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.
The Gillies - It Was Never Going To Be Easy
www.thegilliesmusic.com
London based folk/Americana duo The Gillies have produced some delightful songs, and this is one of their best. Acoustic guitar, tambourine and a gentle melody make the world-weary break up lyrics all the more poignant. The Gillian Welch comparisons are obvious, but they are very much their own people, and a good live act, catch them if you can. TM
Karen Jonas - Rich Man's Valley
www.karenjonasmusic.com
Following on from last year's excellent album The Restless, this another piece of Country done right. Honky Tonk piano, guitar lines sharp enough to cut rocks and yodelling. Traditionally framed but not cliched. She has one UK date penned in, at the Hen and Chicken pub in Bristol, I'll be there to hear her own particular brand of high energy Americana. TM
The Howl & The Hum - Same Mistake Twice
www.thehowlandthehum.com
If Roxy Music and Radiohead got together the result would be The Howl and The Hum. Andy MacKay sax over Jonny Greenwood's guitar, and atmosphere somewhere between the best of both those groups. The opening line of "I never make the same mistake twice; I always aim for a third time" is the best this year. Quoting Thelonius Monk puts them on a whole other level. The word epic gets thrown around a lot but is the only one for this brilliant song. TM
Ben Hemming - The One
www.benhemming.co.uk
Nu-Blues, apparently. If that means Blues infused with Pearl Jam, and Neil Young in noise mode then count me in. Dirty guitars, loud drums and a voice that has hints of the names above without being a carbon copy. Having also tried his recent Darkness Before Dawn album I can safely say that if you like your rock bluesy then tray that as well, but this is the song that will make you a fan. TM
And Did Those Feet - The Homeward Tide
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyXCo_zo7sA
Founder and composer, Richard Ellin "has a bias towards English melancholic music and is a big fan of Sandy Denny, Delius and Robin Williamson". This is a 3rd single from his seventh album which will be called 'I am God of Einstein' to be released in Autumn 2024. Salwa Lauren's singing is crystal clear and compliments the delicate string and piano led tune. This is part of a four-part song cycle that has the sea as a main theme, it also considers the question of who may be the first to pass away in a relationship. TM
Kyle Moon & The Mislead - Kansas Town
www.kylemoonandthemisled.com
More blues with a twist, big guitars, but with a modern country voice telling us the story of the town of the title. They call themselves an alternative-country rock band with a gritty Muscle Shoals sound. And there's plenty of soul in their blues and country mix. TM
The Petal Falls - A Little Piece Of Heaven
www.thepetalfalls.com
Touches of modern prog, and 80s AOR add grit to a straightforward pop/rock tune. There is nothing startlingly original about any of the elements that make up their music, but it's just a good listenable tine that has no pretentions to be anything else. After being bitten by the music industry this is very much a cottage industry led by Keith Leahy. If you miss proper rock music with a tune, this is where it's living. TM
Daughter Of A Drum - Pink Breath
www.daughterofadrum.com
Daughter Of A Drum is the musical persona of Irish artist Aoife McAtamney. Hippy is "a vibrant anthem and homage to the iconic 'Irish Mammy." And its hard to put a musical finger on. Soulful voice over strings, and Jazz of the sort that London is doing so well currently. The repeated refrain of "your mother was a hippy baby", has a Sly Stone quality. Closest comparison would be Allison Russell but form a Soul starting point rather than Country/Folk. An album Pink Breath follows at the end of the Summer, and if this and her first single Heal Me are anything to go by it will be worth waiting for. 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.
Folk Friday Radio
Check out our shows and many other great shows on: