Browsing Tag

Kurt Vile

Blake Jubenville – The Sunsets: Horizons in Indie Alt-Country Harmony

Posted on 16 November 2024

At just 14, Blake Jubenville already has a hit-packed discography and a mastery of melody under his belt. His latest single, ‘The Sunsets’ amalgamates the rugged charm of country with indie sensibility, carving a unique niche in the contemporary music scene, reminiscent of the nostalgia found in the works of the Violent Femmes and the rhythmic narratives of Kurt Vile.

Blake’s ability to craft melodies that resonate with a seasoned artist’s flair is evident throughout ‘The Sunsets’. The single flows with swathes of commercial appeal yet retains a heartfelt authenticity that strays far away from cliché. His mature-beyond-his-years voice carries a gravity that sweeps up the atmosphere, turning every note into a panoramic vignette that pulls the listener in.

The authenticity permeates every syllable, making it impossible not to warm to the fledgling singer-songwriter and see the potential in his future.

Stream Blake Jubenville’s seminal single on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

James Jarmusch – Rattlesnake Road

Posted on 14 July 2024
James Jarmusch

James Jarmusch’s unreleased single, Rattlesnake Road, presents a deep, narrative-driven journey wrapped in the gritty textures of blues and acoustic indie folk; there isn’t an epoch this single could reverberate through and sound out of place, affirming the singer-songwriter’s ability to rhythmically cradle modernism and traditionalism without tipping the balance either way.

Reminiscent of the evocative darkness found in Amigo the Devil’s murder folk sound print and the expressive depth characteristic of Kurt Vile, Rattlesnake Road seamlessly layers raw blues folk undertones with dark Americana-twanged vocals to forge a soundscape that transcends immersive. The melodies sonically transport you to the lawlessly enticing destination where the enigmatic singer-songwriter found his muse.

The track, which will shortly be available to stream, serves as an undeniable showcase of Jarmusch’s unique adeptness in painting vivid portraits with rhythmic brushstrokes; his devilishly magnetic command over tone and atmosphere presents him as a true folk troubadour.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Oliver James Brooks synthesised contemporary sickness with the fever of the 70s in ‘Technologically Stoned.

Posted on 28 September 2023
https://bit.ly/OJB-TechnologicallyStoned-Video

To hold a mirror to the dystopic sickness of the day, the critically acclaimed Toronto singer-songwriter, Oliver James Brooks, lyrically narrated our iPhone co-dependency issues in stark contrast to the 70s fever of psych-folk timbres with his alt-folk-rock single, Technologically Stoned.

Illuminating the reality of the evolution of technology which is spurring the regression of society while orchestrating a lava lamp warm soundscape that consoles through the dusky hues couldn’t have been an easy feat; the resolving raconteur succeeded nonetheless.

The accompanying music video, shot on super 8mm film along the Humber River Valley, also acts as a compelling visual exposition of how the chokehold of our phones is blinding us to the natural beauty that is everywhere we turn. If any single is going to convince you to get your dopamine fix in a more organic way, it is Technologically Stoned; the organic and raw production leads by efficacious example.

Technologically Stoned was officially released on September 22; it will also feature in the artist’s third studio LP, A Little Long While, which will be available to stream on all major platforms from November 24.

Watch the official music video for Technologically Stone on YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Shane Cooley finds freedom in isolation in his alt-indie-folk single, Coyote

Posted on 8 April 2022
https://soundcloud.com/shanecooley/shane-cooley-coyote-radio-edit/s-3SBTPIaFsbn?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Inspired by tumultuous times and personal emotional upheavals, the acclaimed alt indie-folk singer-songwriter, Shane Cooley, stepped into the metaphysical wild to create his seminal upcoming album, Forest. The first single to be released, Coyote, is a hauntingly euphonic hit that blends tonal palettes of Jack White and Elliott Smith while experimenting with artful simplicity and the dust of desert rock. Vocally, Cooley parallels Grandaddy with his honeyed high timbres that still resonate as organic despite the raised velvety pitches.

With lyrics that run like wild poetry, “A coyote/In grown man’s clothing/Forever lonely/Forever free/Down in the valley/Out on the streets/If you push me/ I’ll show my teeth”, this modernised feat of indie-folk Americana won’t fail to reel you into the themes of isolation and freedom, which are proven to be two of the same.

We can’t wait to hear what the rest of his seminal LP delivers. The Richmond, VA artist may be flying under a lot of people’s radars. Yet, it is only a matter of time before he gets full recognition for his inexplicably honed-in talent and instantly magnetic charisma as a songwriter.

