Browsing Tag

Folk Blues

Blake Baker is captivating in his wistfully listless single, Mind the Gap

Posted on 11 December 2023

The up-and-coming genre-fluid singer-songwriter Blake Baker became the ultimate raconteur of relatable melancholy while simultaneously delivering sonic sanctuary with his latest acoustic single, Mind the Gap.

The profound and beautifully crafted introspective piece resonates with the soulful narrative strength of classic folk songwriting; Baker’s skill in blending this traditional foundation with an Americana blues essence results in a song that is both timeless and refreshingly original.

Lyrically, Mind the Gap paints a vivid, cinematic portrait of a protagonist who feels overlooked and invisible amidst the bustling society around him. This theme of alienation and longing for connection speaks directly to anyone who has struggled to find their place in the world. Baker’s ability to capture this sentiment in his eloquently compassionate lyricism is beyond compare as the track anchors around his rich, sonorous voice which can carry the low timbres as well as the highs he maintains resonant depth.

Mind the Gap is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Susan Ritchie lit a beacon of tranquillity and wisdom in ‘It’s High Time’

Posted on 22 November 2023

Susan Ritchie, whose name has become synonymous with authentic artistry on the Central CA Coast, lit a beacon of tranquillity and wisdom in the standout single, It’s High Time, taken from her debut album, Life is for the Living. So much more than solely a musical score, it’s a journey into the heart of what it means to find peace and meaning amidst the chaos of modernity.

Ritchie gave the adage ‘live and let live’ brand-new potency within It’s High Time by speaking chapter and verse on how it takes nothing to accept trans men and women who are just looking to align their minds with their appearance. Her ability to weave everyday experiences into her songwriting, while giving a nod to the universal experiences we all share, is on full display here. The song is a reminder to pause, reflect, and embrace the moment, a message that resonates now more than ever when it is too easy to be consumed by the insanity which breeds on every corner of the internet.

The influence of her early inspirations, from James Taylor’s finger-picking to the sweet yet sassy blues of Bonnie Raitt, is evident in the song’s composition. Yet, It’s High Time is unmistakably a Susan Ritchie creation. It’s a song that showcases her evolution as an artist, blending soul, blues, rock, and folk into a seamless and captivating experience.

Regardless of how many people find comfort in Susan Ritchie’s soulfully sonorous sound, she speaks directly to you through the intimacy of her lyrics and the magnetically powerful delivery of her gilded-in-introspective-gold lines.

Stream It’s High Time on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sadness plays the blues in the latest folk composition by Italian virtuoso, Stefano Manotti

Posted on 10 October 2023

A cosmically arcane air breezes right through the latest folk single from the Italian singer, songwriter, composer and guitarist Stefano Manotti. He may be only a few years on from the release of his Soulgem Records-distributed debut single, but he is already making major waves in the industry by climbing the charts and supporting internationally acclaimed artists.

The amorous melancholy that lingers in his vocal lines as they drift above the folky instrumental arrangement in Endless Road, which paints a panoramic picture of estrangement and wantonness for connection, invites you into an intimately electrifying and orchestrally ornate world. Sonically visualising the middle ground between Bowie & Tom Waits while orchestrating an exemplary manifestation of Italian folk, Manotti’s sound couldn’t be more refined in this odyssey of folk blues.

Endless Road is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Catt Christine, lead singer from The Freedom Ledges, shares debut solo single ‘Let’s Begin’

Posted on 7 March 2021
Catt Christine

If a CV fronting LA blues/rock mainstays The Freedom Ledges, your own Catt and the Haunted Blues, and Mojo Sonic, isn’t enough, on ‘Let’s Begin’ Catt Christine teams up with LA Funk/Soul artist and multiple award winner Cliff Beach and producer Alex Romero for this powerful slice of soul-inspired blues rock. Christine’s Grace Slick/Alannah Myles/Alison Mosshart rich vocal tears from the speakers, alternately gruff and raucous and soft and sensual, sitting atop the distorted guitar, grooving bassline, and brushed Texas shuffle drums.

Having to resort to remote recording due to the pandemic restrictions is never easy, but to get a genre like this to sound this organic, fluid, and spontaneous takes some doing; making it sound as if all the musicians are jamming in one room requires some serious production skill, yet with ‘Let’s Begin’ you can imagine the groove, Persian rugs, candles and throws, and some serious grins from the players. That’s the vibe the track conjures up, all down-home swagger and serious soul-groove. If this is just the ‘beginning’ for Christine then it bodes extremely well for what comes next.

You can hear ‘Let’s Begin’ across all major streaming platforms from February 12th, with a pre-save via Distrokid. In the meantime, check out Catt Christine on Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

Folk Rock artist Ragged Road have released their latest single “I’ve Been Travelling”

Posted on 28 February 2020

Ragged Road created the perfect escapism music with their latest Folk single “I’ve Been Travelling” which was released on February 28th.

The concordant mellifluous rhythms in I’ve Been Travelling are accompanied by instantly captivating warm vocals which pull you through the meandering soundscape which oozes wanderlust vibes. I’ve Been Travelling may be a traditionally orchestrated Americana Folk Blues track, but magnetism found in nostalgia-inducing soundscapes will remain timelessly appealing.

Ragged Road made their debut in 2018, but they’ve already proven that they’re at the forefront of Alt Folk innovation. It’s going to be incredibly exciting to see where they take their uniquely Celtic sound next.

You can check out I’ve Been Travelling for yourselves by roaming over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Strange Valentines – Just Like That: Riff-Heavy Folk Blues

Posted on 1 June 2019
https://soundcloud.com/user-481884431/just-like-that/s-Wl7tT?in=user-481884431/sets/odd-angled-love-songs-for-humans/s-O6Ouu

There was no forgetting the Strange Valentines after hearing their 2018 release “Rural Abyss”, this time they’re back, and the duo has got even more artfully vibrant with their upcoming single “Just Like That”. The single which is due for release on June 1st, 2019 provides all of the endearingly charismatic elements of Folk, yet, behind the storytelling lyrics and the quirky energy of the track, you’re treated to a bed of heavy riffs which carry a more Rock inclination. The sense of aural chemistry between Janet Mills’ vocals and the raw cutting guitar from David Farrell remains palpable throughout the duration of the single.

Head on over to Spotify and check out the all the releases from the Strange Valentines.

Review by Amelia Vandergast