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Releases
Ane Brun
Album:It All Starts With One (Deluxe)
Label:Balloon Ranger
Website:http://www.anebrun.com
Sometimes marketing departments should be shot. "It All Starts With One (Deluxe)" is a fantastic album. It adds a second cd to the already strong original album, so why not just release it as another album. If it's good enough and it is, people will buy it, fans will be aware of it, fans that is who might have bought the original album. So you might get a second sale, but you would have any way. The eight new tracks are more stripped back, more raw. It gives Ane Brun's mezzo voice more room to wrap around you, draw you in and then kiss and caress or drive in the knife, beautiful.
Album:It All Starts With One (Deluxe)
Label:Balloon Ranger
Website:http://www.anebrun.com
Sometimes marketing departments should be shot. "It All Starts With One (Deluxe)" is a fantastic album. It adds a second cd to the already strong original album, so why not just release it as another album. If it's good enough and it is, people will buy it, fans will be aware of it, fans that is who might have bought the original album. So you might get a second sale, but you would have any way. The eight new tracks are more stripped back, more raw. It gives Ane Brun's mezzo voice more room to wrap around you, draw you in and then kiss and caress or drive in the knife, beautiful.
Tomos Lewis
EP:Four Songs
Label:Still Small Voice
Website:http://tomoslewis.com
You can't fault Tomos Lewis for accuracy, "Four Songs" is says in the title and four songs is what you get. Fortunately there's a lot more imagination shown in the songs and their performance than in the EP. He's part of the talented wave of acts coming out of Wales at the moment and seems to have found a hook laden style, that has a mellowness to it, but also a burning fiery heart that seems to flow through the fretboard on his guitar. I was shocked to discover that this is his debut release. He's definitely a man that we should be hearing more from and of.
EP:Four Songs
Label:Still Small Voice
Website:http://tomoslewis.com
You can't fault Tomos Lewis for accuracy, "Four Songs" is says in the title and four songs is what you get. Fortunately there's a lot more imagination shown in the songs and their performance than in the EP. He's part of the talented wave of acts coming out of Wales at the moment and seems to have found a hook laden style, that has a mellowness to it, but also a burning fiery heart that seems to flow through the fretboard on his guitar. I was shocked to discover that this is his debut release. He's definitely a man that we should be hearing more from and of.
Moulettes
EP:Sing Unto Me
Label:Balling The Jack
Website:http://www.moulettes.co.uk
"Sing Unto Me" is the first single off the forthcoming album "The Bear's Revenge", but with the exception of the lead track, is very much a separate entity, hoorah! If it's any indication four the album, it's going to be rich in dark harmonies, especially after the addition of another vocalist, Faye, bringing the band up to eight, but somehow the ep also manages to sound a little bit breezier, a bit more up beat. Without a doubt it's the vocals that sit at the core of this release, working away at intelligent lyrics and arrangements, packing the release with real zest.
EP:Sing Unto Me
Label:Balling The Jack
Website:http://www.moulettes.co.uk
"Sing Unto Me" is the first single off the forthcoming album "The Bear's Revenge", but with the exception of the lead track, is very much a separate entity, hoorah! If it's any indication four the album, it's going to be rich in dark harmonies, especially after the addition of another vocalist, Faye, bringing the band up to eight, but somehow the ep also manages to sound a little bit breezier, a bit more up beat. Without a doubt it's the vocals that sit at the core of this release, working away at intelligent lyrics and arrangements, packing the release with real zest.
Silkwinders
EP:Song For The Night
Label:Treetops
Website:http://silkwinders.bandcamp.com
Seeing the name Les King on a release is normally a guarantee of an intelligently thought out series of songs and whilst he doesn't seem to get enough albums, his EP history top draw. Silkwinders sees him linking up with Andrea Webster for four harmony rich songs that could have been recorded at any time in the last forty years, such is their timeless quality. Michael Aldridge comes along on bass and provides some subtle and enhancing touches. This is acoustic pop at it's finest, thought provoking and charming, delicate, yet as hard as nails.
EP:Song For The Night
Label:Treetops
Website:http://silkwinders.bandcamp.com
Seeing the name Les King on a release is normally a guarantee of an intelligently thought out series of songs and whilst he doesn't seem to get enough albums, his EP history top draw. Silkwinders sees him linking up with Andrea Webster for four harmony rich songs that could have been recorded at any time in the last forty years, such is their timeless quality. Michael Aldridge comes along on bass and provides some subtle and enhancing touches. This is acoustic pop at it's finest, thought provoking and charming, delicate, yet as hard as nails.
