Browsing Tag

Alt Folk

Michael Golden gives us a glimpse into his psyche with captivating new single ‘The Rhine’

Posted on 29 November 2020

Bloomington, Indiana resident Michael Golden began his songwriting career at the age of 16; now, after twenty years of honing his craft, he drops his debut album ‘Some Kind Of Holiday’, a self-produced 12 tracks of classic, folk-rock inspired eclecticism in the singer-songwriter tradition of the 1970’s.

Raw and heartfelt, autobiographical in the Leonard Cohen way, new single ‘The Rhine’ is a vaguely psychedelic, folksy little three minutes of earnest, sincere whimsy; it’s profound, pretty, like a trip back into the world of Cat Stevens and Donovan, naked and laid bare and altogether truthful. Golden has assembled a stunning collection of musicians across ‘Some Kind Of Holiday’, with swelling cello, organ, and guitars all underpinning his deep, rich vocal.

‘Some Kind Of Holiday’ is out now; view the video for ‘The Rhine’ on YouTube, and follow Michael Golden on Facebook or via his website.

Review by Alex Holmes

Scott Rocco – Sum of You: Ardently Enrapturing Indie Americana Alt Folk

Posted on 28 November 2020

Award-winning artist Scott Rocco’s talent in creating soulfully cutting Alt Indie Folk Rock has discernibly got sharper, his latest release, ‘Sum of You’ resounds with NYC romantic cool.

While people are far too busy discussing whether Fairytale of New York should be allowed airplay, they’re sleeping on stunning releases such as Sum of You which delivers pure anthemic Americana while simultaneously exuding the intimacy of Indie Folk.

With their debut album IGNITED in the pipeline, you’ll definitely want this mind-blowingly exceptional artist on your radar. His ability to materialise the human condition and the essence of our suffering in his soundscapes is practically unparallelled. As far as I’m concerned, there is no better purveyor of raw heartfelt rock currently contributing to the airwaves. The level of emotion contained in Sum of You is potent enough to reanimate even the most jaded of souls (I’m pretty much speaking from experience there).

You can listen to Sum of You on Spotify

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Cass & Crossland – Adeline: Absorbingly Sweet Indie Folk Rock

Posted on 22 November 2020

Phoenix Arizona’s Indie Folk Rock duo Cass & Crossland made their 2020 debut with the absorbingly idyllic single ‘Adeline’. Their timeless approach to songwriting will remind you of the iconic greats while affirming that they’re the contemporaries that the airwaves have been calling out for.

The stunning harmonies find perfect balance with the transfixingly accordant semi-orchestral instrumental arrangement which simultaneously feels minimalistic and resounding. It’s the kind of track you hit play on, and you can’t quite tell if you’re consuming the track or if it is consuming you. The immersive ethereal air to the soundscape perfectly complements the romantically vivid imagery which the lyricism conjures.

With their ability to not only draw affectionate emotion from you as you listen to the track but also leave you endeared by the soul which the track contains, they’re undoubtedly ones to watch. Get them on your radar.

You can check out Adeline for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

CORBETT – Under the Tree: An Alt-Folk Festive Playlist Staple

Posted on 18 November 2020
CORBETT

Usually, when you think of Christmas music, you think of the grating classics you hear in supermarkets or whichever iconic track John Lewis has decided to butcher with their Christmas ad, but CORBETT’s forthcoming single ‘Under the Tree’ will shatter your perception of festively-inclined aural offerings.

With the London Folk singer-songwriter’s enigmatic whiskey-soaked raspy vocals which will send an ethereal chill up your spine interlacing with a stripped-back jazzy Folk arrangement and lyrics lamenting over lactose intolerance, it’s impossible not to be endeared.

I didn’t think that I’d ever see the day where a Christmas song touched my soul and made me turn a smile, it’s practically a Christmas miracle.

Under the Tree is due for official release on December 1st. You’ll be able to check it out via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Timothy Jaromir keeps us dancing in the ‘Afterglow’.

Posted on 11 November 2020

For ‘Afterglow’, Timothy Jaromir has revisited the stunning collaboration of Americana-Folk project Goldschatz with his Canadian-born wife Rykka to gorgeous effect.

A perfect, beautiful mix of folk, blues, Americana, and mildly jazzy indie-pop, ‘Afterglow’ stomps along on a bouncy, reverb-washed drum-beat and bassline before kicking-in in full on the dreamily catchy chorus.

Rykka’s sublime vocal intertwines around Jaromir’s lead, swirling keyboards, and guitar, the whole thing wrapping itself around you like a comfort-giving blanket, warming and soothing whilst lifting your heart and dragging a smile to even the most lockdown-sick of faces. This is total, exquisite feel-good folk-pop that simply cannot fail to delight, enliven, and revitalise even the most world-weary of souls.

Hear ‘Afterglow’ on Timothy Jaromir’s Facebook page, or follow on Twitter and Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

The Bigst Hands – Catch a Fist: Dive Bar Delta Blues

Posted on 6 November 2020

With slight gothic hues lingering in Americana Blues Folk sound, The Bigst Hands’ latest single Catch a Fist is as delectably dark as it is soulfully soothing. Any fans of Kurt Vile will definitely want to delve into the Chicago-born, Brooklyn-based artist’s Delta Blues sound.

The despondently sultry release will stick with you for long after it has faded to a close – especially considering that the track contains one of the most hauntingly cutting Blues guitar solos I’ve potentially ever heard. The Bigst Hands has a way of allowing you to feel like he’s playing the notes on your heartstrings.

The brashly booming drums, phantasmic quivers of the slide guitar and seductive melancholy offered vocally make Catch a Fist and unforgettable track. If Bukowski was still around, I could imagine he’d be an ardent fan of The Bigst Hands and their explorative lyrical style which makes no bones about dissecting the human condition – warts and wall.

You can check out Catch a Fist for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Explore the Folklore in Garefowl’s single ‘Hion Daila Horo Ri Ho Hion Daila La’

Posted on 6 November 2020

Folklore organically flows through ‘Hion Daila Horo Ri Ho Hion Daila La’, just one of the singles found on the Alt Folk artist Garefowl’s alchemic TARDIS of an album ‘Cliffs’.

The entrancingly tribalistic record consistently subverts your expectations by seamlessly shunting you from eerie tones into euphoria-infusing traditional St Kildan melodies.

Even though each of the artists contributing to the album worked remotely, the instrumental arrangement transcends being ‘tight’. The mesmerism which breathes between the brooding notes is enough to tear you away from modernity and allow you to wonder what it would be like to live a subsistence existence away from the fray and 21st distraction,

After receiving high praise from the likes of Cerys Matthews (BBC Radio 6), Mark Radcliffe (BBC Radio 2) and The National, it is impossible to see how Garefowl won’t become a major part of the musical landscape in 2021 and beyond.

You can check out Garefowl’s single via Spotify or YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jessamine Barham – Marching On: A Sanity-Preservation Playlist Staple

Posted on 17 October 2020

After the release of her second album, there’s never been a better time to indulge in Jessamine Barham’s captivatingly devastating Alt-Indie Folk Pop sound.

The perfect introduction to her melancholically arrestive style is “Marching On” which compassionately addresses the very real fact that globally, we’re suffering from a loss of faith. Not just in a religious sense, but a loss of faith in our futures, ourselves, our leaders. The list is endless, but, as Jessamine Barham so poignantly alludes in this haunting release, it’s not easy to pull yourself out of a depressive hole, but that doesn’t mean that it is an impossibility for you to see more than just futility.

This track isn’t for the fainthearted. The directness of it may rub some salt in the wound, but just as with that tired old analogy, the salt (track) can heal after it stings.

I don’t make a habit of expressing personal gratitude in my reviews, but Jessamine Barham deserves so much more than fancy adjectives, she deserves recognition for this truly priceless record, for how candidly she approached the lyrics, for how cathartically resolving the soundscape became. So, thank you.

You can check out Marching On by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Get high with Michael Golden’s intoxicating Alt Folk single “Mr. Ecstasy”

Posted on 8 October 2020

Slip into the soul contained in US singer-songwriter Michael Golden’s debut album Some Kind of Holiday, it’s a candidly compelling narration of the artist’s experience navigating life, you’ll find plenty of familiar moments staring back at you.

The perfect introduction to their melodically haunting style is irrefutably “Mr. Ecstasy”. Any fans of Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits are going to get stung by the melancholy. Just like dropping a pill, there are blissfully radiant highs and soul-scraping lows. Yet, Mr. Ecstasy is able to offer far more than narcotics could.

The tender nostalgic comfort contained in Mr. Ecstasy is worth its weight in gold. Michael Golden has palpably succeeded in recreating the 70s sound with a modern digital folk edge.

You can check out Mr. Ecstasy for yourselves by heading over to YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Blowing My Own Trumpet – Calling Me Home: Sun-Soaked Alt Folk

Posted on 3 October 2020

Alt Folk artist Blowing My Own Trumpet may just possess the most ingenious moniker we’ve ever heard. It cheekily alludes to the artist’s playfully expressive nature which also resonates within their rhythmic feat of folk “Calling Me Home” which breaks the monocultural mould by allowing African culture to effervesce within the organically high-vibe single.

Even if Calling Me Home doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, I can guarantee that your soul will feel infinitely lighter once the sun-soaked soundscape has faded to a close. If your escapism playlists are in need of an update, you’ve struck gold with the image-laden track.

You can check out Calling Me Home for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast