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.
Simon Morley - Devon Coastline
www.facebook.com/p/Si-Morley-Music-100082799602586
A simple folk based song with added washes of strings. While he is Hampshire based now, the emotional sincerity of the words suggest he is a Devon native. If their tourism people want a tune to promote their part of the world, they could do far worse than use this song. TM
The Deep Dark Woods - The Banks Of The Lough Erne
thedeepdarkwoods.com
Starting as a more traditional folk tune, pedal steel adds a bit of melancholy. A Canadian band with a love for an eclectic mix of music. This comes from an album called Broadside Ballads Vol.III and features Erin Rae sounding very Emmylou Harris-like. Different and intriguing. TM
Anne-Marie Sanderson - Turning Of The Year
www.annemariesanderson.com
Singer, Guitarist, and cellist Sanderson uses all 3 on this lead single from an album due in September. Atmospheric folky pop at times sounding like Don Juan era Joni with some well-crafted jazz drumming, she creates a soundscape that takes what could have been a routine folk song in a direction that make it other worldly. TM
Sister Envy - Tide
www.facebook.com/SisterEnvyBand
Starting with a Cocteau Twins guitar slide this quickly transitions to a wall of noise mixed with chiming guitar and echo covered vocals. Bits of Sisters of Mercy, bits of My Bloody Valentine, all assimilated into a sound familiar but their own, and all good. They've taken the sounds they love and created a shoegaze for the 2020s. TM
Everette - Keys To Kentucky
weareeverette.com
In contrast to the last single High And Lonesome, reviewed here a few weeks ago this a typical Bluegrass ballad. Highlighting the gentler side of the music rather than their last frenetic offering. Commercial enough to suggest a crossover to country radio might happen. If so it will be better than about 99% of what is played there. TM
Jason McNiff - My Mississippi
www.facebook.com/jasonmcniff2
I've been a fan of McNiff since his Tonight We Ride covers album. His own writing is a mix of all the artists he covered there. A Beatles bass line, Elements of Mike Scott about his voice, and Leonard Cohen in the song structure. He absolutely deserves to be connected with those names as well. This is another triumph for one of the best British songwriters of the moment. Any one of his 8 albums will be worth your time. Can't wait for the new one. TM
49 Winchester - Yearnin' For You
www.49winchester.com
A slightly cynical turn of phrase for a love song, but the tune which barrels along on a Roy Orbison guitar line makes it a far more joyful sound that those words would suggest. Proper country music with just enough of the contemporary to keep newer fans of the genre on board. Fun, gritty, and fast paced, just the way we like it. TM
Flo Perlin - Mother Tongue
floperlin.com
With Iraqi and Belarusian heritage, but based in London, Flo Perlin has a unique voice that blend with the strigs and percussion focused tune excellently. An album called Clay is due out in June. If it continues this mix of styles, from folk to jazz with a voice that draws on soul and world influences then it will be a summer highlight. TM
Owen Moore - Prince Of Piccadilly (The Ballad Of Billy Bold)
www.owenmooremusic.com
A narrative song telling the tale of an ex-soldier fallen between the cracks of society and takes another homeless person under his wing. Owen Moore has been telling these tales for a good while now and is worth seeing live if you get the chance. Irish folk by way of Billy Bragg, the emphasis is on the poetry of his words with the music, while the music is far from incidental, you'll listen to Moore for his storytelling. TM
Elias Bendix - Fluid
www.facebook.com/EliasBendix1
Danish Singer songwriter Elias Bendix takes influences from the eighties and nineties and produces classic pop/rock songs that are all his own. Bits of Thom Yorke about his voice, bits of Tears For Fears about the music, he is making music that is timeless and beyond the whims of fashion. It would sound great on the radio, and hopefully we will hear him there. Seek out Elias Bendix of you like mature pop music. TM
Colin Manson - Sea Son
www.colin-manson.comThe Scottish singer-songwriter's background as a sailor drifts into this song, which has more than a touch of the sea about its gentle motion. Sitting between indie pop and folk, the lyrics are of leaving home. "There's a blue world waiting, and it's waiting for you." Simple but effective. He doesn't fill the song up with more words than are needed, letting the wave like percussion carry the message. Enchanting and lovely. Single of the week. TM
Daria Kulesh - Ataman
www.daria-kulesh.co.uk
Regular visitor to the Beyond The 45 page, Daria Kulesh returns with "Ataman", a song inspired by the unlikely subject of Alyona of Arzamas, a 17th century nun who eventually came to lead a Cossack army numbering in the thousands. A totally unexpected history lesson delivered in a fusion of folk styles and in repeated playing will ensure the legend continues to get retold. NK
Bity Booker - The Cuckoo
www.bitybooker.com
Just as you convince yourself that there are folk songs that there are more than enough versions of and perhaps singers should try their hand at a few less known songs for a change, someone comes out with a version that makes you doubt the thought. "The Cuckoo" has been released many, many times and yet Bity Booker seems to have found another way into the song whilst keeping it sparse with just voice and guitar. NK
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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