'The Boys of Summer' is another, but this may be her best yet. 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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