a music blog
Isobel Campbell’s new album There is No Other is a hushed moment of calm serenity that seeks to make sense of the noise and confusion of the world we live in. The album has been stuck in record label hell for a while, so it’s good to finally have a chance to hear new music from one of Scottish music’s best talents. Continue reading “Album Review: Isobel Campbell – There is No Other”
A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to catch The Lone Bellow play as part of Celtic Connections Festival and needless to say I was completely blown away. The songs they played from their new album were some of the most deeply felt of the evening, celebrating the wonder of our complex humanity. So while I do think a band like this really have to be heard in real life to truly appreciate the power of their vocals, Half Moon Light tries for a softer approach with impressive musical results. Continue reading “Album Review: The Lone Bellow – Half Moon Light”
Songs and stories are passed down through history for multifarious reasons: to entertain us, to heal us, to warn us, to teach us how to live. Anais Mitchell’s musical Hadestown combined Greek myths and folk music in a way that showed how the past could speak directly to the modern world. Her new project Bonny Light Horseman offers traditional songs in a fresh but familiar way, wrapping the listener in a comfort blanket of melodic beauty. Continue reading “Album Review: Bonny Light Horseman”
In 2018 Lucy Dacus released one of the best albums of the year and a collaborative EP as part of boygenius, both of which cemented her place as one of our brightest and best young songwriters. This year she has spent time touring and releasing occasional singles and covers, the results of which are collected in this EP 2019. Continue reading “E.P. Review: Lucy Dacus – 2019”
Self confessed ‘saddest girl in Sweden’ Sarah Klang has previously toured with First Aid Kit and mixes vintage pop influences with her love of all things Americana. Her new album ‘Creamy Blue’ is a selection of sumptuous and beautiful songs that you can’t help falling for. Continue reading “Album Review: Sarah Klang – Creamy Blue”
For those music fans in the know, Dori Freeman has been a quietly shining star on the scene for some time now. Her previous two albums were gorgeous Americana and folk music inspired by her Appalachian roots, produced by Teddy Thompson. On her third album Every Single Star she continues the run of excellent form, writing every song solo and working again with producer Thompson. Continue reading “Album Review: Dori Freeman – Every Single Star”
The autumn leaves are starting to fall and the nights are drawing in, so what better to soundtrack the change of season than a lovely little introspective indie folk record. Black Sea Dahu are led by Swiss singer songwriter Janine Cathrein who wrote these songs after a breakup in an attempt to make sense of the ever shifting world around her. Continue reading “E.P. Review: Black Sea Dahu – No Fire in the Sand”
Brittany Howard has always had ambition to be known as more than just a vintage soul singer, as proven by the second Alabama Shakes album and her alter ego Thunderbitch. Her new solo album, Jaime, is named after her sister who died in childhood and takes musical inspiration from wildly diverse genres and styles. Jaime is a personal odyssey of discovery where in an attempt to deconstruct her past, musically and personally, she has created something thrillingly present. Continue reading “Album Review: Brittany Howard – Jaime”
I really loved Lola Kirke’s album Heart Head West, a real underrated gem which mixed some lovely Laurel Canyon inspired sounds with country music influences. Her new EP Friends and Foes and Friends Again builds on that promise and she delivers five songs of simple beauty that sound like a blast of fresh air. Continue reading “EP Review: Lola Kirke – Friends and Foes and Friends Again”
Highway Queens 