Browsing Tag

bob dylan

Hunter & Girton – Father Time: Solemnly Compassionate Alt Folk

Posted on 1 March 2021
Hunter & Girton

Rural Indiana-residing alt-folk duo, Hunter & Girton, are set to release their most haunting single to date, ‘Father Time’. The sparse and desolate soundscape leaves plenty of room for your own emotions to coalesce with the sentiments delivered through the lyrics which will hold a mirror to your personal relationship with melancholy.

There may be a crestfallen air to Father Time, but it’s anything but depressive. The solemnly meditative single parallels the levels of compassion found in the most tender tracks from Pearl Jam’s latest album while delivering tear-jerking tones which lend inspiration from 60s Folk.

Father Time is due for official release on March 5th. You’ll be able to check it out for yourselves by heading over to the artist’s official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

P.B Ruck – Some Love: Sonorously Sentimental Americana Folk

Posted on 21 January 2021

Under the influence of Cohen, Waits and Dylan, Southampton-hailing artist, P.B Ruck, released their sonorously powerful latest single ‘Some Love’; the sense of romanticism is just as old school as the sepia-stained tones in the meditative Americana folk soundscape.

Through spatial effect and lyrical sparsity, Some Love is just as much about your introspection and amorous nostalgia as it is about the artist’s. With a touch of modernity on the production, folk roots are firmly implanted in the mix, but it blossoms through the tender vocals which resonate with a nuanced touch of celestially choral mesmerism.

Some Love was released on December 28th, it is available to stream via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Scott Albert Johnson offers an invitation to transcend the 2020 chaos with their Americana Alt Folk single ‘Float’

Posted on 17 December 2020

Mississippi-hailing artist Scott Albert Johnson lays down old school bluesy soul in their latest single ‘Float’ which unfolds as a timelessly cathartic feat of Alt Folk Americana. I’ll never quite get used to hearing Covid times references in a track which sounds like Cohen could have released in the 70s, but I’ll remain eternally grateful for the resolve all the same.

It’s hard not to believe Scott Albert Johnson when he tells you that the clouds are going to break someday. For your sanity’s sake, add the celestially-produced, chorally-upraising single to your playlists.

You can check out the official music video to Float which was released on November 30th via YouTube.

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

NewtonSmith – Born in a Hurricane, Forged in a Fire: Soulfully Nostalgic Alt Folk

Posted on 9 October 2020

The accordant romanticism almost catches in your throat as you listen to the soulfully melodic instrumentals mellifluously collide in NewtonSmith’s latest single Born in a Hurricane, Forged in a Fire which dropped on September 4th.

There may be reminiscences to Bob Dylan and similar roots-deep Alt Americana Folk artists, but the UK-based Folk duo masterfully brought that nostalgically resolving sound into the 21st century. Any fans of Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers will undoubtedly find the magnetism in Born in a Hurricane, Forged in a Fire. The catchy lyrics and even more infectious melodies make hitting play on this track an unforgettable experience.

If you like keeping track of hot up and coming artists, you’ll want this duo on your radar, right about now.

You can check out NewtonSmith’s latest single by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

PB Ruck lays down some haunting soul with their latest single “One-Man Rodeo”

Posted on 1 September 2020

Up and coming singer-songwriter PB Ruck released his latest single One-Man Rodeo on August 24th. It’s pretty much safe to say that it may just be the most pensively raw single we’ve heard so far in 2020.

The hauntingly mellifluous soundscape possesses a timeless Alt-Folk feel which is sure to be a hit with any fans of the likes of Cohen, Waits and Dylan, but it’s anything but archaic. Thanks to the clever contemporary nuances in One-Man Rodeo, it rings with modernity, resonance and connectivity.

You can check out PB Ruck’s single One-Man Rodeo for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Garrett Clark Bell – Rolling On: Alt Folk for the Outliers

Posted on 30 August 2020

On the heels of a successful debut single, Alabama-born artist and ex-vet Garrett Clark Bell has released their mellifluously hypnotic sophomore single “Rolling On”.

Any fans of War on Drugs and American Football will no doubt appreciate his modernistic take on Country which comes with a blissfully winding infusion of Alt Folk. If you pull your attention away from the consciousness-consuming accordance of the inventively effect-laden instrumentals, anyone who finds resonance in Bob Dylan’s lyrics will find plenty of relatable sentiments in Rolling On. It speaks to the outliers of society, the ones that navigate through the alienation looking for direction. It’s a powerful affirmation of the fact that even if you feel alone, you’re not alone in that feeling.

You can check out Rolling On for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Joey Sherman – PRETENDING: A Haunting Alt Folk Attack on Daily Monotony

Posted on 14 August 2020

If anyone’s looking for tips on how to orchestrate transfixing Alt Folk preludes, hit play on Joey Sherman’s single PRETENDING and grab a pen. From the first pensively picked notes, we were hooked.

After the ringing of an old school alarm clock which pretty much fills you with the I-don’t-want-to-go-to-work/school-dread, the raw, rugged and steady guitar notes lead you into a sombrely captivating soundscape which any fans of Bob Dylan will appreciate. It’s as haunting as it is stunning.

With the extended duration of PRETENDING, there’s plenty of room for absorbing instrumental solos which add just as much emotional depth to the single as the vocals and lyrics.

If you can relate to needing an escape, you’ll find plenty of resonance within PRETENDING which powerfully points out just how much energy is demanded of us in day to day life and how exhausting it can be.

You can check out Joey Sherman’s single PRETENDING via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Blonde Lion has released their enrapturing ennui-laden Alt Folk single “Ordinary Day”

Posted on 5 August 2020

Folk-Pop singer-songwriter Blonde Lion released their latest single “Ordinary Day” on August 5th. Elliott Smith may not be with us anymore, but Blonde Lion’s melancholic style is just as efficacious at drawing pensive emotions from you and offering aural resolve.

Obviously, I didn’t make it to the end of Ordinary Day with dry eyes. The delicateness of the atmospheric and intricate acoustic instrumentals was one thing, the resonance in the lyrics was quite another.  Ordinary Days was inspired by the days where you wake up and struggle to find anything which offers any meaning. The jaded ennui was all too relatable and it’s safe to say that after the global lockdown, plenty more people will see themselves in this sublime soundscape which serves as the perfect introduction to Blonde Lion’s compelling style.

You can check out Blonde Lion’s latest release by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Hampshire based Folk-Roots artist Megan Linford shines bright with truthful ‘’Lessons’’

Posted on 31 May 2020

Put in time and you will get the results. With a soothing piano to start the song, you know this is going to be good. Giving thanks to her parents, speaking about lessons learnt- no matter how hard the occasional trips and falls. 

‘Megan Linford’, is making her way on the UK Folk/Indie scene with her sun-kissed melodies and honest lyrics, that shows her humble and grateful attitude to life. She is an Indie artist, doing it herself with the love and support of friends and family. She hosts her own music night in Portsmouth and seems to be learning all the sides of the music industry, a very smart move indeed. 

After already pushing out 2 self- released EP’s and 3 singles, Megan is working hard on her first album set for release in 2020. I personally can’t wait to hear the new music and hopefully lockdown hasn’t slowed anything down for her.

From the little I know about Megan, I can tell that this is an extremely industrious and hard working woman who won’t let anything stop her. Her voice is absolutely breathtaking and I can’t wait to see her live at a gig soon. The local music scene needs people like Megan, someone with a positive message and self-awareness, in these troubled times.

‘’Lessons’’ and more stunning vocals from Megan are here on Spotify.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen