Anchoress is a self-described ‘revenge-pop’ artist, Catherine Anne Davies, AKA The Anchoress, makes animated pop music with a sinister, obsessive edge. Heading on a major EU tour with Simple Minds, she will be dropping her debut album not till June 2015. an·cho·ress [ang-ker-is] noun
A woman who is an anchorite – a person who lives in seclusion, esp a religious recluse; hermit; one who has retired from the world.
The Anchoress is a new project from Welsh multi-instrumentalist Catherine Anne Davies.
Posts Tagged ‘singer songwriter’
The ANCHORESS – ” The Anchoress ” Sampler
Posted: December 9, 2014 in MUSICTags: Catherine Ann Davies, singer songwriter, the Anchoress, Wales
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SHARON VAN ETTEN – ” Taking Chances “
Posted: December 8, 2014 in MUSICTags: Are We there Yet, Brooklyn, Sharon Van Etten, singer songwriter
I just love this track from Sharon Van Etten American singer songwriter based in Brooklyn a track from the album “Are We There” on Jagjaguwar Records. with enough rasp and sorrow in her voice to keep from sounding too pure or confident the songs draw you in. Her songs have a heavy use of harmonies with back up singer Heather Woods Broderick, Van Etten was traning to be a Sommelier working at a new York wine store for three years before becoming a full time musician. Sharon Van Etten is a massively strong songwriter who’s only realized the power of her words and melodies over the course of recording them. So not only does she become more sure of herself with each go-round, she gets better at expressing both that assuredness and the complicated, difficult, timid emotional places that inspire her.
ANGEL OLSEN – ” Windows “
Posted: December 8, 2014 in MUSICTags: Angel Olsen, Burn Your Fire For No Witness, singer songwriter
Angel Olsen’s debut album “Half Way Home” was a pleasant collection of minimalistic folk recordings, largely her vocals were left to carry the charm with just a smattering of instruments as a backing. Having made her name as a backing vocalist with Bonnie “Prince” Billy‘s band it was pretty much exactly what you’d expect from her, it was beautiful sure, but it didn’t hint at the stunning talent that would gradually unfurl itself, and lead to an album as stunning as “Burn Your Fire For No Witness”.
Every aspect of Angel Olsen’s sound has been refined, evolved and improved. Those who typecast her as a folk-singer, would be shocked by the thrashy-grunge sound of “Forgiven/Forgotten” or “High & Wild”, she emerged with all the intimacy of those early recordings in tact but with a new found confidence, where once she seemed almost timid, now she seemed like a star in the making.
Perhaps the albums most moving moment is its last. “Windows” is just aural heartbreak. All sense of joy and anger long since stamped out, all that is left is an aching sadness. It’s a plea for someone who’s lost in the darkness of depression, to let the light in, initially over a lone guitar she begs “won’t you open a window sometime, what’s so wrong with the light?” There’s an attempt to reason with the person, but ultimately she knows it’s too late, they can now only help themselves, “Why can’t you see? Are you blind? Are you dead? Are you all right?” Such is the quality and emotional impact of her vocal, you barely notice the music that slowly creeps in around her, organs subtly drone in behind, drums start slowly and build and build and build to a crushing crescendo, a perfect outpouring of sound, as she simply repeats “what’s so wrong with the light” it’s the sound of pure frustrated, helplessness, it’s overpoweringly beautiful, sad and frankly wonderful.
SIMONE FELICE – ” Bye Bye Palenville / Gettysburg “
Posted: December 7, 2014 in MUSICTags: Americana, Simone Felice, singer songwriter, Strangers
Simone Felice album “Strangers” is such a beautiful album of raw honesty and intimate, poetic storytelling. A collection of songs at once so fierce and so gentle; turns of phrase at once unheard and yet familiar too. Simone Felice is a modern poet and a fine story teller with the sort of voice that makes for the rawest straight-to-the-heart songs. Strangers is a fine addition to the Americana and alt-country genre, and one which beautifully leads us through the human condition.”
SUSANNE SUNDFOR – ” Fade Away “
Posted: December 6, 2014 in MUSICTags: Norway, singer songwriter, Susanne Sundfor, The Brothel, The Silicone Veil
new album Due February 2015, My first encounter with the wonderful and enchanting universe of Miss Sundfør was when I heard White Foxes, the first single to be taken off her brilliant album, The Silicone Veil.
