POST CATEGORY : Folk

A.S. Fanning – ‘All Time’

Berlin-based, Dublin-raised, singer/songwriter A.S. Fanning has shared the single ‘All Time’ ahead of the release of new album ‘You Should Go Mad’ on 13 November via Proper Octopus Records.

It is the follow up to Fanning’s 2017 solo debut Second Life and ‘All Time’ indicates a continued evolution of his blend of folk, country and rock & roll, with psych and gothic brushstrokes. Fanning combines these aforementioned sensibilities to create a richly resonant, dark and foreboding backdrop with subtle layers of psychedelic textures and glistening production adding a touch of respite and illumination; illumination for Fanning’s finest attribute, his brilliant songwriting and storytelling abilities, to thrive. His world weary baritone vocal delivers a vivid introspective tale through time and memory for a compelling 7-minutes of rich and powerful emotion.

Listen to ‘All Time’ below now – and You Should Go Mad’ is out on November 13.

Toledo – ‘Challenger’

Brooklyn-based TOLEDO – AKA the pairing of Dan Alvarez and Jordan Dunn –  have kept us well stocked with irresistible, lush and melodic indie-folk delights.

The pair have returned with a new single called ‘Challenger’, which offers yet another delightfully charming slice of understated melodic indie folk sound. ‘Challenger’ is a woozy and heartfelt jam that wanders, chilled & relaxed, song a meandering groove as subtle bassline bubbles beneath a sea of warm shimmering tones and bright dreamy guitars while soft melodic vocals purr breathily above. It builds and builds, slowly and steadily to climax with a rich swell of organ and heart melting emotional pull with its tender vocal imbued and pang of melancholy. ‘Challenger’ is rich and dreamy, and brimming with sweetness and charm, and bewitching us in the process.

Listen to ‘Challenger’ below now – as per usual, TOLEDO don’t disappoint.

ASTER – ‘Unaware Bliss’

ASTER is a singer, songwriter and musician from Glasgow.

Drawing from a deep well of folk, psych, pop and subtle electronica influences, ranging from  the likes of Big Thief, Perfume Genius and Half Waif, ASTER crafts a unique brand of beautiful, expansive, fragile and experimental psych-folk; something born out on new stunning single ‘Unaware Bliss’. It is an exquisite psych-folk daydreamer that whisks us away on a dreamy meditative journey. ‘Unaware Bliss’ meanders gracefully along a blissful groove and swirling, rhythmic psych-folk, and splashes of electronics complete the mesmeric backdrop for ASTER’s bewitching crystalline vocals entrance the listener completely. An elegant, awe-inspiring and charming blend of shimmering psych-folk and glistening electronica – a hazy, soothing and altogether wonderful song.

Listen to ‘Unaware Bliss’ below.

Simen Mitlid – ‘While Heaven Is on Fire’

Norwegian singer-songwriter Simen Mitlid will release his third album – Birds – on October 30, 2020.

Hailing from the woodlands of Os, Mitlidhas a proven a precocious talent for lush, dreamy indie-folk; emphasised by two sublime albums – 2017’s Everything is the Same & 2019’s Neutral.

With the new album’s release not far on the horizon, Mitlid has shared ‘While Heaven Is on Fire’ – a fourth single taken from the forthcoming LP. While previous tasters ‘Weeks’, ‘Birds’ & ‘Murders’ resided in a more traditional folk avenue, ‘While Heaven Is on Fire’ ventures into more electronic territory as rich vocals effects soar above grandiose sweeping strings, gentle strum and warm folk sounds An intricately crafted and sincere, serene and tender indie-folk ballad brimming with heartfelt and tender emotion. Yet another reason to look forward to the release of album #3.

Listen to ‘While Heaven Is on Fire’ below – and if you haven’t already, please check out the previous records.

ONBC – ‘A New England’

Billy Bragg’s ‘A New England’ is not only a stone cold classic but it also happens to be an all time favourite track.

It’s fair to assume that many hold it in similarly high esteem and ‘A New England’ has been well covered by artists over the years but you will be hard pushed to find better than this one by Danish outfit, ONBC (maybe that of Kirsty MacColl). It is one of covers that will make up a new EP, Forty Thousand Tears, out on September 18. Their take on ‘A New England’ is in keeping with their penchant for indie-pop, shoegaze, sadcore and lo-fi country; it is a slowly undulating sliver of dreamy tones and woozy vibes as lush, breathy vocals float elegantly above the ethereal hazy backdrop.It is a simply stunning re-imagining of the rough, raw and stripped back original rendition.

Listen to ‘A New England’ below and keep an eye out for the EP in September. 


