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.
Chloe et Les Vaillantes - Sleeping Giants
www.chloelevaillant.com
Chloe Levaillant is a French-British singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Sleeping Giants is a singe from her recent album release, Footsteps. A traditional folk song, with a definite Breton style to it, the song is dominated by her highly individual voice and Andrina Däppen's violin. Her lyrics "capture both the darkness and the beauty of life", and there is something of the fear of the unknown haunting this tune. Dark yet strangely beautiful. TM
Pamela Tully - Fractured
www.facebook.com/pamtmusic
This is Tully's third single and starts with a slower section that doesn't favour her clear pure voice. When the drums kick in it's an entirely different matter. She suits the rockier sounds that make up most of the song. There is a hint of her Irish roots buried in the tune, but overall this is a highly competent piece of pop rock. TM
John Reed - Ringing Bells
www.johnreedmusic.com
Reed came to making music later in life and his experience seeps into the words of Ringing Bells. He says "Bells have been our alerts throughout history." Through his quiet unassuming guitar playing he is looking to convey important truths that our political system chooses to ignore. Tying the plight of refugees fleeing in small boats to our own maritime history, the song's closing refrain "You wouldn't want to leave if it's your own home" points specifically to the centuries-old plight of refugees. TM
Cormac Russell - Ken Miles Drove For Miles
www.facebook.com/cormacrussellmusic
Russell's one-of-a-kind voice is ideally suited to this slightly sinister tune with it's pounding drums. Coming across like a cross between Donovan and Tom Waits this is taken from a recently released album titled Resurrection. Ken Miles Drove For Miles is a contrast with some of his more country based music, but is still good as an introduction to his music. If you haven't heard Cormac Russell, this single, and its album are the place to start. TM
John Lynch- Guardians
www.goldinlisa.com/wpA sumptuous ballad dripping with strings, that is livened up in the middle by a percussive section. Goldin's career focus is on playing live in the UK, South Africa and UAE. Her press is a list of the stages she's sung on and the people she has shared recording studios with. Focusing on the fact that she is a very good song writer would be a plan as well. She has written a very interesting book called 'Who Are You Again?' about what it takes to sustain a career in the music industry. Seek that and her music out. TM
Brendan Melia- Forgotten Freedom
www.jplynchmusic.com
A third Irish singer songwriter and a third excellent single. 'Guardians', describes the Irish coastal village of Ringsend, home to the iconic Poolbeg Chimneys which look over Dublin. Seeing them as Guardians of Irish history, Lynch says "Every time I leave Dublin port either by boat or plane they are always in the landscape and remind me of two bouncers or guardians watching and protecting all of the travellers to and from the Dublin Bay region." Great evocative song. TM
Sabina Chantouria - Stranger
www.sabinachantouria..com
This single seems to date from 2017 originally. It's a rather polite piece of Swedish pop that sounds like a losing entry in the Eurovision song contest, as it seems it was. She did indeed take part in the Georgian national competition final for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2017. Pleasant enough but I'm not sure why it has resurfaced now. TM (First release in English. ed)
Laura Mulcahy The Legend Of Lily Pond Lake
www.facebook.com/lmulchlizard
The Irish takeover of the singles reviews continues with this fascinating song from a singer who never fails to tackle big subjects in an interesting way. This time she is looking at the lives of introverts. "All the girls booking on the plane bound for Spain. She stays in her lily pond lake just the same". The waltz time tune makes what could be a maudlin song jaunty and positive in outlook which seems to be her intention. Just wonderful. TM
Dunlap & Mabe - Running
dunlapandmabe.com
Guitarist Jack Dunlap and Robert Mabe on Banjo turn in some classic Bluegrass, taken at gallop, with the skilled picking you would hope to hear from the best Bluegrass. Dunlap's voice has enough bite to make the song jump and Mason Wright's Fiddle solo at the end makes you reach for the replay button. If you like Bluegrass you will love this. TM
Burry - Dear Old Friend
www.burrymusic.com
"Introducing Halifax's Premier Dyslexic Non-Binary Musician". Burry drowns their singing in echo that gives it a 60s feel although the closest musical reference point would be The Sundays' world-weary indie sound. The song has a lilt to it that pulls it above the more run of the mill indie rock into a poppier place with a spare backing from guitar bass and drums that still fills the tune with a strong feel that we can expect more good songs from Burry. The Halifax they hail from is in Alberta Canada. TM
Ags Connolly - Overwhelmed
agsconnolly.com
"Widely considered to be one of the best country singer-songwriters ever to emerge from the UK" is how Connolly's website introduces him. And it isn't wrong. This old timey ballad is just a gorgeous feast of country traditions, in his singing, words and the fiddle and guitar that take the main tune as their solos. He is deservedly respected in the home of country. You can remake that statement as one of the best country singer-songwriters ever to emerge from anywhere. TM
Yvonne Hercules - Phoenix
www.yvonnehercules.com
Folk, Soul and Gospel blend into Yvonne Hercules song. An Al Green style electric piano halfway through shifts it to another gear with horns swelling behind the gospel chorus. The hypnotic sound of her voice over that chorus makes this far too short. It could go on all night for me. This is absolutely magical, and the good news is that the rest of her work is as good as this and there's a new Ep out in June. Why isn't she a huge star? 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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