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Artist: The Wandering Hearts
Release Date: 25th January, 2019
Genre: Americana, Folk, Country
Record Label: Decca
Tracks:20
Website:
The winner of our LCM Debut album of the year 2018 just got better. Five new live, acoustic or alternative versions have been added to this already excellent album
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Artist: Martyn Joseph
Release Date: 8th February, 2019
Genre: Singer-Songwriter, Folk
Record Label: Pipe Records
Tracks: 11
Website:
Acclaimed singer-songwriter Martyn Joseph returns with new album Here Come The Young which was produced by Gerry Diver (Tom Robinson, Lisa Knapp, Sam Lee) & Martyn says of his new album, "The songs are exploring uncertainty to varying degrees through different subject matter both in the personal and political. I hope for those who listen it will be the sort of record that takes you on a journey and leaves you buoyed and hopeful at the end, despite the fact that we go to a few tough places."
Born in Penarth near Cardiff, Martyn is gifted with the rare ability to speak to the soul with his expressive and poignant lyrics and has enjoyed a career spanning 35 years to date, over a half a million record sales and thousands of live performances. He has created his own style and reputation as a stellar songwriter, jaw-dropping guitar player and mesmerising performer, and social justice is an essential part of his music, which has been recognised with various humanitarian awards and plaudits.
On Here Come The Young, his songs are imbued with an optimism at a time when it is not easily found. Running throughout the album is a sense of hope and belief in the good of the majority, and that this will overcome the loud, cynical noise that pervades. For Joseph, songs are photographs of moments and visions be they good or bad, his lyrics encourage people to fight fear, cynicism and negativity and the rhetoric of those who hold power. The title track 'Here Come The Young' suggests the young don't have the same baggage of past generations and are more open and inclusive On 'Loves Majority', a protest song of sorts, the greater collective good will always outweigh the bad. There is a heart-breaking tribute to those who work for the betterment of others on 'This Glass'. Self-doubt is the subject in 'Oh My Soul', encouraging belief in one's journey. Six years ago, Martyn visited the West Bank in Palestine to play a festival and this became a catalyst to him forming a non-profit organisation to work with grassroots projects across the world. It was his experience in Gaza that lead him to write 'Take Back The Sky', where young kids fly kites as a symbol of freedom 'the wrist that holds the string of dreams for one brief moment takes back the sky'.
Martyn has previously toured with the likes of Art Garfunkel, Jools Holland, Ani DiFranco, Suzanne Vega, Mike and The Mechanics, Joan Armatrading, Celine Dion and Shirley Bassey. In 2016, in addition to playing over 170 shows worldwide, he was asked by the EFDSS and British Parliament to write and perform as part of "Sweet Liberties" with Nancy Kerr, Sam Carter and Maz O'Connor to mark 800 years of British democracy. One of his songs from this, "Nye" celebrating Nye Bevan, the author of the NHS, has been enthusiastically received by audiences everywhere, as well as having BBC national airplay on Mark Radcliffe's Folk Show and Tom Robinson's 6 Music show.
"Martyn Joseph's albums are always a massive event for me and 'Here Come The Young' is superb. Strong, powerful and brave, it takes Martyn's songs to a new, exciting and challenging place." Bob Harris OBE on Here Come The Young
"Thrilled that this collaboration came together - this will absolutely prove a major turning point in Martyn's recording career - a creative partnership between two of my all-time favourite artists." Tom Robinson on Martyn Joseph and Gerry Diver.
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Artist: Lucy Rose
Release Date: 22nd March, 2019
Genre: Singer-Songwriter, Folk, Pop
Record Label: Communion Music
Tracks: 11
Website: https://www.lucyrosemusic.com
Pre-order your copy from the link below >>>
Artist: Kaia Kater
Release Date: 11th January, 2019
Genre: Folk
Record Label: Smithsonian Folkways
Tracks: 14
Website:
Young folk music veteran Kaia Kater rises to bold new heights of imagination and creative expression on her 3rd album Grenades. With abundant poise and poetry, Kater composes an odyssey about personal identity, memory, and discovery in the wake of her father's journey as a young political refugee. She draws upon her diverse musical influences in Quebec, the Caribbean, and Appalachia, and her bicultural experience as a 2nd generation Grenadian-Canadian, to envision a new path for herself and her songs.
