These guys are doing really interesting pop music. Their early stuff had a more orchestral feel, as in the two tracks while their newer material has been dialed back considerably, making more from less. The newest album, “Enter 4”, should really be explored at length. Their lead singer’s name is also Sigríður Thorlacius, which is pretty awesome. Fans of Efterklang should definitely track down the newest release.
“Fotheringay” was one of Sandy Denny’s finest compositions, and one of the best songs on the first album she sang on as a part of Fairport Convention, “What We Did on Our Holidays”. One of the song’s strengths is that it sounds as if it could have been an authentic ancient folk ballad. It wasn’t, however — it was an original tune, and with a very good haunting sad melody, something at which Sandy Denny excelled. Although Fairport Convention were a folk-rock group and not a folk one, the arrangement of “Fotheringay” is quite folky, featuring little other than acoustic guitar and bass, although some very faint ghostly harmonies can be heard. The scenario of “Fotheringay,” too, fits in well with the British folk tradition: a woman seemingly held captive within a castle, lonesomely watching the day wane, though sung by Denny with a knowing reserve. It’s implied at the end of the song that the woman might be considering suicide as a way out of her predicament, as Denny comments that these days will last no more, and tomorrow at this hour the girl will be far away, much further than these islands (presumably where the castle’s located). The melody of “Fotheringay” was taken from an earlier song, in fact her first known composition, “The Tender Years” (also known as “In Memory”). A yet sparer version of the song, recorded by Denny as a 1967 home demo and featuring only her voice and guitar, was released on the compilation The Attic Tracks Vol. 3 (and on the bootleg Borrowed Thyme). There are also Fairport Convention BBC versions of the track from 1968 on Heyday and 1969 on the Fairport Unconventional box set with Denny on vocals. These aren’t remarkably different from the studio version, and are certainly of lower fidelity, but are good to have just for the hell of it.
The Big Music, is usually used to describe their mystic brew of the Waterboys who have fluctuated between folk and rock. Their 11th album, recorded in Nashville, finds Mike Scott and co evolving once again, adding southern soul to fiery blues with mixed results. The best tracks, such as “The Girl Who Slept for Scotland”, are a testament to Scott’s storytelling skills. But, at 56, the singer is still a fan and his songs try too hard to mimic the swagger of artists like Elvis, Marvin Gaye, Charlie Parker and others as “Modern Blues” namechecks.
The album is to be released on Harlequin And Clown, via Kobalt Label Services on January 19, 2015. It was recorded in Nashville and produced by Waterboys leader Mike Scott and mixed by Bob Clearmountain.
“Modern Blues” features Ralph Salmins, a mainstay on drums for the past four years, alongside Scott and regular Waterboy Steve Wickham, as well as Memphis keyboard player “Brother” Paul Brown and Muscle Shoals bassist David Hood.
Modern Blues will be released on CD and also double vinyl. The vinyl features an extra track, an acoustic demo of “Long Strange Golden Road”.
their last album ‘Smoke Fairies’ Released last April ,So following on from their self-titled third album, Smoke Fairies are set to release “Wild Winter”, the 10 track Rough Trade-exclusive album of seasonally-themed songs over the festive season. now emerged with this cover.
Davie of Bear’s Den said of the video: “Gareth Phillips (director) is one of the funniest people we’ve ever worked with and also one of the most talented. This video is really all down to him and the hard work of his fantastic crew.
“We have been really fortunate to work with some incredibly gifted filmmakers in the past and Gareth is no exception.”
Bear’s Den debut album “Islands” is out now on Communion Records/Caroline International.
The single – produced and mixed by Ian Grimble (The 1975, Daughter) – will be released on February 2 through Communion Records.
So the story about The Drink is that Rough Trade stocked their “homebrewed” EP despite the band being unsigned. But upon hearing their phenomenal “Company”, I’ve decided that it was hardly a gamble. This album is stupendous, Completely different to what I initially expected.
It kicks off with “Microsleep.” A post-punk bass-line out of a Fugazi track anchors a choirgirl singsong with lyrics about petit mal seizures. Feedback laden guitar descends with a subtle jangle-pop flourish. There are obvious lo-fi influences, but every sound snaps into place the way it should. Every track is well produced but not overproduced.
The lyrics are charming, too. On “At the Weekend,” singer Dearbhla Minogue declares, “It came to me in a blood transfusion. Internally, it was a silent affair.” The guitar embraces the listener with wide arms like a Built to Spill track, but with a deftness of touch that keeps the grit at bay while maintaining plenty of oomph. There’s sweetness here, but it never becomes twee. It’s like a toothier, fuzzier Belle and Sebastian,
That’s not to say that The Drink are one trick ponies. On “Playground,” there’s an African rhythm. Everything ultimately builds to a forceful swell of guitar that erupts into a crescendo undergirded by subtle organ sounds. Similarly, “Dead Ringers” has a bluesy math-rock opening before the cathedral vocals kick back in. Moments of the bassline sound like they mightn’t be out of place in a (gasp) Metallica song. The lyrics describe a severed head, creating a Stanislavski-esque contrast between the vocal inflection.
The Drink manages to be all over the place without sounding like they’re all over the place. There’s enough riff rock for a rock fan to be satisfied, but an atmospheric element that hides the album’s ambitious complexity. Snippets of Blonde Redhead collide pleasurably while a voice akin to that of the Glaswegian gals in Camera Obscura .
This album is great bedroom pop, something for your headphones but not your next party. Somewhere amidst the syncopation and off kilter time signatures, there’s enough for indie rock fans of every stripe. It’s by turns abstract, unabashedly rockin’, gentle, muscular, tender, and brash. There’s experimentalism at play, yet it feels entirely familiar.
Bears Den, live in concert
Bear’s Den are London trio Andrew Davie, Joey Haynes, and Kevin Jones. The music they make is wholesome, warm, and engaging, and takes its influence from the likes of “Being There”-era Wilco, Ryan Adams, and a wealth of both folk and alt-country reference points.
The ethos of DIY is at the heart of everything Bear’s Den have done since their inception. Charging around the UK in a van playing to any venue that would have them, picking up support tours with the likes of Of Monsters and Men, Smoke Fairies, and Matt Corby, and concluding 2012 with a support slot for Mumford & Sons at London’s O2 Arena, Bear’s Den took time out and relocated to a cottage in Wales to record their debut EP, sold only at shows last year, and went on to record this Agape EP in Norfolk with Kristoffer Harris.
What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World’ from the Decemberists available limited-edition deluxe box sets. The Deluxe box sets will come signed by the band while supplies last. The new album “What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World” with lead single “Make You Better.” is a second song “Lake Song” The lyrics are overlaid over black-and-white footage of the band performing in the studio shot by director Jason Roark. The band performed this song live for the first time back in May at Boston Calling.
Effortless harmonies both sweet and strong from First Aid Kit sisters Klara and Johanna Söderberg. Some nifty finger picking from Klara and a set that might be modelled on Grandma’s country house
This is listed as a “Stockholm Session” but seems to be the only video with this heading in this moody setting. It could almost be Victorian, a Victorian female Everly Brothers. Talent oozes out of them and they make it look so easy with their telepathic timing and gorgeous blend. Long may they prosper with their warm vibes and philosophical musings.
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