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.
Arny Margret & Júníus Meyvant - Spring
www.arnymargret.com
A dreamy pop/folk tune on which Margret is joined by fellow Icelandic singer-songwriter Júníus Meyvant. The duet sections are delightful, delicate, and warm. Meyvant told Folk Radio UK that; "the song is written as a conversation between two human beings in a numb state mentally and physically in their relationship but still they have burning love for each other in a different way and want to work it out." TM
The Night Herons - In The Forest
www.thenightherons.com
Calling themselves a a jazz-funk-folk group is strangely accurate, Folk vocals over a funky back beat with a jazzy guitar solo. Rachel Holmes is a fine singer, and Dave Hemming's guitar writing, and keyboards give her the perfect vehicle for her voice. Here Comes The River is an EP from which this si the single. Having tried some of the other songs they are as good as this. Dave Hemming says:
"We have been singing and playing these songs for a little while and they've changed to become a part of us. We're never really sure what genre we are, and keep trying new things, but we're just trying to make something beautiful and authentic". TM
Billie Maree - Whale Song
billiemareemusic.bandcamp.com
Devon based Billie Maree draws inspiration from her connection to the polarities of the human experience: the dark and the light. As a debut single this is a remarkably assured song. A sparse guitar, Cello and very basic percussion are all there is, and all the song needs. "The inspiration for Whale Eyes came my closest friend telling me about a vision she had during a meditation. The song is a journey deep into the womb of a whale to meet and come face to face with a hidden part of oneself, holding reverence for and honouring that process." TM
Wylderbeats - Inmaculada
www.facebook.com/wylderbeats
There can't be many bands who owe their existence to both Skelmersdale in Lancashire, and Valencia in Spain. This waltz time instrumental is "a kind of homage to the great musicianship you can hear on some of the so-called 'easy listening' and exotica albums our parents loved." It does live up to the description of Melodic psychedelia-tinted folk music, with Sitar sounds, and a harmonica solo. This needs a film to become the soundtrack it is crying out to be. Fun and fabulous. TM
Marina Rocks - Dummin' Down/If I Needed You
www.marinarocks.comTexas singer Marina Rocks brings a bluesy Americana song, driven by her Nanci Griffith gargling acid voice and expert guitar picking. She comes across as a female Jerry Joseph with the same pent-up energy being pushed into the song. Dummin Down is a full-on blast against the lowest common denominator. If I needed You, is a Civil War ballad on steroids. With more intricate guitar and organ over a military drumbeat. This is all about her guitar with everything in service of that, but it is up there with the best of blue-collar Americana TM
Christina Alden & Alex Patterson The Starless Sea
christinaaldenandalexpatterson.com
Christina Alden & Alex Patterson are multi-instrumentalists and songwriters from Norwich. This tune features Patterson's fiddle, and duet and solo vocals from Alden. A strong contemporary folk song, respectful of tradition but not bound to it. There are poppy elements to the tune that set it apart fom more routine folk songs. 'The Starless Sea' is a novel by Erin Morgenstern and Alden says the song is "a love letter to the novel itself and a thankful nod for being an escape each time I delved into its pages". TM
Ivan Moult - Written On The Wall
ivanmoult.com
Speaking about the single, Moult said: "Lyrically a song about having a conversation with a new partner about their previous lovelife/partners. Acknowledging their experience. Questioning whether or not you want to or need to know their romantic past. Trying to reassure them things will be different. Observing it's apparent in other ways without needing to be discussed." The song itself is soul mixed with 70s folk and an almost Highlife guitar line. He claims influence from Cat Stevens, John Martyn, Damien Rice and Nick Drake. Of those it's Martyn who comes over most strongly here in his singing particularly. TM
Steady Habits - I'd Rather Be Alone
www.steadyhabitsmusic.com
Steady Habits sound like they have stepped straight out of the 70s pub rock circuit. Brinsley Schwarz would have been proud of this excellent Americana meets London sound. Having a real American in Connecticut native Sean Duggan leading the writing probably helps them sit between the 2 worlds this well. Other reviewers have heard the 90s in their sound as well, but whatever year they are aiming for it's one with a classic pop/country vibe. TM
Vieira & The Silvers - The Judge
vieiraandthesilvers.com
Kicking in like something off the first Roxy Music album it then morphs into something the Damned would have played in about 1982. Despite sounding like they come from Detroit, this is the band of Norwich based singer-songwriter Diogo Vieira da Silva. Psychobilly guitars and a vocal MC5 would be proud of. The second half of the song turns into some sort of rock and roll revival meeting. A Gospel chorus arrives from nowhere. Strange and wonderful. TM
As December Falls - Touch
www.asdecemberfalls.com
A band that you hear and then feel you should have been listening to for years. A Nottingham based band who have been releasing music since 2019. Epic modern rock music which they call pop punk but has a lot more substance than that term suggests. It's no surprise to find them on the bill at Download Festival. Catchy and commercial, this would be a huge hit if such things still happened. And they are doing it all without a label or management. A band who needs and deserves the support of anyone who likes their music loud. TM
Cormac O Caoimh - Where The World Begins
www.cormacocaoimh.net
An Irish singer songwriter who is onto his 5th album, this is an atmospheric keyboard washed song that reflects the influence of Nick drake and Prefab Sprout. It's closer to the latter in sound and style. There is a hypnotic effect to the building of words and music and the final drift away into silence. Ireland is producing some great artists at the moment and Cormac O Caoimh is right up there with the best. TM
Mitch Grainger - Shake It Upt
mitchgrainger.com
An electric delta blues song, from Australia. Grainger has worked with many of Australia's rock greats including AC/DC's Malcolm Young. Making a comparison to Robert Johnson is a touch brave, but the insistent guitar groove has more than a bit of RL Burnside about it. Light danceable blues is a rarity in the world of power trio blues rock, so this is an infectious and welcome change form the norm. The single includes an acoustic version which has the same groove. His album will it seems include electric and acoustic versions of all the songs. By and large I prefer the electric version but wouldn't turn away an acoustic album from a fine blues singer and player. TM
Alyssa Bonagura - Fly With Me EP
www.alyssabonagura.com
"A songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, she's spent the past decade fine-tuning a sound that reaches far beyond her Nashville roots". This EP of 5 songs is based in contemporary country but is aiming for the pop charts as well. The title song is a ballad that sits in Alicia Key's part of the musical forest. Most of the songs are ballads, which makes the EP sound more samey than it actually is, but also makes the more up-tempo Jealous stand out as the best song here. Of the ballads the string filled One Kiss is the standout. TM
Tu-kay & Ryan - Nothing's Perfect
tukayandryan.co.ukWe looked at Tu-Kay and Ryan's previous single not long ago. This time the emphasis is on Rebecca Ryan's voice and a poppier sound. Occupying the musical space that Al Stweart used to cover so well, there is a breezy 70s feel to their sound. They say: "Nothing's Perfect is a song about friendship. More specifically, it is a song about our friendship, how we met and how we help each other to become better people". TM
Steve Owens - Pass Me By
steveowensmusic.comThis amazingly is Steve Owens' first single. An accomplished Bluegrass based version of the Janie Fricke song with all the elements you would want from a classic country song. The harmonies, banjo and fiddle fill out the tune. Unsurprisingly he has a long career behind as a sideman, and that professionalism shines out of the singing and playing here. An album is promised and should definitely be on the keenly awaited list of Bluegrass fans. 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.
Pirate 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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