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.
Good Habits - Itchy Feet
www.goodhabits.com
Good Habits is "composed of singer-cellist Bonnie Schwarz and accordionist-percussionist Pete Shaw, the nomadic couple create folk-infused songs that test the limits of their traditional instruments." The last statement is right, but they also produce and intriguing set of sounds which is way outside the normal folk experience. Starting in new Zealand, moving to the UK, and touring here in October, this song about feeling the urge to travel is one of the most exciting things I've heard in folk music this year. Check out their album Quarter-Life as well. TM
Mary Mina - Everything You Need
www.facebook.com/frances.mary1
Bristol based soul singer Mary Mina is clearly trying to take on the musical atmosphere of the city. There are bits of Massive Attack and Portishead to her sound, as well as Lauryn Hill and Mary J Blige. But also, enough of her to make this a unique proposition. Her comment "I can't begin to describe what this song means to me, the time it took to craft, the joy I felt at getting it finished, the healing I've had to do to gain the confidence to share my creation with the world," comes across in the passion she brings to her song. She also hosts a great radio show on Ujima Radio locally. TM
Luke Jackson - Beside you ft Edwina Hayes
www.lukepauljackson.com
I think I'm right in saying that this is Luke Jackson's first collaborative single, bringing in the vocal talents of fellow singer-songwriter Edwina Hayes. Having listened to Luke growing up on records, "Beside You" is a different perspective on an aging song. This isn't the angst of an artist leaving their teenage years or uni, this is a song about a man embarking on the next part of the journey of life, with Edwina Hayes providing a counter point that makes you think about the other dynamics of doing that. NK
Ivor Game - Footprints
www.ivorgame.com
Ivor Game has toured his acoustic music across the world, specialising in short tunes which rarely creep above 2 minutes. In this case a jazzy bossa nova guitar leads us into a beautiful, delicate miniature of song. In common with most of his songs it is just a rumination on something that attracted his attention and fades away after less than a minute and a half. If you liked Jake Thackery, Ivor Game will be your new favourite singer. TM
The Meadows - Where Will It Lead
www.themeadowsband.co.uk
Describing themselves as "a vibrant multi-instrumentalist Celtic-Crossover folk band," their music has an epic quality generated by the clear lead voice, strings, piano and the sort of harmonies you only usually find from family. The band is indeed made up of sisters Melody, Fantasia and Titania, with violin from brother Harvey. One of those songs that sounds at once familiar and new. The relaxed groove they set allows the listener to drift through the song effortlessly. It could have been 10 minutes long and still not enough. TM
Ella Spencer - I Never Told You About Oregon
ellaspencermusic.com
Starting tentatively, the song comes alive in the second verse. She has been mentored and supported by Jerry Joseph and her song has the impact of his music, and indeed he appears on guitar and backing vocals here. But this is Ella's song, and she delivers it with style and power. 'I wrote the opening line 'there's a bruise on my nail from Oregon / every day it gets closer to oblivion' before anything else, literally about shutting my nail in the doorframe of the tiny house I was staying in on a commune in Oregon and seeing the bruise form and then fade away over the next few months. Watching that physical process, which coincided with my Grandma passing away, and feeling further and further away from that time but still deeply connected to it, was the inspiration for the song.' A new talent to watch. TM
Helena Mace - Blue
www.helenamace.com
Taken from her 6th album Waterfalls, this is a song which blends different music traditions. Bits of African, New Orleans, Mariachi, into a joyful song that is quite unique. The brass lifts the song over the driving bass line. She has been recognised as a country artists, but on this single she is clearly so much more than that. A tune to brighten a grey October day. TM
Dave Christen - Another Day Is Gone
www.davechristen.com
Punchy drums and driving guitar push Dave Christen's voice hard on a song which has all the best parts of the Country end of Americana. A sing along chorus, and guitar solo straight off a Bryan Adams record lend this the anthemic quality it needs to get an audience on its feet. A quick trip round his website shows he has plenty more like this. Heartland Rock to rival the best. TM
Joshua Thomas - Cashland
www.joshuathomasmusic.com
Having your first album produced by Karin Bergquist and Linford Detweiller of Over The Rhine, and being one of the few albums recorded in their own barn in Ohio sets Joshua Thomas a high bar. One he clears with ease on this gorgeous sensitive ballad. With the best use of a Wurlitzer piano east of The Delines, and a song which while having a flavour of Over The Rhine is all his own, this is a great taster for his album The Wings Outside due out at the end of October. TM
Daria Kulesh - Sea To Skye
www.daria-kulesh.co.uk
A regular visit to these pages Daria Kulesh, "Sea To Skye", has her taking a more Celtic orientated sound. I first heard the title of this song before I read it and it's amazing what different an e can make and how it shapes your thoughts on a song. A song about a yearning for a particular place has a different feel than a song about an abstract and whether by chance or design that realization made this particular song all the more poignant for doing so. NK
Erica Steenkamp (Erika and the Wildebeest ) - Call The Wild
www.facebook.com/steenkamperica
A second single from the South African singer/songwriter. This one has a Latin Jazz feel, and a conversational tone. This seems to have been repromoted from 2022, and it's good to hear more from her. She has a unique way with her words. "Call the Wild...it always answers... from the other side. You don't need a full moon. Just another day. Winding at you sideways" A new name to me at least, but one who is definitely on the list for further listening. TM
Matt Hawll - Why Did You Have To Go Away
www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566502386605
IA simple acoustic country folk single, which develops into a pounding drum and synth driven monster halfway through. Hawll's passionate delivery of his breakup song. Having just changed his performing name due to their being too many Matt Hall's online he needs and deserves support for this genuinely great song. TM
Saskia - Once In A Lifetime
www.saskiagm.com
Pitched as a folk and Country singer, this is a powerful pop song with little of folk or country to it. If it wasn't for the demo video on her You Tube I'd wonder if I had the right Saskia Griffiths-Moore. But whatever this is a cracking song, not very much like the rest of her output, which is far more in the folk world. But it's all good and you should listen o it all. TM
The Rolling Folk - Trouble
www.facebook.com/Virginia-Kettles-Rolling-Folk-100063562898032
The debut Rolling Folk album, East of Elsewhere, o?ers 10 new songs written by leader Virginia Kettle. A country folk Bob Dylan in her delivery, with a great spin on some regular song topics. I'm gonna lace up my boots and wrap my coat like armour around me. I'm down to my last pound of bravery." Great stuff with an almost Bluegrass backing featuring mandolin and pedal steel. 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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