From the category archives:

Reviews

Cotton Jones

Thumbnail image for Cotton Jones by Alex

A new arrival on the station is Cotton Jones. The music of Cotton Jones speaks of transition: the passage from one form, state of mind, style or place to another. Songs become doorways to the past, or windows that open on some unnamed future, where innocence can still exist and perfection is thrown to the [...]

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Matt Bauer and Dana Falconberry release split single

Thumbnail image for Matt Bauer and Dana Falconberry release split single by Alex

I first came across Matt Bauer in 2006 when he released an e.p. called Wasps and White Roses. It featured a neo-traditional version of Sea Lion Woman a traditional American folk song which hooked me. It led me on a bit of a musical journey which led to many other great artists including Alela Diane, [...]

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Matthew and the Atlas @ Paradise, London

Thumbnail image for Matthew and the Atlas @ Paradise, London by Melanie

Playing to an intimate crowd of around 100 friends, family and loyal fans, who it seems front man Matthew Hegarty holds just as closely, so gracious were his thanks, Matthew & the Atlas played Paradise in Kensal Green.

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Introducing Lower Dens

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Swarming guitar fuzz, bass waves, Jana Hunter’s voice, and insistent drum throbs are the core components of Baltimore’s Lower Dens. Hunter, sometimes known for intimate, ghost-heavy weird-fi, is now writing and playing with a group that might get filed as new wave, or drone pop, or post-punk. With due deference to her solo work, we’re [...]

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Mountain Man – Made the Harbor

Thumbnail image for Mountain Man – Made the Harbor by Melanie

These three girls may appear the female counterpart to Robin Pecknold and Co. with their Appalachian revivalist vocals and hauntingly authentic folk, but there is something much stronger behind their whisperings. Mountain Man is comprised of Molly Erin Sarle, Alexandra Sauser-Monnig and Amelia Randall Meath who, having met at Bennington College, Vermont, began a transformation into the sound [...]

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Plants and Animals @ The Windmill, Brixton

Thumbnail image for Plants and Animals @ The Windmill, Brixton by Melanie

Canadian three-piece Plants and Animals indeed prove themselves to be chameleons of sorts in their ability to cross genres with little to no flicker of discomfort or hesitation. Melding post-punk, psychedelia, folk, and classic 70s rock; their compositions are as adaptable in style as the chameleon to his surroundings – and are commanded with a complete sense of authenticity. [...]

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Introducing: Sarah Blasko

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Sarah Blasko recently performed at The Flowerpot in London, collaborating with Angus & Julia Stone as part of a Communion Club Night. The extension of the Communion umbrella to Australia has resulted in some fine artists joining the ranks for extra exposure in Europe. Sarah Blasko is certainly one to watch out for. Bjorn Yttling [...]

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Thumbnail image for Dark Night of the Soul

Dark Night of the Soul

by Alex

Dark Night Of The Soul is a music and visual art project instigated and helmed by Danger Mouse. This unique, unconventional endeavour unites a wonderful album length piece of music by Danger Mouse, Sparklehorse and a host of guest vocalists with a collection of original David Lynch photography. David Lynch’s imagery is wholly inspired by [...]

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Introducing: J Irvin Dally

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Introducing J Irvin Dally. $5 for his new EP, you can’t go wrong! Get Despistado. Dally will be hitting the road in early September on a US west coast tour. Full details are yet to be confirmed but in the meantime check him out.

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Introducing: Jasper Sloan Yip

Thumbnail image for Introducing: Jasper Sloan Yip by Alex

Jasper Sloan Yip is a multi-genre singer/songwriter with a dynamic and versatile band behind him. His musical career began with the release of his solo debut “White Elephant” under the moniker “the Blenheim Street Project” in the summer of 2007. Recorded at home with a single broken microphone, “White Elephant” was the first and only [...]

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David Dondero – # Zero With A Bullet

Thumbnail image for David Dondero – # Zero With A Bullet by Alex

David Dondero is a modern-day troubadour, a minstrel, a bard, a rolling stone, a traveling wilbury — he gets around, and wherever he goes, he makes music. He’s been getting around to odd parts of America, making music — of a primarily transient, narrative, and acoustic variety, in the tradition of great American troubadours of [...]

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Sonny and the Sunsets

Thumbnail image for Sonny and the Sunsets by Alex

Sonny and the Sunset’s vintage-style west coast pop songs tell sordid tales of death, drowning, outcasts, heavenly visions and otherworldly despair. Their newest LP, Tomorrow is Alright radiates with a classic yet indefinable sound, almost like a futuristic 50’s R&B. California native Sonny Smith started his career playing in a blues piano bar nestled in [...]

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Black Prairie – Feast of the Hunter’s Moon

Thumbnail image for Black Prairie – Feast of the Hunter’s Moon by Alex

Black Prairie are a progressive string band from various quarters of Portland, Oregon which seems to have a rich bedrock of musicians and artists on tap. Three-fifths of the band are made up of Decemberists members which has helped provide them with addtional exposure to their very unique style of neo-traditional Americana’ish music.

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Nina Nastasia – Outlaster

Thumbnail image for Nina Nastasia – Outlaster by Alex

The following two tracks on offer as free downloads are taken from Nina Nastasia’s latest album Outlaster. Outlaster was released in June this year, lushly orchestrated, unlike her earlier work.

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Balky Mule

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The Balky Mule is Bristol based Sam Jones, he recently performed to great tracks for the Brixton Sessions site covering summery versions of ‘Dust Bird Baths’ and ‘Wireless’, both taken from his 2009 album The Length of the Rail.

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Live Review: Big Tent Festival, Fife, Scotland

Thumbnail image for Live Review: Big Tent Festival, Fife, Scotland by Billy

Fife’s Big Tent Festival, held in the beautiful location of the Falkland estate under the watchful Lomond Hills, celebrated its 5th birthday with another outstanding weekend full of superb music, delicious food, charming company and ecological enlightenment.

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Live Review: Lau @ Cargo, London

Thumbnail image for Live Review: Lau @ Cargo, London by Melanie

Scottish/English folk band Lau started out back in 2004 in Edinburgh, and have since become one of Britain’s most highly acclaimed young folk bands: a status assuredly justified with their ‘Best Group’ winnings at the BBC Radio Two Folk Awards for three years running. Their 90-minute set at Cargo was met with whoops and howls [...]

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First Aid Kit @ The Garage, London (Review + Interview)

Thumbnail image for First Aid Kit @ The Garage, London (Review + Interview) by Melanie

Swedish sisters First Aid Kit’s “Happy 10th Birthday Wichita” show at The Garage proved the pair, still under 20 years old, to be growing masters of the narrative driven story songs they grew up listening to. We caught up with Klara and Johanna Söderberg before their show for a brief chat about Swedish folk music, their influences and plans to expand their [...]

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Communion Collaborations @ The Flowerpot

Thumbnail image for Communion Collaborations @ The Flowerpot by Melanie

The Communion Collaborations sprung out of a desire to continue on with the Communion franchise of home grown, generally London based, musicians. The night which began at the Notting Hill Arts Club in 2006 has been hugely successful in acting as a springboard for local musicians; catapulting the likes of Mumford & Sons and Laura [...]

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Interview with Brendan Glasson of Vio/Miré

Thumbnail image for Interview with Brendan Glasson of Vio/Miré by Melanie

It’s a very rare occurrence to stumble upon an artist whom you find to be both refreshing yet somehow like an old friend, in the stories they share and the emotions they stir up. Watching Rhode Island’s Brendan Glasson play under the moniker Vio/Miré on Wednesday night; supporting David Thomas Broughton; was just one of those occasions.

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Megson – The Longshot

Thumbnail image for Megson – The Longshot by Billy

Following on from their equally thematic album (Take Yourself A Wife) Megson’s Longshot takes another topic as its key – this time it’s working life that is played out in the polished narratives and well-crafted arrangements.

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Tyde

Thumbnail image for Tyde by Billy

The eponymous debut album from young folk trio Tyde is an exciting and dynamic breakthrough piece of work. Finalists in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards in 2009 Tyde comprise of Heather Gessey on fiddle and vocals, Seth Tinsley on guitar and Andrew Waite on accordion.

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