POST CATEGORY : Folk

ROTATION ROUND-UP #4

Time is becoming increasingly precious and difficult to obtain these days but I still have a grá on me for blogging.

So, this is an attempt cover more of what I am listening to on a regular basis, with a relatively quick roundup of what has been on rotation over the past week or two.

Enjoy!

Adwaith – ‘ETO’

Welsh outfit Adwaith – Hollie Singer, Gwenllian Anthony & Heledd Owen – will release the follow-up to their wonderful and Welsh Music Prize winning debut with new album Bato Mato on July 1st via Libertino Records. The new record is led by ‘ETO’, a soaring evocative guitar driven adventure brimming with confidence and ideas. It is shimmering, evocative, life-affirming and moving, and bursting with open-hearted soaring melody’s and lyrical vulnerability – instantly sweeping us along with this stirring anthem. This is Adwaith at their finest; you will be replaying, again and again, and again.

Many Voices Speak – ‘Within Reach’

Many Voices Speak – the project of Swedish musician Matilda Mård – has announced her return with second album Gestures, released on 29th April 2022 via Strangers Candy.

A master of misty-eyed, melancholic and hazy indie-pop, Many Voices Speak has always found its power in its ability to capture an eternity in an expression; found in abundance on her debut and lead single ‘Within Reach’. A six-minute long reflective slow burn that just brims with beauty, as Mård’s elegant, yearning dream-pop makes the world seem to slow down around it, where time stretches out, and you become totally immersed in it. ‘Within Reach’ showcases Mård’s continued growth as a songwriter, one more comfortable in her own skin.

Komla MC vs Fold – ‘Victoria Falls’

Komla MC vs Fold is the unlikely combination of two expats in Leeds, UK. Hailing from Accra and New York respectively, Rob (Komla MC) and Seth (of the band Fold) were brought together by having kids at the same school and united in their undying love of hip hop. Given that Seth’s work with Hip-Hop/Trip Hop outfit Fold has a rep for funky, groovy and cool sounds, it is no surprise that this delivers a healthy dose of all three pitted with a fun and cheeky sensibility. Hopefully there is more to come from this collab – top marks!

The AM – ‘On Joy Road’

The AM – AKA Ann-Marie Teasley – is a DJ with a penchant for Techno and Electro that started out as a classical violinist in Detroit. The AM is releasing her debut EP Black Majik on March 11, and comes fronted by ‘On Joy Road’; an Electro-influenced jam named after the long, dual-carriageway street that connects the centre of Detroit to Nankin Lake and the enclaves on the city’s west side. It is urgent and intense while simultaneously elegant as a hypnotic spell is spun by frantic up-tempo snappy beats, claps, rippling electronics and winding synths, while a warped vocal sample and woozy flourishes fade in and out of view. A mesmerising and thumping dancefloor ready banger.

Clwb Fuzz – ‘Sertraline’

Cardiff outfit Clwb Fuzz return with new single ‘Sertraline’; a magnificent blaze of fuzzed-up spiralling psychedelic-rock. Burning guitars fuzz, ominous eerie synths and swaying, pendulumic percussion, set the swirling stage for Emily Kocan’s haunting vocals, regaling vivid and sometimes far too real dreams, occurring as a side-effect of taking antidepressants. Unsettling paranoid introspection has never sounded so glorious.

Rotation Round-Up #3

Time is becoming increasingly precious and difficult to obtain these days but I still have a grá on me for blogging.

So, this is an attempt cover more of what I am listening to on a regular basis, with a relatively quick roundup of what has been on rotation over the past week or two.

The aim is to keep them coming on a weekly / biweekly basis or failing that, I may as well pack this malarkey in altogether.

Stephen Durkan – ‘Prayer’

Glaswegian artist Stephen Durkan released his debut EP The Stories We Tell Ourselves About Ourselves last week and ‘Prayer’ is the latest single lifted from it. Less energised and meaty than previous single ‘The Acid Commune’, we find Durkan poetically reflecting on a lack of divine belief as hard-edged, introspective words play out amid muted swathes of downbeat electronica. Like the rest of the EP, ‘Prayer’ will captivate and will have you hooked from the get go. Durkan is a voice worth listening to.

