Category Archives: Folk
BOB FRANK-BOB FRANK.
BOB FRANK-BOB FRANK. In 2007, Jim Dickinson described Bob Frank as: “the best songwriter you never heard.” That’s no surprise. Jim Dickinson first met Bob Frank way back in the summer of 1963. Back then, Bob was part of a group of singers and songwriters hanging out in an old butcher’s shop in Crosstown Farmer’s …
AIR-MOON SAFARI.
AIR-MOON SAFARI. Enigmatic describes Air, one of the most innovative European electronic bands of the past twenty years. Air were formed in 1995, in Versailles, France. Originally, Nicholas Godin, a former architecture student was the only member of Air. He was later joined by former maths student Jean-Benoit Dunckel. They’d previously been members of Orange, …
JETHRO TULL-BENEFIT.
JETHRO TULL-BENEFIT. If I was to ask what group had nine albums certified gold, and one certified triple-platinum, between 1969 and 1979, how many people would say Jethro Tull? That’s because most people forget how successful Jethro Tull were. They were one of the most successful, groundbreaking and innovative of the prog rock bands in …
DOUG PAISLEY-STRONG FEELINGS.
DOUG PAISLEY-STRONG FEELINGS. For anyone yet to discover Doug Paisley’s music, you’ve been missing out on one of the most talented singer-songwriters of his generation. Born in Toronto, Canada, Doug has just released his third album Strong Feelings on No Quarter Records. Strong Feelings is a fusion of alternative country, Americana and folk. The album …
LARAAJI-CELESTIAL MUSIC 1978-2011.
LARAAJI-CELESTIAL MUSIC 1978-2011. Although Laraaji is one of the most innovative musicians of his generation, he remains one of music’s best kept secrets. That’s despite releasing nearly thirty albums. Many of these albums showcase Laraaji’s unique ambient sound. Best known for playing the zither, Laraaji’s music is best described as a fusion of ambient, experimental …
THISELL-I.
THISELL-I. Never before have I reviewed an album that had been recorded in a disused school. That’s until I came across Swedish band Thisell’s debut album, I. I was recorded in a disused school during a seven day period in August 2010. For seven days, Thisell, their friends, family and even pets ate, lived, slept …
RUNAWAY ORCHESTRA-RUNAWAY ORCHESTRA.
RUNAWAY ORCHESTRA-RUNAWAY ORCHESTRA. You’ll be hard pushed to find more enchanting album than the Runaway Orchestra’s eponymous debut album Runaway Orchestra, which has been rereleased by Brighton’s Mr. Bongo Records on 1st January 2014. I was going to say the Runaway Orchestra give ten familiar tracks a makeover. That however, would be an understatement. Transformation …
CAN-SOON OVER BABALUMA.
CAN-SOON OVER BABALUMA. Forty years ago, in November 1974, Can released the sixth album of their career, Soon Over Babaluma. This marked the end of an era for Can. Soon Over Babaluma was the end of Can’s golden period. This golden period began with their debut album, 1969s Monster Movie and 1974s Soon Over Babaluma. …
THE BEST NEW ALBUMS OF 2013-PART 1.
THE BEST NEW ALBUMS OF 2013-PART 1. On the last day of the year, I always publish my list of the best albums I’ve reviewed during 2013. This year, I’ve expanded it to my top thirty albums. That’s a reflection of the quality of music released during 2013. What follows is an eclectic selection of …
THE BEST NEW ALBUMS OF 2013-PART 3.
THE BEST NEW ALBUMS OF 2013-PART 3. RODDY WOOMBLE-LISTEN TO KEEP. Back in 2006, when Roddy Woomble, the lead singer of Idlewild, released his debut album My Secret Is My Silenced, Idlewild had just enjoyed the most successful period of their career. Their third album, 2000s 100 Broken Windows was certified silver, while 2002s The …
THE BEST SCOTTISH ALBUMS OF 2013-PART 2.
THE BEST SCOTTISH ALBUMS OF 2013-PART 2. QUEENS OF THE PRISON RODEO-ON THE DESOLATE HILLSIDE. Queens Of The Prison Rodeo are no ordinary band. Far from it. The Falkirk based Queens Of The Prison Rodeo describe the music on their debut album, On The Desolate Hillside, as freak-country-folk. Released recently on Adam Stafford’s Glasgow label …
THE BETA BAND-THE REGAL YEARS 1997-2004.
THE BETA BAND-THE REGAL YEARS 1997-2004. Although The Beta Band were only together eight years, their music made a huge impact. Formed in 1996, The Beta Band split-up in 2004. In the intervening eight years, they’d released a trio of E.P.s and albums. The music on these E.P.s and albums influenced a generation of musicians. …
JETHRO TULL-BENEFIT.
JETHRO TULL-BENEFIT. If I was to ask what group had nine albums certified gold, and one certified triple-platinum, between 1969 and 1979, how many people would say Jethro Tull? That’s because most people forget how successful Jethro Tull were. They were one of the most successful, groundbreaking and innovative of the prog rock bands in …
END OF NEIL-GAS STATION COFFEE.
END OF NEIL-GAS STATION COFFEE. In an age when artists take years to record an album, it’s refreshing to come across an artist as prolific as End Of Neil. During 2013, End Of Neil has released a trio of E.Ps. The first of this trio was Less, released back in April. Then six months later, …
JO MANGO-WHEN WE LIVED IN THE CROOK OF A TREE.
JO MANGO-WHEN WE LIVED IN THE CROOK OF A TREE. One of the best kept secrets in Scottish music is Jo Mango, who released her new E.P. When We Lived In The Crook Of A Tree on 2nd December 2013, on Olive Grove Records. It features some of the most beautiful music I’ve heard for …
DAMON- SONG OF A GYPSY.
DAMON- SONG OF A GYPSY. For any collector of psychedelia, if they’re lucky enough to find a copy of Damon’s Song Of A Gypsy, it becomes one of their most prized possessions. Finding a copy is another thing. Copies are rarer than hen’s teeth and are changing hands for large sums of money. Recently, copies have …
JUANA MOLINA-WED 21.
JUANA MOLINA-WED 21. Previously, Argentinian singer-songwriter Juana Molina has been described as a musical visionary. Comparisons have been drawn to legendary Beach Boy Brian Wilson. These comparisons aren’t hype. No. Far from it. Juana Molina is an alternative to bland, anodyne music. This is cerebral, intelligent music of substance. Best described as melodic, minimalist and …
END OF NEIL-LESS E.P.
END OF NEIL-LESS E.P. The last time we heard from Stirling-based singer-songwriter End Of Neil, he’d just released his My Games E.P. During the six tracks on My Game, End Of Neil introduced us to a diverse cast of characters. Many of them are complicated. Some of them are troubled. All of them are intriguing. …
ELYAS KHAN-BRAWL IN PARADISE.
ELYAS KHAN-BRAWL IN PARADISE. Unique, eclectic and genre-sprawing. That’s the best way to describe the music on Elyas Khan’s debut album Brawl In Paradise. Released recently on BBE Music, Brawl In Paradise showcases one of the most innovative artists in contemporary British music. On Brawl In Paradise’s twelve tracks, everything from hip hop, soul, funk, …
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