Beyond The 45
Singles, EPs, Downloads
The Fatea office also serves as a home for our weekly Along The Tracks show on Folk Friday 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.
Charm Of Finches - Clean Cut/Atlantis
www.charmoffinchesband.com
Australian duo Charm of Finches have won prise for earlier singles. Their harmonies are well up to expectations on this latest one. Clean Cut is a less delicate tune than earlier efforts, with big drums straight off an 80s Kate Bush record. Atlantis is more like what we've heard before, ethereal washes of sound behind their lovely harmonies. Having seen them on their last UK visit, I'll be back at The Folk House in Bristol in June. Don't miss them. TM
Ever Elysian - House Of The Rising Sun/Feeling Good
www.facebook.com/Everelysian
There must be a limit to the number of ways that this standard can be interpreted, but Ever Elysian have found a new one, with a blend of blues, torch song and prog that is as their press suggests, bewitching. The other side of this single, another classic, Feeling Good is straight out of the Portishead textbook. And that band are clearly the main influence on their sound overall. Still good listening…TM
Sister Envy - Mourning Sickness
www.facebook.com/SisterEnvyBand
An "alternative Rock Band from the North Wales Coast," Sister Envy have points of comparison with compatriots Manic Street Preachers. As a debut single this is remarkably assured and mature. If you like 90s indie rock, then they could be your new heroes. TM
Marina Florance - 1974 (That's How It Was In Those Days)
marinaflorance.com/home
An evocative poem over music from Derek Osei-Owusu, makes for an unusual single. It's also a new departure for someone who has produced a couple of good folk/Americana albums. If you remember riding the bus in the 70s you will recognise yourself in this intriguing piece. TM
Cara Dillon - Giving
www.caradillon.co.uk
There's not a lot new to add to what has been written about Cara Dillon in the past. She is one of our best folk singers, but this single is a little different with spoken word over picked guitar in the first part of the song, and strings backing her singing. As magical as we expect from her. Gentle, delicate, and all round wonderful. TM
Nathan Evans - Heather On The Hill
www.nathanevansofficial.com
Contemporary Scottish folk with some good old Scottish cliches woven into the song. Catchy enough for pop radio, he built up a following for his shanties on Tik Tok and has now produced a love song that goes beyond just the personal into a love for his land, from the "fields of Aberfeldy" to the "shores of Loch Maree." TM
StEm - Brighter Times
www.stemduo.co.uk
More regulars in the singles column, StEm (Emma Baldwin and Steve Hollister.) have produced some cracking tunes over the last couple of years and this is another, with strings adding to their usual guitar and voice pairing. Acoustic pop is a hard area t stand out in, but they manage it every time. TM
The Redhill Valleys - Steady The Wheel
www.theredhillvalleys.com
Not as you might expect from the Badlands of South Surrey, but a rather good Canadian mainstream country band. More bite than is normal from Nashville these days. If you imagine Lady Antebellum with influences from Tom Petty Neil Young, and Fleetwood Mac, and you get the idea. This has elements of Petty to it, and Mac style harmonies. This may be the song to restore your faith in country music. TM
Captain Of The Lost Waves - Success In Failure
captainofthelostwaves.com
Partly spoken, partly sung over a soundscape of keyboards, building to a peak, and fading gently away, much like a wave. The Captain's "musical offerings are inspired by the great songwriters and philosophers of yesteryear. This is visceral music for the mind and body, full of dreamy verses, life affirming choruses and sheer audacity. Where melodic invention meets alternative folk, progressive, world and ambient sounds." Couldn't put it better, visit his website as well, which is full of interesting snippets of stories. Strange but wonderful. TM
Oxlip - Wayward Woman
www.oxlipmusic.com
Oxlip, otherwise Irish singer Jayne Trimble, says the "context for this song is the Mother Baby homes that existed in the 1900's in Ireland." She has produced a lovely lament for them, with the help of producer Damien Jurado that reflects the on these laces of unspeakable cruelty. "I know I'm a shame to the church and the state. I'm a wayward woman not worthy of grace. I know I'm a crisis I deserve my fate It's good that your Jesus loves those that hate." TM
Jess Hunter - Anhedonia
Jess HunterA delicate tremolo guitar with layers of voices running over it makes this tune stand out from the many singer songwriters. As the drums lick in so do the comparisons with many of the great female bands of the late 70s. A sound that has been away for too long. She says of the song, "Anhedonia' is a song that delves into the feeling of being unable to experience joy or pleasure. The lyrics explore the loss of love for things once enjoyed." TM