Schiralli
Single:The Clearing
Label:Woodtiger
Website:http://schiralli.net/
Italian born and London raised, a solid underground following in France, where she has released a debut album of sorts, Schiralli picks up on the tradition of highly sophisticated pop/rock that seems to accompany such a cosmopolitan upbringing. "The Clearing" preceeds an as yet un-named uk debut that won't be the same as the French release, regardless, this smacks of quality, both vocally and in the arrangement and promise and leaves me looking forward to the album with some relish
Single:The Clearing
Label:Woodtiger
Website:http://schiralli.net/
Italian born and London raised, a solid underground following in France, where she has released a debut album of sorts, Schiralli picks up on the tradition of highly sophisticated pop/rock that seems to accompany such a cosmopolitan upbringing. "The Clearing" preceeds an as yet un-named uk debut that won't be the same as the French release, regardless, this smacks of quality, both vocally and in the arrangement and promise and leaves me looking forward to the album with some relish
In Fear Of Olive
EP:Saluting Magpies
Label:Wire Sound
Website:http://ifoo.get-ctrl.com
The magpie is a strange bird in folklore, not white enough to be good, not dark enough to represent evil, so "Saluting Magpies" is a safe thing to do. Not when you're In Fear Of Olive, you don't attract the praise of the likes of Richard Hawley by being safe. The band draw on American roots influences that sometimes hit on the rockabilly sound that made sun records the label it was. It's hard and at times furious in sound and temperment. One to doff your cap to.
EP:Saluting Magpies
Label:Wire Sound
Website:http://ifoo.get-ctrl.com
The magpie is a strange bird in folklore, not white enough to be good, not dark enough to represent evil, so "Saluting Magpies" is a safe thing to do. Not when you're In Fear Of Olive, you don't attract the praise of the likes of Richard Hawley by being safe. The band draw on American roots influences that sometimes hit on the rockabilly sound that made sun records the label it was. It's hard and at times furious in sound and temperment. One to doff your cap to.
My Darling Clementine
Album:How Do You Plead?
Label:Drumfire
Website:http://www.drumfirerecords.com/my-darling-clementine.html
The Good Sons' Michael Weston King and his partner Lou Dagleish have joined forces to form Oh My Darling Clementine. Their debut CD How Do You Plead, sounds like it has come straight out of the 1960s. Backed by some great musicians; Martin Belmont on guitar and Geraint Watkins on piano and organ, the music brings to mind such greats as June and Johnny Cash. Standout tracks include 10,000 Words and By a Thread, although all in all it is a very strong album. Well worth a listen for a trip back in time along the country music highway. (HM)
Album:How Do You Plead?
Label:Drumfire
Website:http://www.drumfirerecords.com/my-darling-clementine.html
The Good Sons' Michael Weston King and his partner Lou Dagleish have joined forces to form Oh My Darling Clementine. Their debut CD How Do You Plead, sounds like it has come straight out of the 1960s. Backed by some great musicians; Martin Belmont on guitar and Geraint Watkins on piano and organ, the music brings to mind such greats as June and Johnny Cash. Standout tracks include 10,000 Words and By a Thread, although all in all it is a very strong album. Well worth a listen for a trip back in time along the country music highway. (HM)
Maz Totterdell
Album:Sweep
Label:Series 8
Website:http://www.myspace.com/mariannetotterdell
Maz Toterdell comes from Devon, England and remarkably, is still only 15 years old. Counting My Fingers is already a Radio 2 favourite. What is immediately striking is that despite her youth, she has found a style that is very much her own. Standout tracks on the CD include Kaleidoscope, with wonderful violin backing, Willow (Angel Child) and Delirious. In addditon, Maz proves to be a rather wonderful guitarist. Considering her age and that this is her debut CD, I am very interested to see where she goes from here, on what can be a very twisty road. (HM)
Album:Sweep
Label:Series 8
Website:http://www.myspace.com/mariannetotterdell
Maz Toterdell comes from Devon, England and remarkably, is still only 15 years old. Counting My Fingers is already a Radio 2 favourite. What is immediately striking is that despite her youth, she has found a style that is very much her own. Standout tracks on the CD include Kaleidoscope, with wonderful violin backing, Willow (Angel Child) and Delirious. In addditon, Maz proves to be a rather wonderful guitarist. Considering her age and that this is her debut CD, I am very interested to see where she goes from here, on what can be a very twisty road. (HM)
Murray McLauchlan
Album:Rumours Of Summer
Label:True North
Website:http://www.myspace.com/murraymclauchlan