Artist: Alice Wallace
Release Date: 8th March, 2019
Genre: Folk, Country, Americana Singer-Songwriter
Record Label: Rebelle Road Records
Tracks: 11
Website: https://www.alicewallacemusic.com
Southern Californian singer-songwriter Alice Wallace has created a sparkling gem with her fourth album ‘Into The Blue’. It shines brightly in upbeat sunny ’70’s West coast country and Tex Mex pop-rock..
It’s very clear Alice is a wonderful vocalist and songwriter and we hope this album gives her the recognition she rightly deserves.. ‘Into The Blue’ pushes the boundaries of Americana with its rich strings, punchy horns, a stark and heavy rhythm section and very poignant songwriting. Stand out tracks include the wonderful ‘Santa Ana Winds’ and the title track ‘The Blue’.
“Sail away into the blue … you’re only scared of the things you can’t see,” sings Alice explaining why she finally decided to become a full time singer-songwriter. It’s a brave and bold move which makes a a very logical title track. It’s a big life style change, that we are sure will be very much rewarded,
Alice will be on tour in the UK in late autumn. Catch her if you can.
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Artist: Dermot Kennedy
Release Date: 4th January, 2019
Genre: Singer-Songwriter, Pop, Folk
Record Label: UMGRI Interscope
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.dermotkennedy.com
The wonderful debut album from the very fast rising Dublin singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy.
Artist: Songs Of Our Native Daughters
Release Date: 22nd February, 2019
Genre: Roots
Record Label: Smithsonian Folkways
Tracks: 13
Website:
Songs of Our Native Daughters gathers together kindred musicians Rhiannon Giddens, Amythyst Kiah, Leyla McCalla, and Allison Russell in song and sisterhood to communicate with their forebears. Drawing on and reclaiming early minstrelsy and banjo music, these musicians reclaim, recast, and spotlight the often unheard and untold history of their ancestors, whose stories remain vital and alive today. The material on Songs of Our Native Daughters -- written and sung in various combinations -- is inspired by New World slave narratives, discrimination and how it has shaped our American experience, as well as musicians such as Haitian troubadour Althiery Dorval and Mississippi Hill Country string player Sid Hemphill, and more.
Artist: Jacob & Drinkwater
Release date: 20th March, 2019
Genre: Folk
Record Label: Polyphonic Life Recordings
Tracks: 10
Website: www.jacobanddrinkwater.com
Jacob & Drinkwater are singer songwriter Tobias ben Jacob & multi instrumentalist and much in-demand double bass player Lukas Drinkwater. The UK based alt folk duo have been gathering momentum since they first appeared in 2014, with their very first performance together at the legendary Glastonbury Festival.
Their excellent debut studio album ‘This Old River’ was recorded at Lukas’ studio Polyphonic Recording in Stroud, Gloucestershire. It marks a recording milestone for the duo, as it’s their first ‘in-house’ production with the duo self recording, producing and with Lukas undertaking the mixing. Mastering was completed by Ian Stephenson.
The album has the same high level quality hallmarks of their previous releases. Strong, thoughtful and reflective songwriting, great arrangements & musicianship coupled with strong rich vocals and harmonies. Tobias has often described his writing as ‘distilled life experience’ and a form of ‘soul cartography.’ All the songs on the new album are written by Tobias (except the traditional song ‘Nottamun Town’) and arranged by Lukas.
Tobias and Lukas also comment about ‘This Old River; ‘The album takes the listener on a journey through a subtle emotional landscape peppered with arcadian images, themes of love and fragility, and stream of consciousness style lyrical moments.”