Charlotte Young - Lovers Last Chance Saloon
www.charlotteyoung.co.uk
A valentine from Birmingham country singer Charlotte Young. The keyboards distance this from a lot of country cliches and she is a fine singer. She clearly performs often around her hometown so if you are there look out for her. TM
Our Man In the Field - The Road
www.omitf.com
The leftover song from his sessions in Portland, and a current live highlight. The quality of Alex Ellis's songwriting just keeps getting better, and this is one of his best. The pedal Steel glides across the top of an insistent drumbeat. As good as anything on the album, and a fine single from one of our shining Americana talents. TM
Paul McKenna Band - One Last Cold Kiss
www.paulmckennaband.com
Having had the title "best band of their generation" heaped on them, the Paul McKenna band have something to live up to. Fortunately, they do so in spades. Having seen them live I would agree with the praise. This is another great song from new album Setting Sun. His "emotive voice and passionate social conscience" have drawn comparisons with Dick Gaughan, I'd add that if you liked Runrig, try Paul McKenna. TM
Ste Stetson - Through the fire and dark
ssmusic.co.uk
A hip hop backing with an impassioned soul voice. With radio play from BBC, Kerrang and Planet Rock his usual territory has drawn inspiration from Li Nas X as well as country, rock and EDM. Varied and unusual, and worth sampling. TM
Bernadette Morris - Tá Mo Chleamhnas Déanta
www.bernadettemorris.com
A traditionally presented Irish tune from singer-songwriter Bernadette Morris. She made the grammy's long list with her previous album, which tells you how good she is. This duet is up there with her earlier work and bodes well for the album due in May. TM
Tim Easton - Find Your Way
www.timeaston.com
One of the great hidden treasures of Americana. Tim Eston never fails to produce songs that sink into your brain. And he has done so again. A true cautionary tale with a pinch of hope, about a mishap that could have happened to anyone in a recording studio, "This song came out of some clarity while remembering that harrowing experience many years later". But only Easton could have turned it into this thing of beauty. TM
One Far Sun - People In The Middle
www.onefarsun.com
One Far Sun "are an all-female trio based in London and Malmö, with a particular fondness for raw guitars, big cinematic strings and lush vocal harmonies". And they've brought all those to bear on this song. Making a comeback after a decade away they are producing some great songs. Seek them out if you like atmospheric tunes of the Cocteau Twins or Mazzy Star variety. TM
Tony Christie - Just Like Yesterday
www.tonychristie.com
For an artist celebrating 80 years his voice is in far better shape than artists 10 years younger. The pedal steel gives this an melancholy feel and the guitar solo which kicks in halfway through adds bite. An exhaustive tour of the UK is coming up and on this showing worth seeing, as well as a hearing of his new album. TM
Virginia Kettle
www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063562898032
Virginia is probably best known for being part of the band Merry Hell. She shares lead vocals and
writes songs for that group, sometimes performing some of them by just accompanying herself on
acoustic guitar. She also performs on the Folk Club circuit as a solo artist, where she demonstrates
her versatility as a performer and writer. With a host of self-composed tunes, Virginia is shortly to
release her own album, alongside her work with the band, and ahead of that she has released the
single ‘Sailing on the Inside’ It’s a great song which shows her talent as a lyric writer, and particularly
demonstrates her own style in delivering it. If this is anything to go by, the forthcoming album, under
the guise of the ‘Rolling Folk’ project, is something to very much look forward to!
SG
Cormac O’Caoimh – Stay Calm
cormacocaoimh.net
Cormac O’Caiomh is an Irish singer songwriter who recently released his album ‘Where the World Begins’.
On that album, Cormac wears his heart on his sleeve with ten tracks influenced by the upbringing of his
son, who is autistic. The latest release from it, ‘Stay Calm’ present a message to all of us who, inevitably
in life, are faced with various difficulties of our own. It’s a catchy tune, where we are reminded to ‘stay
calm’ despite what life has to throw at us, celebrate small victories and think positively about tomorrow.
Somehow, it feels uplifting, despite its theme, and shows the versatility in Cormac’s writing. SG
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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