Murray Mclaughlan has been making music for over twenty five years. On Human Writes, McLauchlan, who plays acoustic guitar and piano, is joined on the album by a mighty talented group of musicians: Victor Bateman on upright bass, Dennis Pendrith on electric bass, Burke Carrol on steel guitar and dobro, and Duncan Mclaughlan, his son, on valve trombone. Songs which particularly stood out for me, include Run Away to the Sea, Sad Time, Painting Floors and Almost Constantly Confused. In this day and age, the latter possibly describes most of us. Well worth a listen. (HM)
Album:Rumours Of Summer
Label:True North
Website:http://www.myspace.com/murraymclauchlan
Murray Mclaughlan has been making music for over twenty five years. On Human Writes, McLauchlan, who plays acoustic guitar and piano, is joined on the album by a mighty talented group of musicians: Victor Bateman on upright bass, Dennis Pendrith on electric bass, Burke Carrol on steel guitar and dobro, and Duncan Mclaughlan, his son, on valve trombone. Songs which particularly stood out for me, include Run Away to the Sea, Sad Time, Painting Floors and Almost Constantly Confused. In this day and age, the latter possibly describes most of us. Well worth a listen. (HM)
Judie Tzuke
Album:One Tree Less
Label:Self Released
Website:http://www.robpennington.co.uk
One Tree Less comes a year after Judie Tzuke's Moon on a Mirrorball, her retrospective album, covering some 35 years of making music. The artwork, I have to say, is simple, but gorgeous; befitting of a CD whose sound and production can only be described as simple but gorgeous, too. Yes, the voice has changed, but it has retained that distinctive sound and an emotional undertone. The accompaniment throughout is subtle and intuitive, it adds to Tzuke's vocals, without taking attention away from them. Her eldest daughter, Bailey, adds background vocals, to great effect. (HM)
Album:One Tree Less
Label:Self Released
Website:http://www.robpennington.co.uk
One Tree Less comes a year after Judie Tzuke's Moon on a Mirrorball, her retrospective album, covering some 35 years of making music. The artwork, I have to say, is simple, but gorgeous; befitting of a CD whose sound and production can only be described as simple but gorgeous, too. Yes, the voice has changed, but it has retained that distinctive sound and an emotional undertone. The accompaniment throughout is subtle and intuitive, it adds to Tzuke's vocals, without taking attention away from them. Her eldest daughter, Bailey, adds background vocals, to great effect. (HM)
The Cactus Blossoms
Album:The Cactus Blossoms
Label:Self Released
Website:http://www.thecactusblossoms.com/
I had never heard of the Cactus Blossoms, but was immediately intrigued. They are sibling duo Jack Torrey and Page Burkum from Minneapolis and for the CD they are backed by additional talented musicians; Mike (Razz) Russell on fiddle, Liz Drapier on upright bass and Randy Broughten on steel guitar and dobro. With the exception of of Blue Railroad Train, by A.Delmore and Lost John Dean, which is traditional, all songs are written by Torrey or Burkum. Immediately striking is how accurately they capture the sound of traditional honkytonk. Epic. (HM)
Album:The Cactus Blossoms
Label:Self Released
Website:http://www.thecactusblossoms.com/
I had never heard of the Cactus Blossoms, but was immediately intrigued. They are sibling duo Jack Torrey and Page Burkum from Minneapolis and for the CD they are backed by additional talented musicians; Mike (Razz) Russell on fiddle, Liz Drapier on upright bass and Randy Broughten on steel guitar and dobro. With the exception of of Blue Railroad Train, by A.Delmore and Lost John Dean, which is traditional, all songs are written by Torrey or Burkum. Immediately striking is how accurately they capture the sound of traditional honkytonk. Epic. (HM)
Woody Pines
EP:You Gotta Roll
Label:Self Released
Website:http://www.nicktann.co.uk
Woody Pines' new six track EP, You Gotta Roll, will be available on their UK tour in April and May. I love the simplicity of the artwork. The EP was recorded 'out in the sticks' at Peachfork Studios in Ohio and features two traditional songs, a Hank Williams cover, a Leadbelly song and one by Doc Boggs. Quite and eclectic mix yet somehow it works. There is excellent musicianship throughout from Woody, Lyon Graulty, Zack Pozebanchuk and Mike Gray. The Hank Williams cover is the standout track for me. Old style country indeed. (HM)
EP:You Gotta Roll
Label:Self Released
Website:http://www.nicktann.co.uk
Woody Pines' new six track EP, You Gotta Roll, will be available on their UK tour in April and May. I love the simplicity of the artwork. The EP was recorded 'out in the sticks' at Peachfork Studios in Ohio and features two traditional songs, a Hank Williams cover, a Leadbelly song and one by Doc Boggs. Quite and eclectic mix yet somehow it works. There is excellent musicianship throughout from Woody, Lyon Graulty, Zack Pozebanchuk and Mike Gray. The Hank Williams cover is the standout track for me. Old style country indeed. (HM)
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