tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-342299542024-03-16T09:12:09.392+00:00Thoughts on musicThis blog is intended to do "exactly what it says on the tin" so below are some of my 'Thoughts on Music'. They predominantly concern recent matters but will not always do so. I'll also happily turn to matters of the music industry more generally if and when I feel so inclined. So there!
If you don't agree with something please feel free to add a comment. They are moderated by me (so I'll get to read it) and I might even reply. Above all however just enjoy whatever music you like!
RichardRichard Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15211395613151181693noreply@blogger.comBlogger1272125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34229954.post-58244568543218155212018-12-03T20:28:00.001+00:002018-12-27T20:30:21.745+00:00New Music 2018 - Part 29 - Waterside - Under My Skin<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have long harboured a love for the EP as a means for an artist or band to get early release of their work. In the last decade the format has seen a truly incredible renaissance. This is an astonishing example of what this actually means.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Waterside - Under My Skin EP (self-released, 9 November 2018).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This band and EP happened in the matter of a few months involving four musicians, all studying for music degrees full time, in Leeds. If I'm going to pledge five or ten pounds to back a recording then this is exactly the sort of thing and the only kind of betting that I am willing to countenance. This one, as far as am concerned, is a runaway winner with not a weak track on it. It comprises four tracks:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">On The Floor</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Crow On The Cradle</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Indifference</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Carved By Another II</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The choice of cover song, Crow On The Cradle is bold for both its interpretation and for the fact that, in all possibility for many listening it might be their first time of hearing. The original, a Sydney Carter song, was originally recorded by The Ian Campbell Folk Group as the B-side to their 1963 single 'The Sun Is Burning'. Now here is a thing... I wasn't born in 1963. All four members of Waterside are considerably less than half my age! A product of The Cold War it as been covered fairly often since, particularly more recently. It appears on Lady Maisery's 2013 LP 'Mayday'.<br />No less impressive is a new version of an Iona Lane song that first appeared on her 2017 EP 'Pockets'. It is a longer, electrified version of 'Carved by Another', which was already the stand-out original song on that release. I fully expect to hear a great deal more from these four artists, jointly and individually, sooner rather than later.</span></div>
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Richard Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15211395613151181693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34229954.post-52516497522110440472018-10-15T20:01:00.002+00:002018-11-30T19:58:02.042+00:00New Music 2018 - Part 28 - The Willows - Through The Wild<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The prospect of another rather autumnal weekend and the fact that the outdoor festival season has well and truly ended, was leavened this morning by the arrival of a CD in the post. It has been on rotation, every other listen with others, since. Awaited by me for quite some while it is the latest from folk five-piece The </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Willows and the first release since Prue Ward left for pastures new and was replaced on fiddle by Katriona Gilmore.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Willows - Through The Wild (Elk Records, ELK014, 30 November 2018).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ten songs and a tune (Ernest Durham's), which all are original except for the traditional True Lovers' Ferry that is from the waterways of London. The majority of the new songs are of the narrative variety, something at which the band excels.<br />One of the</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> standout songs on their previous LP 'Amidst Fiery Skies' (2014) was in my opinion 'The Visitor', which is about the heroic rescue of the victims of a 19th century shipwreck of a vessel of that name. If you like that record then I imagine that this might be to your taste too. All five members contribute vocals and harmony but the those of lead Rhiannon Jade are both instantly recognisable and soothing, something that I noticed the first time I saw The Willows playing live, at Cambridge Folk Festival 2015. Here as then the musicianship is amazing and guest John Parker adds the always-welcome upright bass on many tracks. A triumph of acoustic loveliness, in the finest sense of those words.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>The Willows - Through The Wild:</b></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Coda</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Better Days</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">True Lovers' Ferry</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Perfect Crime/Ernest Durham's</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Honest Man</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pearl Hart</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Out of Our Hands</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">False Light</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gog Magog</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dear Lilly</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gog Magog touches on a very old legend of giants - the Gog Magog Hills south east of Cambridge being the legacy of that interaction.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />Somewhat similar tales infuse other UK folk songs. One that comes to mind is that in which two giants and brothers, Vincent and Goram, both fell in love with a Wiltshire lass called Avona. In a competition she instructed them to drain a lake...<br />Goram started from the north but, due to excessive consumption of liquor or so the tale goes, fell asleep. Vincent, spotting an opportunity to trump his brother then completed what is now the Avon Gorge, won the challenge and thus the hand of Avona. When he awoke, and</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> realising his folly</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, Goram hurled himself into the Bristol Channel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The side of his </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">head and one shoulder remain above water to this day as the islands of Flat Holm and Steep Holm. Interestingly, both the stories possibly have Viking connections; holm is a Viking word meaning 'island' and the Vikings certainly ravaged the east of England for much of what we now call The Dark Ages before becoming more adventurous and raiding what is now the west of England, much of Wales and also the east coast of Ireland.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In whatever light you chose to listen to it this is a great release and I can't wait to see The Willows perform it live in the near future.</span></div>