The album opens with ‘Song Of The Sun’ painting a rich soundscape of the rising of the sun. “The light pours in upon our golden slumbers. Where the starry dreamers all awake. The forest whispers all its secret numbers. Counting on the morning to break and the song of the sun will sing us into life.” The title track ‘This Old River’ is an ode to the memory of Tobias’ grandfather ‘Eric The Red’, his youth in the Cuerdale Valley near Preston and his love of his native Lancashire. “Nineteen-thirty-four Sir Alan Cobham’s flying circus came to Walton-le-Dale. Up on Cuerdale Hill you’d see the pilots faces as the planes went zooming by in the blue summer sky. The skyline was dotted with smoky mill chimneys up on New Hall Lane. They’d say if you can’t see Pendle Hill that means it’s going to rain. The whole town was built on the boom back when cotton was king. Our poor ancestors toiled at the loom, their poverty was a terrible thing. And this old river running through it all. I love to come back down here just to watch it roll through the years.”
I love the tender and thoughtful ‘Real Love’ with Tobias’ quality songwriting again coming to the fore. “I’ll treat you right no matter what you heard. I’ll be someone you can believe in. In the naked light Oh my word. Tell me i’m not dreaming. I don’t know why I’m so complicated. But please stay by me even when my light is fading. Real love I’m dying to know. Real love if you feel it. Real love hearts that glow. Real love to believe it”
One of my favourite songs of the album is the wonderful and atmospheric percussive bass driven track ‘There’s A Shadow On The Sun’, inspired by reading first hand accounts of life in war torn Syria. It has a lovely rich soundtrack feel about it.
Alongside nine original songs the album includes an ethereal and haunting take on traditional folk song ‘Nottamun Town’. They first heardthe song on Fairport Convention’s classic album ‘What We Did On Our Holidays’. The melody was also the inspiration for Dylan’s ‘Masters Of War’. The duo have also added two dark, brooding verses inspired in part by recent historical TV drama ‘Vikings’. ‘Imagined Letter #44’ is Tobias’ ode to love and London life.
The thoughtful and retrospective ‘Higher Love’ is classic Tobias songwriting. “We will rise with the morning sun. The battles that we should’ve won. A note from another time ‘Hello I’m doing fine’. Written on the other side all the wounds that you could’t hide.” The unusual ‘Iridescent Light’ starts a little prog folk almost Monty Python then explodes into a bright, optimism track. Simple innocent contentment sharing Arcadian days.
With it’s beautiful Spanish-feel acoustic guitar solo, the reflective and gentle Beatleque ‘Polaroid’ drifts wonderfully along. “A photograph of Helena and me taken on holiday by the sea. It says ‘hello I wanted you to know the song you wrote it helped me out when I was low’. I dreamed of a song floating like a prayer. Revealing meaning everywhere.”
The album ends with the topical ‘It’s Still A Beautiful World’. A very strong note of hope in a troubled world. “Like a child I build my castles, I listen for the ocean in the shell. Vision after vision flows into my open mind. But i can’t touch the edges of it or bring it into shape and line. I’m just an exile on life’s weary road. In the threadbare garments of a poor wayfarer. A disaffected refugee, I’m just a pilgrim on a highway of diamonds. With hurricanes and softly bowed violins. I’ve got a headful of heaven and a pocket full of heartbreak. Still I’m a rich man for a don’t have to walk through this life alone.”
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Artist: Claire Hastings
Release Date: 18th January, 2019
Genre: Traditional Folk, Folk, Scottish Folk
Record Label: Luckenbooth Records
Tracks: TBA
Website:
‘Those Who Roam’ is the much-awaited second album from former BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year Claire Hastings. It is a blend of original and traditional songs under the theme of journeys, and follows the success of Claire's debut album 'Between River and Railway' released in 2016. The album features accomplished musicians Jenn Butterworth (guitar), Laura Wilkie (fiddle), Thomas Gibbs (piano) and Andrew Waite (accordion).
