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49 Burning Condors are arrestingly ablaze in their Southern Gothic album, Seventh Hymnal

Posted on 9 September 2022

49 Burning Condors released a strong contender for the album of the year with their latest tribally awakening release, Seventh Hymnal. Penned during lockdown, the 7-track release traverses some tender topics; with the sonorous amalgam of goth rock and occultist alchemy, it is as bewitching as it is emboldening.

It isn’t often I’m left speechless. But considering the very nature of Seventh Hymnal is to express what can never be portrayed through words alone, the arrested daze that 49 Burning Condors left me in speaks volumes of their ability to run with an powerful concept and take you along for the visceral ride until you’re subsequently soothed by the sonic vernacular.

The album opens on the swampy stripped-back bluesy single, Bayou, before Little Death delivers a haunting ode to frailty through baroque strings, sparse vocals and hypnotic percussion. Track 3, Willow Tree, lets the compassion pour through the gentle folkish melodicism before Red Drum Skin will make you want to lead a sacrificial lamb to slaughter. Track 5, Noonday, one of the previously released singles stands as a profound testament to the vocal soul from Kimber before the album concludes on the sorrowfully sublime title single, which is just as cinematic as Ramin Djawadi’s work on Westworld.

Here’s what 49 Burning Condors have to say about their latest release:

“Seventh Hymnal was written during the pandemic; a time of abounding uncertainty, where death loomed around every corner, and chaos lingered in our world, homes, and veins. Our songs are dripping with stories of grief, bodies floating down the river, men drowning to a siren’s song, and of the gods worshipped, who ultimately turned calamitous.

Seventh Hymnal is not only an outpouring of all the things we wanted to say but couldn’t express in regular words to those we loved and even to ourselves, but a benediction and examination of a woman’s role of power in the world of men.”

Seventh Hymnal will stream across all platforms from September 7th. Hear it on SoundCloud and Spotify.

For more info, head over to their official website or follow them on Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

In Your Face: Borrowed Standards finds it in the bottle on Human

Posted on 1 September 2022

Taken from the 7-track album called Bad Timing: The Odd Bits, Borrowed Standards show us incredible storytelling abilities in the highest standard possible with his latest single about those dangerous chemicals called Human.

Formed by Dylan Csincsa, Borrowed Standards is an experimental folk music project that was born deep in the hills of beautiful Manitoba, Canada.

”Written and produced entirely on his own, Dylan sings about self-loathing, addiction, failure and heartbreak, but isn’t afraid to be playful.” ~ Dylan from Borrowed Standards explaining everything we need to know about his project

Sending us into a hugely thoughtful universe that shall force you to rethink why we get so tempted in a race to feel awake, Borrowed Standards displays his introspective style that shall get your feet tapping.

Projecting a likeable vocal output that is blended with a lyrical excellence, leading us into a worrying story all about that zombie feeling that can destroy you over time if you aren’t too careful.

Human from Manitoba, Canada-based indie folk act Borrowed Standards is an honest reflection about being so careful about those harmful chemicals that are causing absolute carnage. Performed with an honest edge that will cause you to reflect on those who you worry about, as they do things to make them feel alive in this suffocating world.

Keeping your own soul conscious naturally always feels better long-term after all.

Listen up on Spotify and see more on the IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Layman.TV sings a ‘Harmony Eternal’ in his ethereal indie folk pop single

Posted on 30 August 2022
https://soundcloud.com/user-534530743/harmony-eternal-1

Bridging the gaps between Glen Hansard, James Yorkston and Richard Hawley, The London-based singer-songwriter, Layman.TV released his latest ethereal indie folk single, Harmony Eternal.

The flourishing chamber strings against his harmonised spoken word reflections on nature and all the parallels they create within our lives pull together to create a poetically celestial sensory experience in Harmony Eternal. It is almost enough to guilt trip you for not sharing the same romantic lust for life. I say almost; the sublime appreciation for natural phenomena becomes infectious. Especially when the nuanced rock guitars start to bolster the passion in the otherwise graciously otherworldly soundscape.

Harmony Eternal is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Melody Is So Sweet: Jessamine Barham loves that free-feeling in Nature

Posted on 29 August 2022

Inspired by Birdy, Within Temptation, and Regina Spektor, Jessamine Barham shows us her love for the outdoors that shall guide you away from the stifling smokey city that is so far from the peaceful climates of Nature.

Jessamine Barham is a San Diego, California-based indie folk/chamber-pop singer-songwriter and writer who makes beautiful melodies that are rather mood-altering.

”Most of my music is either about stories I create or personal experiences or issues I’ve had.” ~ Jessamine Barham describing her sound

Gracing us with something rather special and packed with so much love, Jessamine Barham is rather special and shall hug your ear so sweetly. Everything is so pure and genuine to the max, to help us heal from all the trauma that can only be cured by taking in the beautiful parts of our planet.

Nature from San Diego, California-based indie folk/chamber-pop artist Jessamine Barham is a delightful effort that has been made with that rare class and authentic vibes. Vocally enhanced and kind in every way possible, this is an experience for this whole needs a break from the toxic smog that our busy cities can wrap over us.

When you feel that fresh air inside your lungs, everything in your soul changes for the better.

Listen to this lovely song on YouTube and see more news via IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

There’s something in the arcane air in Lara Eidi’s latest folk single, Summer Winds

Posted on 26 August 2022

Bask in the blissful aural accordance of Lara Eidi’s latest single, Summer Winds. The Athens-born, Lebanon and Canada-hailing, and London-residing artist is known for her genre-transcending style, which invites the listener into storytelling catharsis. Summer Winds is no exception to her resolving rule.

