rescuing musical virtue in distress.
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 →
Some of the best music is found where opposites attract, where genres merge, where worlds collide, musical and otherwise. And that is perhaps what makes Alluring Thorns such a beguiling and endearing prospect. Actually, there is no perhaps about it. It's an elegant and eloquent folk song, one which tips its hat to medieval vibes... Continue Reading →
Both folk and classical, perhaps more than any other styles of music have always been the best at capturing something of the natural world. The former seems in touch with its primal nature, its lore and history, the latter able to use sweeping compositions and grand sonics to describe the natural, and sometimes supernatural, drama... Continue Reading →
For someone who grew up around both traditional folk music and the dreamscaping post punk machinations of the 80’s, Parabola West is the logical and latest point on a musical journey through the sweet spots of my record collection. It links back to the likes of Kate Bush and Bat For Lashes and also rubs... Continue Reading →
It’s reassuring to find Arthur Rivers exactly where I left him last time, kicking off the album with the previously encountered single You’re the Ocean Waves, You’re the Sea. And although this gentle and wonderfully wonky folk creation gives you a hint at the soft textures and delicate treatments that make up the rest of... Continue Reading →
Stick the label “twisted neo-folk’ on something and I’m in. It already ticks three important elements for me. Folk music, or at least that music which beats at the heart of your particular cultural traditions, is where music begins. Someone much older and wiser than me quite rightly pointed out that “all music is folk... Continue Reading →
Coming very much from the acoustic folk tradition, Are You Okay? blends the hallmarks of two of the genres biggest successes. There is something in the song's minimalist beat and of course the gentle harmonica washes, that reminds us of a smoother and more delicate take on His Bobness...The Zimmerman... that’s Mr Dylan to you.... Continue Reading →
As someone who grew up on a mixture of tradition and progressive folk sounds, as well as a host of other musical genres from the challenging to the commercial, I’m so glad to see that a whole wave of artists are again pushing the genre to explore its potential. You Are Wolf is one of... Continue Reading →