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Releases
Alasdair Fraser Natalie Haas
Album:Highlander's Farewell
Label:Culburnie
Website:http://www.greentrax.com
Fiddler Alasdair Fraser and cellist Natalie Haas, together with a starspangled guest list that includes Martin Hayes, Dennis Cahill and Bruce Molsky, deliver an album that highlights the beauty inherent in traditional Scottish music, particularly when it sounds as free and effortless as this. "Highlander's Farewell" draws on both traditional tunes and modern tunes written in a traditional style to highlight the fire and passion that infuses the dance music of Scotland, encapsulating performances that will set your feet ablaze.
Album:Highlander's Farewell
Label:Culburnie
Website:http://www.greentrax.com
Fiddler Alasdair Fraser and cellist Natalie Haas, together with a starspangled guest list that includes Martin Hayes, Dennis Cahill and Bruce Molsky, deliver an album that highlights the beauty inherent in traditional Scottish music, particularly when it sounds as free and effortless as this. "Highlander's Farewell" draws on both traditional tunes and modern tunes written in a traditional style to highlight the fire and passion that infuses the dance music of Scotland, encapsulating performances that will set your feet ablaze.
The Scarlet Jacks
EP:The Scarlet Jacks EP
Label:Self Released
Website:http://www.thescarletjacks.co.uk
I sometimes think that the world would be a happier place if father's just let their daughters marry for love, but if they did folk music would lose a large canon of songs and have a much lower body count. "Fiddler's Copse" combines a tale of love with a classic treasurer hunting folk tale, needless to say it does not end well. The Scarlet Jacks have put together a damned fine selection of songs and tunes for this their debut EP. Phil Beer is producing the debut album so expect a lot from this duo. This EP says they can deliver top English folk music.
EP:The Scarlet Jacks EP
Label:Self Released
Website:http://www.thescarletjacks.co.uk
I sometimes think that the world would be a happier place if father's just let their daughters marry for love, but if they did folk music would lose a large canon of songs and have a much lower body count. "Fiddler's Copse" combines a tale of love with a classic treasurer hunting folk tale, needless to say it does not end well. The Scarlet Jacks have put together a damned fine selection of songs and tunes for this their debut EP. Phil Beer is producing the debut album so expect a lot from this duo. This EP says they can deliver top English folk music.
Paul Goodwin
Album:Trinkets And Offcuts
Label:Self Released
Website:http://www.paulgoodwin.com
Misery always sounds better a: when it's someone elses b: spat out with real venom at ten to the dozen. Paul Goodwin definitely doesn't hold back on "This Place Is Dead Anyway", the opening track to his new mini album, "Trinkets And Offcuts". He's got a very conversational style and wears his heart on his sleeve as he delivers his well observed songs. In some ways he reminds me of a young Robb Johnson, not as much on the politics, but the way he turns everyday life into something that matters. Life can be pretty gritty, but face it with a fighting spirit and you never know.
Album:Trinkets And Offcuts
Label:Self Released
Website:http://www.paulgoodwin.com
Misery always sounds better a: when it's someone elses b: spat out with real venom at ten to the dozen. Paul Goodwin definitely doesn't hold back on "This Place Is Dead Anyway", the opening track to his new mini album, "Trinkets And Offcuts". He's got a very conversational style and wears his heart on his sleeve as he delivers his well observed songs. In some ways he reminds me of a young Robb Johnson, not as much on the politics, but the way he turns everyday life into something that matters. Life can be pretty gritty, but face it with a fighting spirit and you never know.
Birdengine
Album:The Crooked Mile
Label:Bleeding Heart
Website:http://www.birdengine.com
Birdengine is the musical alterego of Lawry Joseph Tilbury and whilst he's released eps and mini albums before, remarkably this is his debut full length album. "The Crooked Mile" is an album that appears to be not quite of this world more running alongside it at a tangent. Whilst the album has an arthouse feel to it, it restrains those tendancies enough to make the album feel accessable and thought provoking rather than dark and incomprehensible. It's not an easy album to dive into. I didn't like it much on first listen, but it's a definite grower if you've got the time.
Album:The Crooked Mile
Label:Bleeding Heart
Website:http://www.birdengine.com
Birdengine is the musical alterego of Lawry Joseph Tilbury and whilst he's released eps and mini albums before, remarkably this is his debut full length album. "The Crooked Mile" is an album that appears to be not quite of this world more running alongside it at a tangent. Whilst the album has an arthouse feel to it, it restrains those tendancies enough to make the album feel accessable and thought provoking rather than dark and incomprehensible. It's not an easy album to dive into. I didn't like it much on first listen, but it's a definite grower if you've got the time.