It was recorded, mixed and mastered at Castlesound Studios by engineer Stuart Hamilton alongside producer Inge Thomson. The album showcases the versatility of Claire's style and repertoire, with some interesting stories along the way. "An exquisite album" - SONGLINES // "A genuine treat" - FATEA.
Artist: Sound Of The Sirens
Release Date: 25th January, 2019
Genre: Folk, Folk Rock, Pop
Record Label: DMF Records
Tracks: 15
Website:
West Country folk-rock duo Sound Of The Sirens have announced their new album, This Time, out January 25th via DMF Records, as well as a 21-date UK tour starting in January.
This Time – the follow-up to their debut album, For All Our Sins, which was released in 2017 to widespread praise – continues to showcase an evident gift for crafting unique, vivid and enduring melodies over 15 heartfelt tracks.
“’This Time’ is a collection of moments, emotions, challenges and stories,” say the duo. “We've collected lyrics, melodies and ideas from the past couple of years for this project. We created this album last winter in an isolated barn in Wales with only guitars, a piano, wine and the dogs for company. The themes of time, love, loss, perseverance, hope and clarity are intertwined in these songs.”
Throughout the album, Sound Of The Sirens – duo Abbe Martin and Hannah Wood – blend intoxicating vocal harmonies with beautifully crafted instrumentals to create a seamless collection of captivating tracks. ‘Troubles’, the first track to be taken from the album, is a rousing and emotive ode to overcoming issues, amid inspiring lyricism and graceful cadences.
Artist: CC Smugglers
Release Date: 29th March, 2019
Genre: Americana, Roots
Record Label: Cabin Records / Absolute
Tracks: 13
Website: https://www.ccsmugglers.co.uk
‘How High’ is the highly anticipated debut album from one of the best young Americana and Roots bands in the UK. This six-piece band hailing from across the UK have earned a reputation as a phenomenal live tour-de-force, earning them a well deserved reputation across a multitude of genres.
Their debut album ‘How High’ is well worth the wait. It’s fresh, upbeat, positive, innovative and a highly contagious collection of music.
Like many others the CC Smugglers have been caught in all the current financial issues at Pledge Music. After raising nearly £17K from their loyal fans to crowdfund the album, Pledge has currently not paid them a penny. This has left them in a lot of debt to record and manufacture their album. It is especially sad and frustrating as it’s their debut record. So we are asking for all readers of this review who like the band and their music to buy a copy of their album either directly or from the link below to help them out or support them on their UK tour. I’m sure the guys would really appreciate your support.
CC Smugglers were formed by a young busker frontman Richie Prynne in his early twenties. He soon recruited his childhood friends Dan Edwards, Ryan Thomas and Sam Barrett who spent years honing their craft on the streets of London, Cambridge and Bedford. In later years Manchester based pianist and front man in his own right Tom Seals and Jazz trained drummer Felix Weldon.
The album opening with the wonderful uptempo title track ‘How High’ with it’s classic retro jazz.. On the gospel infused, infectious and toe-tapping ‘Gone So Long’ the band are joined by the Oxford Gospel Events Choir. It has a sing-a-long chorus of the highest order and it’s sure to be a live crowd favourite. The folky bluegrass ‘Well Well Well’ has touches of the Keston Cobblers Club, The Lumineers and Patch and the Giant. The second track featuring the Oxford Gospel Events choir is the big, very positive, reflective and upbeat ‘Smiling’.
These is some wonderful piano arrangements on ‘Jog On’ which reminds me of sme classic Van Morrison. “Just walk walk, don’t ruin our day. If you’ve got nothing nice to say. Turning blue skies grey.……. jog on!. Get lost!…. and just keep walking away”. The nostalgic ‘One More Night’ with it’s great banjo licks looks back at better times in the past when the band were younger. Wishing that they could turn back time. Dedicated to Uncle Geoff. The laid back acoustic guitar lead ‘Life’s A Wave’ is a another track with a very positive message. It has touches of Jack Johnson. With a lovely dobro introduction ‘Sweetheart’ is a tender and reflective song of lost love and trying to move on..
