rescuing musical virtue in distress.
Writing about instrumental music is quite an intriguing process. In the absence of lyrics, the meaning and nature of the music have to come from interpreting the feelings and emotion found at the heart of the music itself. But then, it is the same challenge that faces the person making the music, that of wordless... Continue Reading →
Having decided to drip-feed out his latest batch songs in the form of three ep's, all themed towards certain aspects of life and humanity, reflection and hope, following hot on the heels of Love… and Life… Byorn Gold now presents us with People In Hindsight, the last sonic segment in the series. His approach to... Continue Reading →
Any song worth its salt is worth revisiting, re-imagining and giving a new lease of life. And that is exactly what Philip Parfitt has done with this four-track ep, John Clare. As a means of passing the song through a creative filter, each version found here matches one of the sacred days of the pre-Christian... Continue Reading →
If opener, Start Again, is a fantastic representation of where Dave Tate is coming from musically speaking, much of The Adventure is about where he is going. This first sonic salvo, a soft and sensuously delivered minimalist ballad, is of the sort that his existing fans will be familiar with but a lot of what... Continue Reading →
Timberline might make music that is essentially a voice and a guitar, but it is what he (they?) does (do?) within that framework that makes Florescence stand out from the usual gap-year troubadours with their wide-brimmed hats, black stretch jeans and working knowledge of A minor. There is something in the delivery and production of... Continue Reading →
Music is made for many reasons. Often, it is made to entertain, as a means of escape, to be throwaway, frivolous and fun. But it can also inform, celebrate, spread a message and serve a higher purpose. It is to the latter purposes that To All Who Serve dedicates itself, standing as a tribute to... Continue Reading →
The new album by UK guitarist Chris Flegg can be summed up in three very simple words, Solo Acoustic Guitar. If those words are enough to make you skip to the next item on your agenda, well cheerio, it was nice having you visit. Good luck with the rest of your day. But if that... Continue Reading →
Splitstep's latest release, Never Notice, dances delicately across any number of genres, stepping lightly on everything from upbeat acoustica, understated pop-rock, funky grooves and breezy brass, the latter courtesy of Westword Music Award-winning Guerrilla Fanfare Brass Band. And in a world where you seem to trip over singer-songwriters everywhere you go, Splitstep offers something more... Continue Reading →
If this is the modern face of folk music, and I'm sure it is, then I'm on board. Blending traditional folk and singer-songwriter vibes with something more indie, more polished, Stand Aside is a cool mix of understatement and accessibility, grace and groove. Essentially a voice and guitar, there is a richness that comes from... Continue Reading →
If folk music is about depth and delicacy and indie music excels at accessibility and infectiousness, then it is safe to say that I Don't Want To Stay, the debut release from Jeremy Engel, walks a perfect line between the two camps. The folk vibes are perfect for such a sensitive song. On the surface,... Continue Reading →
We may live in a world where artists seem to think only as far as the next release, hopping from one event to the next, where the single is king and music seems fleeting and transient, but there are still some who think in more overarching terms. Byorn Gold is one of those people. His latest release,... Continue Reading →
Based around understated folk guitars, gentle vocals and just the merest hint of more ambient and indie sonics to help create a wonderfully fluid platform behind them, Shining Out is a master class in getting to the very essence of a song. There are songs full of delicacy and grace, such as the carefully crafted... Continue Reading →
It is fair to say that the word "eclectic" and the name Dick Aven belong in the same sentence. In fact, one should never be allowed to leave the house without the other close by and this fantastic album proves my case beyond any doubt. It also makes another important point. Eclectic isn't the same... Continue Reading →
Jeff Engholm is known for a variety of reasons. He is an aclaimed jazz and rock bassist, is known for recreating the iconic sonic majesty of classic bands and their most famous albums from The Eagles to The Beatles to Wings and more besides. He can be found playing with The Collective Unconcious and he... Continue Reading →
There is plenty to be found on this tasteful album from Paul Nourigat that echoes the sound of the classic American songbook and the golden age of the singer-songwriter. Hints of the poetic philosophies that sat at the heart of the songs of James Taylor or the folk fusions of people like Jackson Browne are... Continue Reading →
Greg Smith has charmed us with deft and delicate singles for a while now, so a full-length album from him is the perfect way to spend more time appreciating his skills. And Redemption Road is a very skillful offering indeed. He cuts his songs from just the right amount of sonic material, lush acoustic guitars... Continue Reading →
Blending the sonic traits of the folk troubadour, the accessibility of the acoustic pop perpetrator and the authenticity of the singer-songwriter, N/SH makes music that is both perfect for today but which echoes with the sounds of the past too. It is a sound that is folk driven but like the music of so many... Continue Reading →
There are probably few people who have remained unaffected by the Lockdown and the chaos that it ushered in. None more so than TV Smith who had to abandon a run of fifty or so gigs across Germany in some of the biggest venues of his career to date. So what do you do when... Continue Reading →
I guess that with the popularity of comic book heroes these days it wasn't going to be long before a figure such as Covidman found its way into the current zeitgeist. Batman is there to battle Gotham City’s underworld and Captain America the enemies of that nation, so why not an anti-pandemic superhero to fight... Continue Reading →
If Charlotte Grayson's wonderfully reflective and drifting cover of The Pretenders' 2000 Miles was the perfect song to round last year off, Coffee is the perfect high and perky note with which to start the new one. A return to her trademark, upbeat acoustic pop, its infectious groove and positive vibe belies the message that... Continue Reading →
Not so long ago the haunting sound of I Want More by Silverback Colony found its way to me, a dark and drifting, innovative and imploring musical slice, unexpected and brilliant. Gabriel Douglas, the captain of that particular sonic ship, returns, again aided and abetted by Kai Brewster, for a full album under his own... Continue Reading →
Guitars and harmonicas have to be the most natural of sonic travelling companions, so much so that a whole series of genres, from blues to country to rock and roll, have used it as a springboard to make sweet music and so grab the attention of the music masses. And as Rory D’Lasnow fires off... Continue Reading →
It’s been a while since any new music from George Wilding popped up on the radar. That might be due to my tardy ways, or possibly his, let’s just say that its been that sort of a year and leave it at that. You Do You gets to the heart of what George is really... Continue Reading →
You could say that the job of a storyteller, a real storyteller, whether they are an author, musician, poet, artist, whatever, is to soak up life, act as a sponge, a repository for narratives and tales, events and anecdotes, to travel the world really getting to the heart of the human experience. How can your... Continue Reading →
What’s this? A dulcet and delicate slice of considered acoustic pop from Mr McD? Tish. Tish. Tish. Tish. Boom! Ahh..there it is and were off down a more punky-acoustic-frantic-folky-rant-a-thon…and why not? He does it so well. But even when he is letting off steam in such a raw and raucous fashion, the music is never... Continue Reading →
We know that JD Days has the ability to wander all over the sonic spectrum, taking in all manner of influences and hopping between numerous musical genres, from folky acoustica to indie groovers to rap-infused dance-pop. But I feel that in his heart he is an old-school acoustic balladeer, a hopeless romantic who loves nothing... Continue Reading →
Bacitracin is one of those raggedy records which sits in that odd and wonderful world of the modern troubadour. Purchla is a story-teller, someone who deals with messages and missions, passion and poignancy, who understands the power of emotion and heart-string tugging balladry. Too many people, especially, in the modern age of TV wannabes, style... Continue Reading →
This latest slice of sonic seduction from Jim Chorley lands as a timely reminder of the very nature of the human condition. People need people. Simple. We need them to lean on and to laugh with, they energise us and revive us, they help us forget our problems and, if needs be, share some of... Continue Reading →
There has always been a social and political undercurrent to My Politic’s songs. Stories as songs, narratives about family and traditions, the working man, tales of the home, the hearth, of hope and reflection and the American spirit all wound into gentle mythologies and relatable histories. But something has changed for My Politic since 2017’s... Continue Reading →
Arriving with perfect timing, this latest musical missive from Laslow Simplex, might seem like a simple song but its straightforward and fairly unsophisticated sonic lines, and I mean that in the nicest possible of ways, underplay the poignancy and potency of the message that it carries. Many people have made music of late ranting against... Continue Reading →