Savoy Brown
Album:Voodoo Moon
Label:Ruf
Website:http://www.savoybrown.com
It was tragic coincidence that this dropped on to the mat in the office the same day I found out that the Savoy Brown's former bass player Bob Brunning had died, it sort of highlighted the fragility of life that blues is so good at reflecting. Giving up the lead vocal duties seems to have given guitarist Kim Simmonds a refound freedom. "Voodoo Moon" is the most laidback album I've heard from the band in awhile, it seems to reflect an artist/band that have got their mojo back and everything just seems to flow naturally right through the songs. A welcome return to form.
Album:Voodoo Moon
Label:Ruf
Website:http://www.savoybrown.com
It was tragic coincidence that this dropped on to the mat in the office the same day I found out that the Savoy Brown's former bass player Bob Brunning had died, it sort of highlighted the fragility of life that blues is so good at reflecting. Giving up the lead vocal duties seems to have given guitarist Kim Simmonds a refound freedom. "Voodoo Moon" is the most laidback album I've heard from the band in awhile, it seems to reflect an artist/band that have got their mojo back and everything just seems to flow naturally right through the songs. A welcome return to form.
aCivilian
Album:Invention
Label:Hungry Audio
Website:http://www.acivilian.co.uk
"Invention" is partly funded by Arts Council England and I for one am happy to see some of my lottery money being spent funding an album that rails against injustice and has a strong sense of the self, because when push comes to shove that's all there is left. There's a definite post punk feel to the sound, which at times mellows to a more indie pop sound, what doesn't mellow though is aCivilian's attitude. They came, saw, didn't like and called for change. I guess the change is going to take a while, but the songs have the issues nailed to politicians door.
Album:Invention
Label:Hungry Audio
Website:http://www.acivilian.co.uk
"Invention" is partly funded by Arts Council England and I for one am happy to see some of my lottery money being spent funding an album that rails against injustice and has a strong sense of the self, because when push comes to shove that's all there is left. There's a definite post punk feel to the sound, which at times mellows to a more indie pop sound, what doesn't mellow though is aCivilian's attitude. They came, saw, didn't like and called for change. I guess the change is going to take a while, but the songs have the issues nailed to politicians door.
Lisa Hannigan
Album:Passenger
Label:Hoop
Website:http://www.lisahannighan.ie
"Passenger" is the album that establishes Lisa Hannigan as a major force in songwriting. It's predecessor, "Sea Sew" hinted as much, but we now have the confirmation. Songs like "Safe Travels, (Don't Die)" identify her as a writer of real wit as well as hard hitting observation. Her use of prose could easily see her stand alongside some of the literary greats of her Irish home, with the added ability to condense it into a four minute song. This is an album of short stories, some real, some fairy, all brilliantly sung and delightfully accompanied.
Album:Passenger
Label:Hoop
Website:http://www.lisahannighan.ie
"Passenger" is the album that establishes Lisa Hannigan as a major force in songwriting. It's predecessor, "Sea Sew" hinted as much, but we now have the confirmation. Songs like "Safe Travels, (Don't Die)" identify her as a writer of real wit as well as hard hitting observation. Her use of prose could easily see her stand alongside some of the literary greats of her Irish home, with the added ability to condense it into a four minute song. This is an album of short stories, some real, some fairy, all brilliantly sung and delightfully accompanied.
Sultans Of String
Album:Move
Label:Self Released
Website:http://www.sultansofstring.com
With the support of a number of Canadian arts bodies, the Sultans Of String return with their third album, "Move". It's an album of dexterous instrumental interplays that fuse the music of the Iberian Penninsular with more of a jazz current. The five piece are joined by a number of guests on the album, bringing distinction to the appropriate trac, particularly where the guest brings vocal to an otherwise instrumental album. This is an album that has a real sense of synchopation, it captures a sophisticated pallet and creates a relaxed mood to enjoy it in.
Album:Move
Label:Self Released
Website:http://www.sultansofstring.com
With the support of a number of Canadian arts bodies, the Sultans Of String return with their third album, "Move". It's an album of dexterous instrumental interplays that fuse the music of the Iberian Penninsular with more of a jazz current. The five piece are joined by a number of guests on the album, bringing distinction to the appropriate trac, particularly where the guest brings vocal to an otherwise instrumental album. This is an album that has a real sense of synchopation, it captures a sophisticated pallet and creates a relaxed mood to enjoy it in.