The soul and presence of an artist will always make a world of difference before talent is brought into the equation; it is impossible not to get caught up in the romanticism of her vivid vocal dynamism and ever-ascending melodies crafted on mandolin, guitar and cello.

In the course of her career, Eidi has played at iconic venues, such as The Barbican, garnered critical acclaim from across the board, and perhaps most pertinently, healed listeners with the candour in her lyrics. With Summer Winds, she crafted one of the most uplifting expositions on anxiety that you could care to listen to.

The official music video for Summer Winds premiered on August 7th. Check it out for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Escape in the roots of Drew Peterson’s Americana folk single, Duck

Posted on 25 August 2022

With the quirky intensity of Neutral Milk Hotel and the bluegrass crooning of Tom Waits, we couldn’t help succumbing to the soul in Drew Peterson’s album, St. Jude, A Duck and the Crooked Line.

The opening single, Duck, is a narratively escapist Midwest adventure from the independent roots singer-songwriter who has been twanging acoustic strings and entertaining rowdy bars on the Minnesota scene for over two decades. The softly gruff vocals work their way through the dry humour in the lyrics over the minimalist production, consisting of little more than accordion and strings. But that is all Peterson needed to sonically consume you with the endearingly titled, Duck.

Check out Drew Peterson’s debut solo album via his official website and Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Annabel Brett makes sure we get the message in her alt-soul pop single, Voicemails

Posted on 23 August 2022

With the vocal poise of a 1950’s bluesy soulstress and the cutting indie folk pop edge of artists such as Mitski and Phoebe Bridgers, Annabel Brett is breath-taking in her dreamy pop single, Voicemails.

The vocal distinction gives few clues to the 23-year-old independent artist’s influences, and it’s a very similar story with the light, minimalist and acoustics. The two-minute tender track eclipses everything lo-fi should be; Voicemails resounds like you’ve just caught a Truman Capote character in an intimate melancholic moment.

Check out Annabel Brett’s latest single, Voicemails on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Deep Sea Tourist explored our embitteringly perplexing world in his alt-folk single, Bodies

Posted on 23 August 2022

Scottish singer-songwriter, Deep Sea Tourist, channelled the melodious evocativeness of Frightened Rabbit in his alt-folk single, Bodies, taken from his 2022 album, Everything Will Be Okay, Probably.

The loss of Scott Hutchinson left a massive empathy-shaped hole in the Scottish indie scene. If anyone has the astute compassion to fill it, it is Deep Sea Tourist. He dove deep into introspection to pull out comforting melancholy and blissfully resolving acoustic melodies accentuated by folky strings.

Bodies almost unravels as an intimate conversation on the confusion that transpires when we try to excavate an understanding of our human experience in this ever-perplexing and imbittering world. Bodies is genuinely one of the most stunning singles I have listened to this year. If I wasn’t on so many antidepressants, the floodgates would have undoubtedly opened to the tune of it.

Everything Will Be Okay, Probably is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Wings To Fly: Simona-Valentina urges us to never feel Bitter in Love

Posted on 17 August 2022

After last impressing us with her previous single from January 2022 called Love Is Written In The Tears, Simona-Valentina shows us inside her prayers as she hopes everything will work out rather naturally on Bitter in Love.

Simona-Valentina is a much-loved Transylvania-born, London-based indie pop/folk singer-songwriter, artist, dancer and photographer.

”Her love for music started when she was very young, mostly inspired by music of the 80’s-90’s that she discovered from many vinyls and cassettes her family owned.” ~ Simona-Valentina

There is something so special about that memorable moment when you first turn on a Simona-Valentina track. There is so much authenticity in droves. Each lyric has been made from the heart. Each note has been formed with that genuine kindness, as we are flown into a happier world where your whole soul is somehow transformed from before. A special blend of goodness that can’t be taught is on offer, from a truly glorious creative.

“When you love, there is heaven and there is dirt, but you should never feel bitter or little when you do love as love is always beautiful and divine.” ~ Simona-Valentina

Bitter in Love from London-based indie pop/folk singer-songwriter Simona-Valentina is one of the more delightful soundtracks you are likely to hear this year. Guiding us to a kinder mentality that washes away the previous bitterness, this is such a welcome anthem for all those who have had their doubts lately.

Soaring high with her calming vocals and self-aware nature, we are in the midst of a progressive artist who performs with a stunning ambiance which will surely change your perspective.

Hear this lovely musician on Spotify and see more on her IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Ildy Lee has unveiled her sermonic folk ‘Requiem for Peace’

Posted on 17 August 2022

With her latest single, the international singer-songwriter, Ildy Lee made her much-needed contribution to peace and sanctity. Requiem for Peace is an otherworldly sermonic folk extension of her empathy for those grieving in Ukraine. After facing Russian tanks in her home country of Budapest, she’s well placed to give us the sum of this colossal loss with a sense of sincerity that is scarcely heard on the subject.

I’ll never forget the Adam Curtis documentary, which pointed out that Patti Smith was as much of a part of her system for her reaction against it. Ildy Lee is one of the rare voices that can earnestly say that she’s efficaciously fighting against ever-prevalent justice. The compassion in Requiem for Peace is enough to force you into shedding a cathartic tear. In a time when a sense of humanity seems a scarcity, Ildy Lee is worth her weight in gold.

The official music video for Requiem for Peace is available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast