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 - Wild As I Was
www.brookelaw.co.uk
"Brooke's music is delivered in her distinctive gutsy voice, think Alanis Morissette meets Janis Joplin." Gutsy is the word, and if this was 1994, Law would have a hit on her hands. If you think of a contemporary country, Alanis Morissette, then you won't be far off. And that is meant as a compliment. She's playing the Black Deer festival and if this is typical of her songs, she will go down a storm. Video online of eh playing the song acoustically show she has absolutely got the makings of a headline act very soon. TM
Rhiannon Giddens - You're The One
rhiannongiddens.com
Title track of an album out in August, more powerful female singing, from an artist who has not ahd a solo album in far too long. Her press says that the song "bursts with life-affirming energy, drawing from the folk music that she knows so deeply, as well as its pop descendants". The song You're the One was inspired by her son just after he was born and that would explain the sheer joy in this delightful piece of pop/folk. Sadly she only has 1 UK dates in London this year TM
Anna Vitale - Hold On
www.instagram.com/anna.vitale8
It comes as no surprise to find Vitale being lauded by the likes of Broadway World magazine. Hers is a voice made for musical theatre and indeed this single sounds like it came from a show. It is in fact he debut single after two EPs created with the help of producer David Kershenbaum. It will be interesting to hear if her album is structured as a story into which this fits. She's a great singer and at just sixteen probably ahs a future ahead of her in Sarah Brightman's part of the musical forest, with the added bonus that she writes a good song too. TM
Aisha Badru - Inside
aishabadru.com
A piano-based rumination devoted to self-love. "I remember feeling like the ultimate goal is to find someone who loves you, and then realizing that the ultimate goal is to love yourself," she says. And this has an almost meditative feel to it. Her voice hardly rising above a whisper, she offers some affecting words. "I wrote a letter to myself. Said you can do better all by yourself. Don't settle for stones, you deserve a mountain. Don't settle for drops, you deserve a fountain". Her slight resemblance to Nina Simone is also reflected in her ability to use her voice to draw us into her world. TM
Luke Morley - Killed By Cobain
www.lukemorleyonline.comThe Thunder guitarist offers something a little softer than his day job, although the guitar playing is still recognisable, as is the tongue in cheek humour. Thunder's career in America really was stalled by the coming of Nirvana and Grunge. He says "The tour we were booked on, opening for David Lee Roth, didn't sell and we ended up never touring there. So near and yet so far! Fortunately, I can laugh about it now…" If you like his main band, then this will do very nicely. If you like good straight ahead rock music, then try him, and maybe Thunder as well. A solo album Songs From The Blue Room will be along soon. TM
Ryan Curtis - Ain't Ever Easy
www.ryancurtismusic.us
"The best thing about Ryan Curtis is his ability to cover all the country sub-genres: ballads, western music, honky-tonk, country-rock are all in his oeuvre". While a piece of PR hyperbole it's also true. The gentle swing of this song is a blend of everything good about Country. The harmonica solo could come off a Dylan album, and the tune from any point in the last 50 years. This is title song from his second album and that should be just great when it happens along in July. TM
Su Anderson - Shadows
www.suandersson.com
Formerly an architect, Andersson devoted herself to music in 2019 and 2 albums later is producing songs that would stand up to her influences Leonard Cohen and Neil Young. She has the emotional depth of the former, and the song explodes into a Young style guitar solo that frustratingly fades away just as it was getting good. A subject for further investigation, the precise placement of words and way her voice wraps around the music are intriguing enough to want to hear lots more. TM
Megan Dixon Hood - Martyr
megandixonhood.co.uk
Megan Dixon Hood takes inspiration from folklore, mythology, nature, and human beings. She creates "forest pop soundscapes". While she's clearly heard of Kate Bush, she dodges the soundalike trap, taking a more rock-based route with chiming guitars and a voice that is as much at home projecting over that backing as in the more reflective sections. Another new and fascinating singer to add to the list to investigate further. You won't hear this on Radio 2, but you should hear it. TM
Jim Chorley - To Hold You In My Arms
www.jimchorley.com
"The single shares how becoming a father brought about an immense shift in who he is as a person and tells of how 'holding her in my arms' began a new chapter in his life, gave him the strength and commitment to look after her, keep her safe and be the man he was always destined to become." Styled as a simple folk tune, guitar, fiddle and voice, the message is one that any new parent will nod their head to, as the manages to put into words what they have all thought. "Jim's music has been described as being 'filled with heart and soul, with a passion that bleeds into every note' and with 'every song feeling like they have been genuinely lived and loved'". Exactly that. TM
Margo Cilker - Lowland Trail
www.margocilkermusic.com
Country music of the sort that you thought only Emmylou Harris could make. Uplifting and celebratory, with a voice that rises high and clear above the music. The words don't need to be complex, and they aren't. Her new album will be called Valley of Heart's Delight, and this song is a delight. "Got miles before me, miles behind. Looking for a lowland trail. Got hills to climb in my own sweet time." If you want good old-fashioned country with just a touch of rock, find it here. The successor to Harris and Ronstadt has arrived. TM
Freenestra - I Don't Get It/1975
www.petefeenstramusic.com
The title of the B side says it all. If you miss Dr Feelgood and Wilko Johnson form about that vintage, then they have been reincarnated here. How that sits for you will depend on how precious you are about a note for note facsimile. The songs are originals and are just fine, and taken at face value are fun and a good reason to shake the dust of Down by the Jetty. TM
Boo Suttcliffe - Eleven Eight
boosutcliffe.com
A majestic piano and string led ballad. Sutcliffe's words have been the defining feature of his previous work but more usually guitar based. He says "Before I started thinking of myself as a singer, I often wondered if there might be just one song out there that I could really sing - something I could deliver in my voice and really make my own. Then I realised I'd probably have to write it." This will be the one. Quite magical in its subtlety and depth of emotion. Even the guitar solo seems to be holding itself back in keeping with the understated beauty of this song. TM
Lydia Ford - Burning Out
www.lydiafordmusic.com
Indie-pop Berlin based, Irish artist Lydia Ford has a new single trailing and album due in September. There's nothing startlingly new here, just a good pop song. Lockdown songs will be with us for a while yet as this was written and recorded in 2021. "Despite knowing that the feeling wouldn't last forever, I felt stuck in this cycle of burnout when writing this song with Matt Attard almost 2 years into the Pandemic". She hopes this will become an anthem for those still feeling the after effects of the pandemic, and she could well be right. TM
Delilah Holiday - Everything I Ever Wanted
www.delilahholliday.comThere is something of a buzz about Delilah Holiday on the London electronic scene and you can see why from this trip hoppy tune. "It's basically about the anxiety of the world burning, but it's still like a love song. It's about asking your love "Would you still run away with me?" It was one of those songs that just wrote itself". It does indeed have an effortless feel about it. This is the first song released from an EP that is doing well on pre orders at Bandcamp. One to watch, she could be everywhere by the Autumn. 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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