Brendan Monaghan
Album:Flicker Of Hope
Label:Brambus
Website:http://www.brendanmonaghan.com
If "Flicker Of Hope" had been credited to The Brendan Monaghan Showband, rather than simply Brendan Monaghan, I wouldn't have been surprised as you can feel it's roots in that tradition as surely as you can feel the wind on your face and it's no bad thing. You rarely get to listen to big bands these days, especially those with an acoustic pop feel and an Irish accent. The sound has been updated and feels contemporary and off the now, but can bring a sparkling past with it. The result a highly entertaining album that feels like you can let your hair down to.
Album:Flicker Of Hope
Label:Brambus
Website:http://www.brendanmonaghan.com
If "Flicker Of Hope" had been credited to The Brendan Monaghan Showband, rather than simply Brendan Monaghan, I wouldn't have been surprised as you can feel it's roots in that tradition as surely as you can feel the wind on your face and it's no bad thing. You rarely get to listen to big bands these days, especially those with an acoustic pop feel and an Irish accent. The sound has been updated and feels contemporary and off the now, but can bring a sparkling past with it. The result a highly entertaining album that feels like you can let your hair down to.
The Hot Seats
Album:Live
Label:Self Released
Website:http://www.thehotseats.net
Virginians, The Hot Shots, were touring the UK back in the Summer, I didn't manage to catch them, unfortunately, but if their live shows are anything like their "Live" album, I can't help but feel that I've missed out on a well worthy experience. This is old timey/mountain music as it should be, rough and ready harmonies, loose around the edges, slightly off centre and with tongue occasionally lodged firmly in cheek and great playing. Recorded at Ashland Coffee & Tea back in April, this is an album that really kicks and seems at odds with the name of it's place of origin. Pass the moonshine,
Album:Live
Label:Self Released
Website:http://www.thehotseats.net
Virginians, The Hot Shots, were touring the UK back in the Summer, I didn't manage to catch them, unfortunately, but if their live shows are anything like their "Live" album, I can't help but feel that I've missed out on a well worthy experience. This is old timey/mountain music as it should be, rough and ready harmonies, loose around the edges, slightly off centre and with tongue occasionally lodged firmly in cheek and great playing. Recorded at Ashland Coffee & Tea back in April, this is an album that really kicks and seems at odds with the name of it's place of origin. Pass the moonshine,
Mièle
Album:Le Jour Et La Nuit
Label:Folkwit
Website:http://www.folkwit.com/artists/miele
Belgian indie pop trio Mièle return after a four year absence and show that they have lost none of their sophisiticated French pop sensibilities whilst they've been out of the studio. Sung entirely in French with vocals shared between Stéphane Daubersy and Catherine De Biasio, "Le Jour Et La Nuit" sounds like passionate rage running up against a shrug of the shoulders. They even find some time for a bit of Hallidayesque rock 'n' roll. Elegant melodies and bittersweet harmonies give the album a real cachè that I'm not sure it would have if translated.
Album:Le Jour Et La Nuit
Label:Folkwit
Website:http://www.folkwit.com/artists/miele
Belgian indie pop trio Mièle return after a four year absence and show that they have lost none of their sophisiticated French pop sensibilities whilst they've been out of the studio. Sung entirely in French with vocals shared between Stéphane Daubersy and Catherine De Biasio, "Le Jour Et La Nuit" sounds like passionate rage running up against a shrug of the shoulders. They even find some time for a bit of Hallidayesque rock 'n' roll. Elegant melodies and bittersweet harmonies give the album a real cachè that I'm not sure it would have if translated.
David Youngs
Album:Transcience
Label:Self Released
Website:http://www.davidyoungs.net
With the tragic death of Bert Jansch this year, there's a gap for an acoustic guitar, finger picking styled predominently folk guitarist and David Youngs might be just the man to pick up the mantle. He's not there yet, but on this showing, you can feel the potential. Based in the Cambridge area and to date having mainly played in that region, "Transcience" is the album to seek out wider recognition and on this showing, I can't see it long in coming. I'm not an expert on guitar tunings, but there is some almost Arabesque that gets slipped into the mix on a couple of tunes.
Album:Transcience
Label:Self Released
Website:http://www.davidyoungs.net
With the tragic death of Bert Jansch this year, there's a gap for an acoustic guitar, finger picking styled predominently folk guitarist and David Youngs might be just the man to pick up the mantle. He's not there yet, but on this showing, you can feel the potential. Based in the Cambridge area and to date having mainly played in that region, "Transcience" is the album to seek out wider recognition and on this showing, I can't see it long in coming. I'm not an expert on guitar tunings, but there is some almost Arabesque that gets slipped into the mix on a couple of tunes.
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Circus Envy
Gavin Adam Wood
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Jerry Leger
The Thinking Men
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