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.
Dom Glynn & His Sunday Best - Get Back In My Bed
www.domglynn.com
'Get Back In My Bed' is London Country Singer Dom Glynn's tongue-in-cheek take on the love song theme of ''If lovin' you ain't right, I want to be wrong.' Western Swing/Bluegrass style with an infectious fiddle lead. If this doesn't have you dancing round the kitchen, nothing will. TM
Allan Thomas - Hole In The World
www.allanthomas.com
Allan Thomes says "Hole In The World' is a eulogy for those who have lost a beloved. With so many friends and loved ones passing on I felt it was time to write a song to those who have left and to those left behind." A labour of love with music writer Jim Kimo West, with the words taking a few years to perfect. he strikes the perfect compromise between melancholy and uplifting over a simple guitar backing. TM
Matt Hawll - In My Heart
www.facebook.com/MattHawll
Hawll's third recent single is a more delicate guitar backed tune but sung with the passion that has characterised his other work. Recognised two years running at the GSMC music awards he is on the rise and should be someone to keep an ear out for this year. TM
Roswell - Holy Mountain
www.roswellband.co.uk
Back after several years away, pop country duo in the Ward Thomas mould appears to be what their publicity is pointing you to think. They have far more substance than that though, with a Fleetwood Mac meets The Corrs vibe. Previous Fatea EP of the year winners, this new single steers them gently towards something worthy of mainstream radio play. TM
Amy Hopwood - Fire And Fury
amyhopwood.co.uk/music
A favourite in previous singles columns, this is a song raging at the state of the world to the tune of American Civil War song "When Johnny Comes Marching Home." "Not bleeding hearts but judge and jury, let them feel our fire and fury." Folk music is at its best when it reacts to events, and there are plenty for Amy to vent her fury on currently, we should do likewise. TM
Lost Chimes - Something Different
www.facebook.com/lostchimes
Deservedly picking up radio play and praise, this folk/prog song is indeed something different. "The song is about relationships and how they evolve, adapt and endure over time. We also played with the idea of a lighthouse, shining light and healing on relationships and growing / learning together. The frustration, the joy, the pain, the highs and the lows." TM
John-Paul Mason - Forest
johnpaulmason.com
Birdsong as a backing to a tune about woodlands is an overused trope but is totally appropriate in this poem to music. "Learning how trees communicate, share resources, nurture their offspring and warn other trees of danger through the 'wood wide web,' this song pays homage to the lessons that the Forest might hold for us modern day humans in a rapidly changing world." The music is an upbeat guitar and fiddle tune which reflects the spoken and sung sections of the song. Lovely tune. TM
Simon & The Astronauts - Hammond Song/Lovers Moon
www.facebook.com/simonandtheastronauts
The writing team of Simon Wells, Ben Hewerdine and Chris Pepper and singer Rachel Haden have created a modern folk sound filled with chiming guitars on a song originally from The Roches. The other side of the single is an original, with a Samba feel to it. Both excellent and worth your attention. TM
Angry Strings - Devil At My Door
www.instagram.com/angry.strings
The debut single from a Bluegrass band from Basel, Switzerland. Taken at the frenetic pace we expect from the best Bluegrass. The harmonica and son structure put them firmly in the NuGrass end of the genre. If you have any interest in Bluegrass, you will love this. TM
The Charlesys - Will It Be You
www.charlesy.co.uk
This week's contemporary country contribution. Written in the UK and recorded in Nashville by "some wonderful musicians." More bite than the usual Nashville production line music and going down well with the UK Country community. TM
Cormac Russell - Don Trump
www.facebook.com/cormacrussellmusic
The first of what will doubtless be many pieces of US political commentary over the next few years. This skewers the title character but is also less than complimentary about the entire US political class. TM
Johnny Campbell - Roving I Will Go
johnnycampbell.co.uk
"The song is a recognition of limitations and possibilities, physical, or within the mind. Why in Scotland, because of a Right to Roam, are you able to walk through a gate and walk as far as the horizon allows you? Whereas in England, we would double take... are we allowed to do this? That's because we've been kept from the land for so long, we've been conditioned to think as such. England has been in lockdown for centuries." Wild expansive folk music that calls to wander on moors and downs. Brilliant. TM
Revulva - Girls And Their Toys
www.revulva.org
"A brand-new band, a band of women. We want to use our artistic vision and platform to promote gender equality and inclusivity while creating impactful music." Adding synths and electronic drums to mandolin, guitar and fiddle to this upbeat instrumental gives them a trancey feel at times. Writing this on International Women's day feels entirely right as this is just great music and if they can use it to push a valuable message then so much better. They say they are "infusing irresistible millennial pop vibes with undying folk traditions, creating an empowering musical space for women." TM
Tommy Eric - Stars Align For You
tommyeric.com/home
State of the art modern blues rock. A single from new album Origami Hearts, which explores the many nuances of truly loving someone, be it for the good or for the bad." Liquid guitar playing over a great song. TM
Ben Stubbs - We Are Men
www.benstubbsmusic.com
"I strongly believe that if we can build a world that supports men's mental health and encourages us to deal with our darkness in a healthy way, all of our lives and the lives of those around us can drastically change for the better." This single supporting charity Men Only IOW is a fine piece of pop/country on its own merits, but coupled with the message and the charity, it is an essential buy. TM
Echo Valley - I Have Decided
www.echovalleybluegrass.com
Traditional Bluegrass from Pennsylvania. Just a great song, played well with sharp harmonies and the solo prowess you expect from good Bluegrass bands. TM
Pippa Blundell - Say
www.pippablundell.uk
An operatic training mixed with folk song writing and sensibilities have produced an intriguing song which was "written during the course of countless flights between Marseille and Glasgow, ' say ' is a delicate deconstruction of the emotions surrounding a long-distance relationship - the difficulty of saying goodbye after the comfort of time together, and the frustration at a digital presence being no replacement for in-person connection." A strong vocal presence close to Joan Armatrading, and music which reminds you of Laura Marling is a combination that will take her far. TM
The Browns - For Those Who Can Never Go Home
thebrownsnorfolk.com
The Browns, Vern & Annie, are a duo formed of two people that lost track of each other in their youth and found each other again years later. "For Those Who Can Never Go Home" is about and dedicated to anyone who has lost their home and been cfast adrift in the world. It's also raising funds for the Red Cross and Crisis. Harsh though it is you should never buy a single just because it's for charity, just make a donation, You should buy a song because it's well written, well performed and sung with as real passion, all of which can be found here. It takes surprisingly little to take a home away, it's a lot harder to put one back together. NK
The Parachute Testers - Bluebirds
theparachutetesters.com
The Parachute Testers are a group based in Ireland with a debut album due out September 2025. If the track Bluebirds is anything to go by then the album should be eagerly anticipated. This is a wonderful piece of escapism where we can fly way above the noise and find some kind of peace amongst the Bluebirds. A warm embracing production with skilled instrument and vocal layering, definitely one for your contemplative playlist. MF
The Lonesome Six - Small Things
thelonesomesix.com
The Lonesome Six formed in 2023, playing out elements of country, folk, rock, bluegrass, singer/songwriter and the blues. There are no less than six vocalists so, yes it possible to have so much variety in genre. Small Things is a little bit country and has all the elements a good country song should have, love, loss, romance...With one or two listens you will be tapping your toes and singing along at the top of your voice, well I was anyway. A wonderful blend of voices and instrumentation makes this track the complete country package. MF
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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