Langkamer – ‘Teeth’

From Bristol in the UK, Langkamer are commonly described as country rockers (the best yet is Avon Americana, serious thumbs up) but they land somewhere between Pavement, Creedence, Wilco and Hooton Tennis Club. Their latest single ‘Teeth’ is undoubtedly a perfect blend of these components, crafting a supremely addictive, smart and contagious sound that is simultaneously familiar and excitingly fresh. There’s a lo-fi aesthetic to the drums and vocals, lending a garage band vibe as a slide guitar bathes ‘Teeth’ with an alt country shade. It is bright, catchy and playful, finding a sweet spot between off-kilter and hooky, it is a vivid and irresistible tune.

Captain Rico and The Ghost Band – ‘Dracula On A Skateboard’

French surf-rock aficionados Captain Rico and the Ghost Band will release their second album Fréquences d’outre-tombe (Rhythms from beyond the grave) on March 4, 2022, which promises 1’1 new instrumental tracks  featuring a kaleidoscope of guitar riffs, from powerful to simply off the wall’. Ahead of the new album, Captain Rico and The Ghost Band has shared lead single ‘Dracula On A Skateboard’. A free flowing and energetic ramble, it has a vintage yet timeless air to it, with serious echoes of 60’s surf sound of The Shadows and Dick Dale as bright, energetic surf guitars and glistening riff thrive over frantic rhythmic groove that hares off at a furious pace from the off. Wonderful.

Maida Rose – ‘Fallen’

Maida Rose is dream-pop pairing of Roos Meijer and Javièr den Leeuw from Dutch seaside city the Hague, and will release their debut LP Tales Of Adolescence on March 25. Ahead of the album, the pair share new single ‘Fallen’ which perfectly captures their prowess for rich and wistful dream-pop. It oozes with nostalgia and a pang of melancholy, as soft vocals purr with feeling and heartstrung melodies hover above a languid meandering groove and soft shimmering guitar. ‘Fallen’ is yet another beautiful and moving single from Maida Rose; the album promises a lot.

RIFLE – ‘Flag’

RIFLE are a North London punk outfit who’s debut EP, Holloway Demos was recorded live and in one take at Storm on Holloway Road, and all for the price of a tube fair. Fronted by blistering single ‘Flag’ – it, like the EP – is a short, sharp shock to the system, the proverbial kick in the bollocks if you like, filled with scintillating guitars played at breakneck speed, over a furious beat, while raspy vocals fight to be heard amid the barrage of noise. A bolt of biting raw punk energy; an absolute tour-de-force.

Mt Fog – ‘One Piece Puzzle’

Seattle-based artist Mt Fog (Carolyn B.) has a flair for merging layers of minimal electronic sounds and haunting vocals to evoke magical spaces, real and imagined, with mesmerizing results.

Mt Fog’s latest album Guide to the Unusual, elaborates on this approach, whisking you on a dark-hued adventure through a world inhabited by imaginary creatures and shadows of a former life and latest single ‘One Piece Puzzle’ offers the perfect intro to this sound. This is utterly stunning; a mid-tempo lullaby leaning synth splashed waltz. Beautifully rich and intoxicating vocals soar through the scales as we are spellbound by wonky psych ripple, hypnotic twinkle, soft beat and sunken waltzing groove while synths flicker and shimmer like sunlight through stained glass. Mt Fog created this album while singing to herself on rainy walks during quarantine. Dreamy, meditative and yet groovy and somewhat danceable, albeit slowly, ‘One Piece Puzzle’ is but one of many that make for a good friend on walks and travels. Magnificent!

Listen to ‘One Piece Puzzle’ below and check out Guide to the Unusual here

koleżanka – ‘In A Meeting’

Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter, guitarist, and producer koleżanka (aka Kristina Moore) is readying the release of her debut LP under this moniker.

koleżanka’s sound is difficult to box-off; there is a flair for offbeat folk, indie and flourishes of pop while co-existing in a space with an equal propensity for psych – but it is captivating and magical, and somewhat hypnotic and playful.

Ahead of the release of Place Is, on July 30 via Bar/None, koleżanka has lifted another single from the record called ‘In A Meeting’, which demonstrates all those aforementioned attributes in abundance. Opening with gentle keys (Casio-esque), soft pattering beats and bubbling bassline. providing a beautiful backdrop for Moore’s cooing melody and lush and beautiful vocals to thrive before swathes of psych enter the fray with frazzled synth and colourful instrumental breakdowns. it is both playful and vulnerable, strange yet comforting, and like the composite sounds, in lesser hands would sound jarring but in Moore’s it is a revelation. ‘In A Meeting’ is weaved together with a boundless versatility, and the moments of musical whimsy probably wouldn’t resonate so much were it not for the moments of melodic sweetness.

Listen to ‘In A Meeting’ below and keep an eye out for the album coming on June 30.

Moon Rituals – ‘Painting A Bird’

Moon Rituals is the project of Melbourne pair Sarah Hardiman (Deaf Wish & Brickhead) and Mikey Young (Eddy Current, The Green Child & Total Control) and together, Hardiman and Young craft playful and melodic psych-splashed pop.

Moon Rituals’ latest venture is new 7″ single ‘Aura’ – a melodic boppy synth-pop jam with an effervescent personality – and backed by playful and meandering b-side ‘Painting A Bird’, and it is the latter that concerns us today. ‘Painting A Bird’ struts along amid a playful melodic air as we are whisked off to a world of offbeat folk with psych brushstrokes. It is brimming with stirring defiance led by Hardiman’s powerful versatile voice that cruises above warm fuzz, meandering off-beat groove as it chimes with a unique musical whimsy. ‘Painting A Bird’ palatability draws from an oddity paired with melodic sweetness – an absolute gem!

Listen to ‘Painting A Bird’ below:


Late Runner – ‘Spring’

Late Runner is the solo project of Danish musician / singer-songwriter Asger Tarpgaard, also known for his work with Superheroes.

Tarpgaard has announced the project with aptly titled single ‘Spring’, which is lifted from what will be Late Runner debut album – out in August via Crunchy Flog. ‘Spring’ is a morose, sweet and beautifully melancholic song. Tarpgaard’s hushed lilting vocals are ever-present in a shimmering world of synths and guitars as his vocals thrive in ever more interesting, beguiling and beautiful environs. At times it is melancholic, nostalgic, playful, colourful, and slightly surreal, we’re treated to a beautiful blend of dreamy and understated electronica, left-field folk, hazy psych and transfixing grooves, and all draped with seductive melodies. A magnificent, unique and truly beautiful track, and one which offers a wonderful introduction to the debut album of a promising new artist.

Listen to ‘Spring’ below – the album is out Friday, 20 August 2021.

Caoilfhionn Rose – ‘Flourish’

Manchester-based singer/songwriter Caoilfhionn Rose came to our attention with her exquisite debut album Awaken in 2018, and has announced plans to release new album Truly on April 9.

Rose’s sound draws from a deep well of folk, psychedelia and subtle electronica influences, ranging from The Mummers, to Rachel Sermanni, Melody’s Echo Chamber and Broadcast, she produces her own unique brand of beautiful, expansive, fragile and experimental psych-folk.
And with the new album on the horizon, Caoilfhionn Rose is back with lead single ‘Flourish’; a rich and intoxicating haze of dreamy psych-folk. Bathed in a lush and woozy haze, Rose’s soothing and tranquil vocals glide elegantly over a lightly strummed guitar, subtle instrumental arrangements and a trickle of keys, creating a mesmerising, ethereal air. ‘Flourish’ is a gorgeous, deeply immersive and dreamy psych-folk gem, and one that completely transfixes from start to finish. ‘Flourish’ expands on where Awaken left off and hints at another superb record.

Listen to ‘Flourish’ below and keep an eye out for ‘Truly’ coming on April 9.

Ffredi Blino – ‘(Take Me Back to) Honolulu’

Ffredi Blino is an Aussie-born, Wales-based singer-songwriter with a penchant for bright, sunny and playful indie-pop; an indulgence born out with great gusto on recently released debut album, The Dishwasher Tapes.

Recorded at home in September and October 2020, the album is an escapist fantasy defined by limitation: a single mic, a creaking Windows Vista laptop and no bandmates. No genre is sacred, these are ten songs loosely bound together by the ever-present sound of the dishwasher, and the creative solutions to overcome the aforementioned limitations.

By way of an introduction, Blino has afforded us the album’s lead single is ‘(Take Me Back to) Honolulu’; a beautiful melting pot of fabulously formed infectious pop. Anchored by a bright guitar strum, this joyous bundle of sunshine tips along a bright strum, bubbling bass and seductive pattering groove while lush breezy vocals flow amid the sunny tones, feelgood vibes and pang for carefree times. It is charming, infectious and dripping with melody, and in all honesty, as perfectly formed a pop song as has ever been crafted.