On hearing the first minute or so of the track, I got exactly the same sparkling sensation as when, back in 1978, I first heard Wuthering Heights by the (equally) fabulous Kate Bush. This is the kind of sensation that you might experience, when you witness something that has a profound impact on you, I was caught completely off guard and listened with all my senses wide open in a state of equal amounts of disbelief and sheer delight. This was by far the best first single off an album that I have heard for a long time!
Indeed, Miss Sundfør has some of the same qualities as the legendary Kate Bush, in that her music defies categorisation, and that she as an artist clearly does not accept to make compromises when it comes to conveying her ideas, emotions, or presence through her art.
Susanne Sundfør is blessed with a rare gift in having amazing song-writing skills as well as a flair for slightly odd, but interesting arrangements, mostly rich in atmosphere, and also in being an authentic story-teller with quite a lot on her mind to convey. Her voice is a very delicate and sophisticated instrument in itself. Her vocal register is out of this world, and the seemingly effortless manner in which she is capable of mastering the modulation of every note that she sings is nothing short of impressive.
I later realized that I got acquainted with her music in the reverse order. First, I got into the more elaborate arrangements and sophisticated production of her recent albums, The Brothel and The Silocone Veil, and was blown away.
ANDREW COMBS – ” Foolin “
Posted: December 6, 2014 in MUSICTags: Andrew Combs, Nashville, singer songwriter
Andrew Combs released his debut EP Tennessee Time in May 2010, which has been compared to Mickey Newbury and Guy Clark.] In April 2012, Combs released a vinyl 7-inch called “Big Bad Love”. In July 2012, Andrew Combs then signed to the Nashville-based music publishing arm of New York City record label, Razor & Tie. In late 2012, Combs released “Worried Man”, which American Songwriter gave a 4-star review, writing: “As singer/songwriter first albums go, it’ll be tough to beat this as one of the years finest, from a newcomer who is hopefully just tapping into his talentIn 2013, Combs supported Caitlin Rose on national tours in America and Europe this year he played “End Of The Road” and performed at the Newport Folk Festival .
SHARON VAN ETTEN – ” I Wish I Knew “
Posted: December 2, 2014 in MUSICTags: Because I was In love, Sharon Van Etten, singer songwriter
Sharon Van Etten’s 2009 album “Because I Was in Love,” is the debut album by American singer–songwriter.
The album was released May 26, 2009 on Language of Stone.The album received a rating of 7.7 from Pitchfork Media adding: Van Etten keeps the album’s arrangements minimal and direct, augmenting her voice and guitar with only the occasional splash of organ, brushed cymbals, or multi-tracked vocal harmonies.Intimacy reigns supreme on Sharon Van Etten’s debut, which finds the folksinger crooning her melodies over beds of acoustic guitar, keyboard, and overdubbed harmonies. Her lyrics are the stuff of heartbreak and uncertainty — “I wish I knew what to do with you” she laments during the first track, and later refers to herself as a lover’s “consolation prize” — but her performances are confident, both simple in their delivery and subtle in their emotional punch. “Because I Was in Love” isn’t a bare-boned folk album; rather, it’s the sort of record that unfolds its layers with repeated listens, and the arrangements are often gorgeously lush without threatening to overpower Van Etten’s alto.
ANNIE EVE – ” Southern “
Posted: December 2, 2014 in MUSICTags: Annie Eve, London, singer songwriter
21 year old Annie Eve from North London Describes her story as “Girl picks up guitar, gets on stage a couple of hundred times, the rest is history!” Delicately and respectfully blending the mystical magic of Bon Iver with the raw sensibilities of the likes of Cobain and Regina Spektor, Annie Eve pours sugar and bitter spice into her angelic compositions with disturbing ease and sincerity.
Annie’s unusual grasp of language and awkward perspective bleeds into her lyrics and fuels an enchanting and haunting style of music. Deriving her influences from tormented poets to her own experiences, Annie Eve blends her sense of the raw and the irrational to create original and evocative songs.
J M R ( Joshua Micheal Robinson) – ” Pioneer of Your Heart “
Posted: December 1, 2014 in MUSICTags: Florida, JMR, Music, singer songwriter
I first was introduced to JMR (Joshua Michael Robinson) back in November of last year via the wonderful blogsite “Songs For A Day”. Joshua with his group, The Careful Ones, JMR is here to refresh our memories with his brand-new solo single, “Pioneer Of Your Heart”. What starts out with an acoustic guitar on the track slowly evolves into a brooding and expansive effort that incorporates vast arrays of instrumentations, and it’s safe to say with a track like this one that we wont be forgetting about the Florida-based singer-songwriter anytime soon.
Look for JMR’s debut album, “American Hell”, later this year.
The Fat Angel Sings 