Holly Tomás – ‘Unfolded’

Holly Tomás is a musician / singer songwriter based in the Lowlands of Scotland. Originally from Cheshire by way of the Isle of Skye and Edinburgh, Tomás has been plying her craft from the past three decades in which she has traversed a more traditional singer/songwriter approach to recent incarnations which retain the emotional, intimate vocal textures and are woven into downtempo atmospheric soundscapes.

New single ‘Unfolded’ is a perfect example of the latter; a bewitching and ethereal affair, it unfolds slowly, gently introducing itself as bass murmurs, beats slowly groove and hazy dreamlike textures and atmospheric tones swirl all around Tomás’ beautiful and evocative vocals. ‘Unfolded’ is hauntingly evocative and thrillingly propulsive, evoking moods from melancholy to optimism – impeccably crafted and utterly captivating.

Listen to ‘Unfolded’ below:

Simen Mitlid – ‘Murders’

Simen Mitlid is a Norwegian singer-songwriter hailing from the woodlands of Os, has a proven himself a precocious talent for lush, dreamy indie-folk; a statement given great clout by two sublime albums – 2017’s Everything is the Same & 2019’s Neutral.

And not long since ushering the latter into the world, Mitlid is back with delectable offerings from a forthcoming new album Birds. Mitlid shared the beautiful ‘Weeks’ and gorgeous title track, ‘Birds’ earlier this year and now it is the turn of ‘Murders’. It is another carefully crafted and sincere indie-folk ballad. Mitlid’s lilting vocals, serene and tender, rise gracefully above the softly plucked guitar, twinkly tones and gushing haze. It is yet another charming, heartwarming and utterly bewitching slice of indie-folk – Mitlid’s calling card.

Listen to ‘Murders’ below and the new album is expected in the Autumn.

Eoin Dolan – ‘June Hope’

Whenever Galway musician and singer-songwriter Eoin Dolan, one of Ireland’s finest talents as it goes, releases new material it is a great day.

Following on from last year’s Commander of Sapiens – Dolan’s third album to date – new EP June Hope is a gentle, carefully crafted collection of psych-inflected indie-pop. Dolan has a remarkable ability for crafting sci-fi-tinged surf pop, marrying heartbreaking melodies and gentle instrumentation, sadness with beauty and interstellar psych-pop exploration – and this signature sound is all over ‘June Hope’. Breezy, light and thoughtful, it charts a journey from youth to young adulthood through the prism of seasonal change. It is woozy and dreamy as it drifts along a gently waltzing groove flanked by Dolan’s breezy air and twinkly guitar, while radiating a sense of hopeful optimism. As always, Dolan has delivered an absolute treasure.

Listen to the single below and check out the David Boland aka New Pope crafted video – the EP is here too.


Simen Mitlid – ‘Birds’

Simen Mitlid is a Norwegian singer-songwriter hailing from the woodlands of Os, who has a proven precocious talent for lush, dreamy indie-folk.

This assertion is given great weight by two sublime albums – 2017’s Everything is the Same & 2019’s Neutral – and not long since ushering the latter into the world, Mitlid is back offering delectable offerings from a forthcoming new album Birds. Mitlid shared the beautiful Weeks’ earlier in the year and now is the turn of title track, ‘Birds’. A gorgeous acoustic ballad about black metal, skateboarding, life, birthdays, dying and yeah, birds. Mitlid’s lilting vocals, imbued with warmth and tenderness, rises gracefully above the serene  sea of softly plucked guitar and lush choral-esque backing harmonies, as it slowly swells to a stirring and heartfelt crescendo. It is yet another charming, heartwarming and utterly bewitching slice of indie-folk – Mitlid’s calling card.

Listen to ‘Birds’ below and the new album is expected in the Autumn.

Martha Ffion Announces New Album; shares ‘After the Fact’

Glasgow-based Irish singer-songwriter Martha Ffion (aka Claire McKay) has returned with a wonderful new single ‘After the Fact’.

Working with the excellent Lost Map Records again, ‘After the Fact’ is the first taste of from her forthcoming much-anticipated second album Nights to Forget, which will be released on August 14, 2020.

Ffion’s 2018 debut LP Sunday Best is a beautiful record, filled with gleaming guitar-pop, wistful-ballads, swooning sixties inspired indie-pop and touches of folk & country, and being as it was one the finest records of that year, the expectancy levels for its follow-up are set rather high. New single ‘After the Fact’ is magnificent; it is a glorious ray of gleaming indie-pop with an underbelly of melancholy and disquiet. A fractured pop song, Ffion’s honeyed lilting vocal is juxtaposed by the stuttering groove interspersed with angular riffs and stabs of off-kilter guitar, and the results are a glorious. This captures all that is greatest about Martha Ffion’s work in just three-and-a-half-minutes – a marvelous songwriting wrapped with bittersweet indie-pop.

Check out the new single below – and keep the eyes peeled for the new record coming in August: