POSTS TAGGED : Martha Ffion

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:


Martha Ffion – ‘Kennedy Hair’

3a41a3c6685a9e9cd2cf51b34765908570fb4bf0

Last year, Martha Ffion released my favourite record of 2018 with her long-awaited debut LP Sunday Best; a beautiful record filled with gleaming guitar-pop, wistful-ballads, swooning sixties inspired indie-pop and touches of folk & country.

The Irish-born, Glasgow-based singer-songwriter is back with a wonderful new single ‘Kennedy Hair’; a super catchy slice of bittersweet indie-pop. Working with the excellent Lost Map Records again, ‘Kennedy Hair’ the first release in the label’s brand new PostMap Club – a series of postcard releases and other exclusives – references It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia while critiquing post-Brexit politics. As evidenced throughout her debut, Ffion’s prowess for observation is second to none. Lyrically she is clever, witty, and often times a sharp tongued, while her ear for a melody is only rivalled by her powers for observation, making for an incredibly infectious, lush and beautiful song. A phenomenally catchy slice of swooning, bittersweet indie-pop, it will be bobbing around your head all day, and you will be all the better for it.

Listen to ‘Kennedy Hair’ below and find you more about PostMap Club here.

Martha Ffion also appeared on the latest episode of NPR’s ‘World Cafe’ for music and a chat, you listen to that here too.

Martha Ffion – ‘Take Your Name’

hsdgfdfgffdgdasdfd

Irish-born, Glasgow-based singer-songwriter, Martha Ffion has announced she will releasing her long-awaited debut LP Sunday Best on March 9, via excellent Welsh indie-label Turnstile Music.

Previewing the forthcoming record. Ffion released ‘We Make Do’ in December of last year and has followed it with the similarly wonderful ‘Take Your Name’. It is two-and-a-half minutes of gleaming guitar-pop that drifts between soft-centered balladry, lush instrumentation and something altogether more cutting and purposeful. As ever, Martha Ffion’s detailed lyrical vision to life flourishes with her beautiful honeyed vocals, hovering gently above and adding another layer of glowing allure. A beautifully crafted a wonderful and compelling indie-pop gem, ‘Take Your Name’ has a touch of Tennis-esque exquisiteness in the swooning sixties inspired indie-pop stakes – utterly infectious and utterly irresistible.

Watch the video for ‘Take Your Name’ below and keep your eyes peeled for Sunday Best, its out on March 9.

Martha Ffion Announces Debut LP; Shares ‘We Make Do’

000036-852x550

Irish-born, Glasgow-based singer-songwriter, Martha Ffion is set to release her debut LP Sunday Best early next year, through exceptional Welsh indie-label Turnstile Music.

Last we heard from Ffion was with wonderful debut EP, Trip about this time last year but she’s broken the silence with this album news which is accompanied by new, and lead single, ‘We Make Do’. It is a melodic piano-led pop song with a slight ’60s twist, as lush instrumentation combines with soft shakers, piano melodies and mellow acoustic guitars to create gentle surroundings for Ffion’s utterly compelling vocals; delivering detailed and uplifting lyrics. As ever, Martha Ffion beautifully crafted a wonderful, compelling and memorable song – delivered with aplomb. It is both familiar and warm; akin to being perched in front a glowing fire on the coldest of winter’s eves or an embrace from a cherished old friend.

You can listen to ‘We Make Do’ below – and keep an eye out for the LP in the new year – it promises to be a rather wonderful record.

Martha Ffion To Release Debut EP ‘Trip’ In October

marth_ffion_sept16

Irish-born, Glasgow-based singer-songwriter, Martha Ffion is set to release her debut EP, Trip, next month through Turnstile Music.

The record, which will include the previously released and sublime singles ‘Wallflower’ and ‘We Disappear’, is due to be with us on October 14. We’ve been keeping tabs on Ffion for a while now and the young singer-songwriter hasn’t put a foot wrong, nay, she has impressed at every opportunity. If you’re in need of any reassurances to why this impending EP is wonderful news, perhaps take ‘Wallflower’ as a gauge of the delightful sounds Ffion whisks up. Coated in a light sparing, wash of reverb and an infectious use of melody, ‘Wallflower’ is shimmering guitar pop with a slight ’60s twist. Imbued with forlorn sense of melancholic longing, her powerful croon cuts through it’s gentle surroundings, followed closely by a tougher, grittier and meatier guitar-line. There is something compelling in the way Ffion sings, heavily invested emotionally, what she is saying, needs to be heard. Undeniably infectious, and just one reason to look forward to Martha Ffion’s debut EP.

You can check out ‘Wallflower’ & a stripped-back version of ‘We Disappear’ below. Ffion’s debut EP Trip is out on October 14 via Turnstile and she’s announced a load of UK live dates for October too – check them here.

Martha Ffion – ‘We Disappear’

MarthaFfonMed-1024x684

‘We Disappear’ is the brand new single from Irish-born, Glasgow-based singer-songwriter, Martha Ffion.

Ffion’s third release through respected indie label Turnstile (Gruff Rhys, Cate Le Bon, Drinks etc.), in three minutes it sums up what has made her work so endearing thus far. Inspired by her adopted hometown of Glasgow, it’s a gentle and relaxed jangle, coated in a light sparing, wash of reverb, with her powerful croon cutting through the tender surroundings. There is something utterly compelling in the way Ffion sings, heavily invested emotionally, what she is saying, needs to be heard. A touching ode to Glasgow, it is undeniably a spellbinding experience, ‘We Disappear’ further cements Martha Ffion’s ever-growing rep.

‘We Disappear’ is out now and you can listen/watch it below.

 

Martha Ffion – ‘ Wallflower’

Martha-Ffion

Irish-born, Glasgow-based singer-songwriter, Martha Ffion has shared new single ‘Wallflower’.

‘Wallflower’ is her second single released through very respected indie label Turnstile (Gruff Rhys, Cate Le Bon, Drinks etc.), and she’s ready to kick off 2016 in style. Following on from her previous releases, it is shimmering guitar pop with a slight 60s twist. Coated in a light sparing, wash of reverb and an infectious use of melody, it reminds us what has made her work so endearing thus far. Imbued with forlorn sense of melancholic longing, her powerful croon cuts through it’s gentle surroundings, followed closely by a tougher, grittier and meatier guitar-line. There is something compelling in the way Ffion sings, heavily invested emotionally, what she is saying, needs to be heard. Undeniably infectious, ‘Wallflower’ further cements Martha Ffion rep.

You can check out ‘Wallflower’ below and if that is to your liking, why not check out her fantastic back-catalogue here. There are some UK live dates after the jump, too.

Continue reading →

BarryGruff Playlist October 2015

October 2015

A now regular monthly feature, whereby we round up all the blog action with a nice, neat and handy playlist of tracks featured during the month.

October was another busy month. We we’re introduced to Primitive World, Soft Serve, Auramics, Jade Statues, New Pope, Mesa Luna & Silver Matter. There were excellent new singles from Totalitarian, The Statics, Cuinciu, Juice, Martha Ffion & Queen of Jeans. And we had tunes from Field Music, Nancy Leticia & Fold ahead of their respective, new and forthcoming albums. There as also the not so small matter of an interview with Super Furry Animals’ resident electronic and keyboard wizard, Cian Ciaran – read it here.

Oh, and there were two new episodes of ‘Millions Like Us’, Justin Beats & I’s new music podcast extravaganza for 604now (if you missed them, why not check out episodes #3 & #4 here). You can also subscribe to ‘Millions Like Us’ on iTunes & Podcast Republic or find us on Facebook & Twitter.

Well then, that’s that for another month – listen to BarryGruff’s October 2015 playlist below. Enjoy!

 

Martha Ffion – ‘So Long’

IMG_9120

Irish-born, Glasgow-based singer-songwriter, Martha Ffion (full name Claire Martha Ffion McKay) has been making a bit of a name for herself over the past 12 months or so.

Having released her debut EP in 2014, Ffion followed that with double a-side ‘No Applause/Lead Ballons’, the fruits of a collaboration with the irrepressibly magnificent Lost Map Records. Now she has unveiled ‘So Long‘, the first track from her new partnership with very respected indie label Turnstile (Gruff Rhys, Cate Le Bon, Drinks etc.). Recorded with Suse Bear of Tuff Love, ‘So Long‘ demonstrates a more subtle side to Ffion’s talents with less fuzz and crunch than ‘No Applause’. A blissful breeziness is rendered through a healthy and mesmerising combination of jangly guitars, wistful melodies and forlorn, almost detached but alluring pop vocal. All coated in a sparing, but perfect, wash of reverb, ‘So Long‘ is a sheer treat of classic songwriting of the ilk of the Everly Brothers or The Shangri-Las, with a modern dream-pop sheen. An assured, assertive and spellbinding performance from a musician and songwriter who continues to go from strength to strength. No doubt about it, ‘So Long’ is worth savouring.

Check out ‘So Long’ below & it’s out now via iTunes.

BarryGruff Playlist August 2015

BGAUG15

A now regular monthly feature, whereby we round up all the blog action with a nice, neat and handy playlist of tracks featured during the month.

August was pretty damn good! We had new tunes from Anderson, The Foetals, The Annulments and DRINKS ahead of their respective, forthcoming new albums. There were excellent new singles from SALES, Cornershop, Imploded View, Foreign/National and Silverbacks, and EPs from Mr Huw & Dog Legs. Oh, and Johnny Feeney shared his albums of the year so far too.

Also featured on this month’s playlist are great tracks from Martha Ffion, Sh-Shakes, SQRD, BUCK, and Ghost Culture’s, Ghostpoet remix . So, August, pretty good alright.

Listen to BarryGruff’s August 2015 playlist below.