Coyote will officially drop on April 8th, 2022. You can check it out for yourselves by heading over to Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Meet your new slide guitar hero in Forest Ray’s psych-folk single, Always

Posted on 22 January 2022
Forest Ray

The notion of forever may be farfetched, but Forest Ray’s title-single from their upcoming album, Always, melodiously exhibits the beauty in love persisting. The folky psych rock soundscape carries the finger-picking influence of the late and great John Prine as the psychedelic nuances freshen the familiarity under the honeyed timbre of Forest Ray’s vocals.

The soaring guitar slides bring an absorbing dynamic to the release, entrenching Always next to the roots of Americana while simultaneously bringing in the future of psych-rock. Forest Ray deserves to be equally as revered as Kurt Vile for their hazy and cathartic sense of soul that leaves you with no question over their sincerity. For your sanity’s sake, delve in.

The single, Always, will release on January 22nd with the official music video.

Check out Forest Ray on SoundCloud, Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

8udDha bl0od – L3m0n 50Ul – 7h!5 L0<3ly F33ling: Soulfully Striking Alt Folk Rock

Posted on 15 May 2020
8udDha bl0od

L3m0n 50Ul – 7h!5 L0<3ly F33ling is just one of the upcoming releases from the enviably talented Brighton-based artist 8udDha bl0od. The Psych Alt Folk single pulls in a myriad of nuances, but from the first hit, it will feel like home.

If you could imagine a soundscape as evocatively compelling as Elliot Smith’s tender classics, as Stylistic as Kurt Vile’s approach to Blues, and as kaleidoscopically warm as a track from King Crimson, you’ll get a good idea of the ingenuity which spills from L3m0n 50Ul – 7h!5 L0<3ly F33ling.

Despite the sweet absolving layers of soul weaved into L3m0n 50Ul – 7h!5 L0<3ly F33ling it’s still an emotionally weighted single which will stick to your synapses long after the track has faded to a close.

You’ll be able to check out L3m0n 50Ul – 7h!5 L0<3ly F33ling for yourselves from July 27th via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

8udDha bl0od – HAUn71ng: D3M0n5: Candidly Cathartic Alt Folk Blues

Posted on 20 April 2020
https://soundcloud.com/william-orpen/haunting

Any fans of Alt Folk which comes with an ethereal chill will undoubtedly want to check out the smoking gun of a single “HAUn71ng: D3M0n5” from the experimentally dynamic Brighton-based artist 8udDha bl0od.

8udDha bl0od put his distinctive mark on a timeless sound with HAUn71ng: D3M0n5. It was more downtempo, accordant, and organic than their recent releases. Yet, it was engorging to hear the artist put their soul at the centre of the vocally-led track. 8udDha bl0od’s Indie Blues vocals float synergistically above the stripped-back acoustic soundscape which is candid as it is cathartic.

HAUn71ng: D3M0n5 shares the same accordant arrestive allure as tracks by the like of Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, and Elliott Smith, but 8udDha bl0od definitely didn’t fail to make the soundscape his own. It feels like that should go without saying when it comes to 8udDha bl0od’s music.

You can check out HAUn71ng: D3M0n5 for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Max Seidman – The Key: Ethereally Magnetic Americana Folk

Posted on 10 April 2020
https://open.spotify.com/track/23FD64MVUSTvFT2RB80Ezw?si=wLmjReYoTN2vVBugrnBoKQ

Any fans of Kurt Vile will want to get acquainted with the pensively captivating latest single “The Key” from up and coming Americana Folk artist Max Seidman.

There’s a contemporary spin on the timeless genre through the ethereal polished production. Yet, the organically sentimental track shares the same beguiling magnetism as tracks by the likes of Cohen, Waits, and Elliot Smith.

The melancholic keys find perfect synergy with the stripped-back delicate fingerpicked acoustic guitar notes and create an immersive soundscape to lie under Max Seidman’s powerfully resounding vocals which will leave you hanging on every neatly-pitched vocal note in the Key.

Tracks don’t often come as narratively arrestive as the Key. Max Seidman is undoubtedly one to watch.

You can check out The Key along with Max Seidman’s earlier releases by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Check out ‘Hold Onto My Arm’ from Elias Reitz’s Release Totally Soaked!

Posted on 23 September 2017
Totally Soaked! by Elias Reitz

“Hold Onto My Arm” is a new release by Oakland-based songwriter and performer Elias Reitz.

The track is featured on Elias’ recent release, “Totally Soaked!” and it portrays a unique texture of experimental music, with a broad and eclectic approach.

On “Hold Onto My Arm”, Elias set out to create a dreamy, nearly psychedelic atmosphere with some folk influences, reminding me of the work of artists such as Mac De Marco or Kurt Vile & The Violators, just to mention a few. The acoustic guitar cut gently through a blanked of deep atmospheric textures, marking a very special set of sonic aesthetics.

The production is direct and understated, with a pleasant lo-fi vibe that still retains a lot of clarity.

“Totally Soaked!” is also available as a limited edition cassette tape released, printed in only 200 copies and featuring some stunning original artworks!