Next up as song which always makes me smile the fast bluegrass ‘Grumpy’. Flying fiddles, driving percussion and Richie soaring vocal all add to the great mix. Trains have always been a firm staple of Americana, Folk and Country music. This next track is dedicated to waiting for a London train. I just love the Honky-Tonk ‘Baker Street 205’ complete with backing vocals from the band and soaring harmonica playing from Richie. Watch out for the excellent guitar solo as well.
The CC Smugglers journey so far with it’s hardships and successes are included in ‘All Night Long’. A tale of a band of brothers working very hard together to share their music. The smooth gypsy jazz violin infused ‘Working Man’ completes their excellent debut. I couldn’t helping thinking ‘The Jungle Book’ for this one, then it explodes in a higher tempo.
But wait there is more…..a hidden bonus track. ‘Standing Of The Street’ which has shades of the much loved Paolo Nutini’s ‘Pencil Full of Lead’. It creates a rich soundscape of a probation era speak easy.
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Artist: Mandolin Orange
Release Date: 1st February, 2019
Genre: Singer-songwriter, Folk, Roots
Record Label: Yep Rock
Tracks: 10 + Bonus Tracks
Website:
Artist: Iona Fyfe
Release Date: 1st January, 2019
Genre: Trad Folk, Singer-Songwriter
Record Label: Iona Fyfe
Tracks: 6
Website: https://ionafyfe.com
Review By: Gary Smith (LCM)
After her excellent debut album release ‘Away From My Window’ in 2018, Scottish Folk Singer of the Year Iona Fyfe follows up perfectly with another wonderful collection of music. Her ‘Dark Turn of Mind’ EP showcases Iona’s pure vocals, arrangements, range and versatility, as she explores some music away from her previous bedrock of traditional Doric and North East Scottish Folk.
The new EP marks an exciting new chapter from one of the UK’s most gifted young contemporary and traditional folk artists. The EP combines North-East songs with a selection of Appalachian and contemporary American folk.
Iona has brought together an excellent collection of musicians on this EP including Rory Matheson (TRIP) on piano, Aidan Moodie (Siobhan Miller, Gnoss) on guitar and backing harmonies, while Graham Rorie (Gnoss) on mandolin adding to the Appalachian feel.
At only 21, Aberdeenshire singer Iona has already gained a fine reputation as one of our finest ballad singers. She was a Radio 2 Young Folk Award semi-finalist in 2015. In 2017 she was a finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year competition and in the same year she was nominated for Scots Singer of the Year at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards. An award that she went on to win in December 2018.
The album opens with the fantastic title track, a cover of Gillian Welch’s popular classic ‘Dark Turn Of Mind’. An absorbing combination of piano and Iona’s vocal fused with a sparkle of mandolin. Jean Ritchie was the source for the very lively and upbeat ‘Swing and Turn’. Iona was inspired to include the song after seeing it performed by Boston singer/fiddler Laura Cortese at the Orkney Folk Festival. Iona’s own arrangement champions the many links between the Scottish and Appalachian folk traditions. Gregory Alan Isakov‘s beautiful ‘If I Go, I’m Goin’ has a wonderful spiritual and heavenly arrangement. Stripped and pure, proving that less is often more.
‘The Golden Vanity’ has been a highlight of Iona’s live shows for some time now. It is a song that has been widely covered. A tale of heroism and betrayal. Often sung as a rousing sea shanty, this is much a softer version. Iona composed her own melody for the tender Ozark Mountain song ‘Let Him Sink’ taken from two versions in the Max Hunter Folk Song Collection. I love the intimacy of the arrangement, as well as the lovely piano and mandolin instrumental bridge. For the popular ‘Little Musgrave’ Iona was inspired by both Jeannie Robertson and Cecil Sharp. Pitch perfect unaccompanied folk singing at it’s finest.
We see a very bright future ahead for this very talented singer-songwriter, as Iona continues to experiment and explore on her rich musical journey.