It is sweet, charming, colourful and playful – an undeniable triumph – don’t just take my word for it, give ‘(Take Me Back to) Honolulu’ a spin below. The Dishwasher Tapes is here too.


Albums of the Year 2020

Compiling music lists is always a nice way to reflect on a year, so in keeping with tradition, here are my favourite records from 2020.

This year I’ve narrowed it down 10 and there is little between them to be honest. Recommendations from readers will be greatly welcomed.

10.Whyte Horses – ‘Hard Times’

Manchester psych-pop outfit Whyte Horses’ latest endeavor continues on from where 2018’s ‘Empty Words’, as they whisk us off to a land of blissful, dreamy psychedelia, sounding both familiar yet fresh. Ostensibly feeling like a mutating shape-shifting pop art project, ‘Hard Times’ feels like a mixtape with a difference. It isn’t just simply selecting tracks, choosing the running order, but  recording and producing a selection of much-loved songs while rounding up some of your favorite artists into the bargain. Sound like fun? That’s exactly what Whyte Horses have pulled off on their third record.

Listen in full here.

09. Aoife Nessa Frances – ‘Land of No Junction’

Aoife Nessa Frances’ debut album ‘Land of No Junction’ draws from an eclectic array of influences – ’60s psych-pop, offbeat folk, orchestral flourishes and flair for avant-garde – which sounds familiar yet fresh, as it meanders through ever shifting scenery that blurs the lines between dreams and reality. Frances’ smoky vocal is a constant and gripping, and no matter the ever changing environs –  waltzing beats, undulating groove,  rippling guitar lines, hypnotic organ hums or swirling psych or hazy blanket of fuzz – it is a voice that shines like a lighthouse amid a dense bank of fog. Land of No Junction is a serene, hypnotic and stunning debut (and one that could have been called Llandudno Junction). 

Listen in full here.

08. Khruangbin – ‘Mordechai’ 

Texan trio Khruangbin – Laura Lee Ochoa (bass), Mark Speer (guitar), and Donald “DJ” Johnson (drums) – are peerless sonic sorcerers and funky force of nature. Borrowing from a world of influences, theirs, and indeed third album  ‘Mordechai’,  is a colourful coming together of different sound, genres, cultures and era; there is funk, soul and hip hop, some Latin, Middle Eastern and Asian influences and a whole lot of beautiful psychedelia. It is an intoxicating brew, built on seductive grooves and mostly cool, calm and chilled vibes, offering either a zen-like sense of peace or funky, hypnotic groovy seduction – or a coming together of both. This is super chill, beautifully addictive and mellow, ‘Moredechai’ is a record to watch the sun go down.

Listen in full here.

07. Silverbacks – ‘Fad’

Irish post-punk outfit Silverbacks long-awaited debut album was worth the wait. Having patiently building a rep with superb single after superb single, there wasn’t too much doubt that ‘Fad’ would live up to its billing. Unspooling the ingredients of their sound is tough; there are touches of post-punk, art-rock, new wave and 90s indie to name but a few as tracks, built around a motorik rhythm and taut groove, rush past with a whirlwind of shifting multi-sensory sound as triple guitars attack. Lyrics are multi-layered and uniquely Silverbacks. There’s is a sound comparable to a place where parts Talking Heads, Television, LCD Soundsystem and Gang of Four can all coexist and flourish. A debut to remember.

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MÊL – ‘Cusco’

‘Cusco’ is the third single from Welsh outfit MÊL and marks their move from being collaborators to a fully formed “proper” band; they are Rhodri Owen, Morgan Jones and George Amor with help from Eryl (Pearl) Jones and contributions from musician/producer Llŷr Pari and poet Geraldine Mac Burney.

Inspired by a trip to the Peruvian city of the same name, ‘Cusco’ was recorded in September, as the freshly liberated outfit emerged from lockdown cabin fever, blinking into the sun. A mash of ’60s-leaning-psychedelia, pastoral folk and freewheeling exploration, ‘Cusco’ opens with a sunken bassline and off-kilter groove ushering us into a mystical atmosphere that feels revelatory and transcendent and as it reveals itself, a mesmeric hypnotic pattern emerges for the hushed and withdrawn vocals to thrive. The slowly plodding, off-kilter bass-line wanders at its own pace as if existing in its own space and time while mingling with hazy guitars that meld into the percussion while mumbling of words babble in the background. Taken separately, these components would make little sense but in tandem they hum sweetly.

‘Cusco’ is a real treat – listen to it below