Richard Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15211395613151181693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34229954.post-58549008951454286882018-10-01T22:49:00.001+00:002018-10-13T10:18:12.272+00:00New Music 2018 - Part 27 - Sinnober - Projection<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">'Projection' is the brand new release by duo <a href="https://sinnober.bandcamp.com/album/projection" target="_blank">Sinnober</a> based in Frome, Somerset. It follows their 2016 release 'Little Wars'.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sinnober - Projection (self-released, 1 October 2018).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One hundred physical albums with a full lyric booklet are available, on CD</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><a href="https://sinnober.bandcamp.com/album/projection" style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, to those that would like such a thing</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> and the track list is below.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><b>Sinnober - Projection:</b></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Angels of Fire and Snow </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">No Regrets </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">True North </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When A Knight Won His Spurs</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Garbo's Song </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Successful</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I Don't Wanna Read The News</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Alexandra Leaving</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Just in case you were wondering, you really do need to see <a href="https://sinnober.bandcamp.com/album/projection" target="_blank">Sinnober</a> live. Here they are playing the acoustic stage at a new festival back at the start of this summer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7gEhUHuRwNmckJ3csO6fnKaKz7L9Gg4UXOvdGyqxKueFhISl9018AGYRJwnViI24CZiOCQQrbxvrek7Nw47uOPHlp6MgemElRFIE66b-EJEKuuuMqHX63Q2VaJFbB4062KjpDPw/s1600/IMG_9011+%2528636px%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="636" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7gEhUHuRwNmckJ3csO6fnKaKz7L9Gg4UXOvdGyqxKueFhISl9018AGYRJwnViI24CZiOCQQrbxvrek7Nw47uOPHlp6MgemElRFIE66b-EJEKuuuMqHX63Q2VaJFbB4062KjpDPw/s640/IMG_9011+%2528636px%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sinnober, Acoustic stage, </span><a href="https://www.beardyfolkfestival.co.uk/" style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;" target="_blank">Beardy Folk Festival</a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, 23 June 2018.</span></div>
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Richard Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15211395613151181693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34229954.post-78054571433764750582018-09-20T20:55:00.001+00:002018-10-18T20:52:11.783+00:00New Music 2018 - Part 26 - Kendel Carson - The Lost Tapes of Suzanna Hamilton & The Calgary Sessions<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">To paraphrase Oscar Wilde in a horrid way: To miss one new release by an artist you like might count as misfortune. To miss two in six months is just careless. I am however totally guilty as charged.<br />So how did I come to find about them both at once on an otherwise unremarkable Thursday evening? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I can thank Spotify for that. I decided to listen to an album (that wasn't 'Rearview Mirror Tears') by Canadian singer and fiddle player Kendel Carson but I had forgotten the title of it for some reason - it was 'Alright Dynamite' (2009) but that is by-the-by. I was presented with two LPs that I was completely unaware of, based on music for a possible film project that never made it to the screen, or at least not so far and that changed this evening's listening completely.<br />I have a word of warning here and I think it only fair to mention it now. If you don't like Kendel's previous albums then this might well not change your mind, but please try if you like. I just felt like I was diving right back into familiar territory and that is sometimes a very comforting place to be. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It seems to be available as 2-on-1, of which this is the illustration, or as two releases.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm writing this pretty much on the fly whilst listening to it all again, it's on repeat, so expect some updates on this! Spotify, at least in the UK, regards these as two distinct releases, as detailed below. Either way all are released on <a href="http://trainwreckrecords.com/" target="_blank">Train Wreck Records</a>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Kendel Carson - The Lost Tapes of Suzanna Hamilton:</b></span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Paint Me a Cowboy</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Burning of Suzanna</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Chicago Man</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Crazy Moon</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lilly</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Make Me a Microphone</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Paint Me a Cowboy (Ballad)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Yankee Boy</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fighting Soldier</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">That's the Way It Is About True Love</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Kendel Carson - The Calgary Sessions:</b></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Waiting for Dreams</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Find a Way</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Anyway the Wind Blows</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Woke up Missing You so Bad</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mexican Standoff</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hot Iron Waltz</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Find a Way (Long Version)</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I suspect that, as this was still completely unknown to me 2½ hours ago, I shall be back with some more comment, if not tonight then tomorrow. On the other hand if I wasn't liking the hell out of this there would be nothing here to read as of now!</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span>Richard Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15211395613151181693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34229954.post-68953424135757920932018-09-19T21:32:00.000+00:002018-10-30T18:12:44.110+00:00New Music 2018 - Part 25 - Carson Mchone - Carousel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Listening to embargoed new music, not yet available to the public for some weeks, is a privilege and somewhat scary at the same time. It feels to me like driving a vehicle that I have no previous experience with but which I feel confident about being able to handle. This is the forthcoming LP by Carson Mchone, based in Austin TX. I think this to be a particularly apt analogy given the rather oblique nature of the album artwork. Let's start with that because it's the only visual clue you get. No words; nothing but a couple of film negatives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Carson Mchone - Carousel (<a href="http://www.ninemilerecords.com/" target="_blank">Nine Mile Records</a>, 26 October 2018).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">On the face of it this might seem like deliberate alienation. On further investigation it isn't like that in my opinion. It is a case of deliberate differentiation, born out of feelings of not wishing to flow with the wider crowd. Some of the songs on this record are reworkings of those that appeared on her 2015 LP Goodluck Man. I wrote about that <a href="http://rpgreenhalgh.blogspot.com/2017/02/festivals-road-trip-through-music.html" target="_blank">here</a>. She was keeping fine company then and I have no doubt that this trend is set to continue. This is the playlist for the new LP:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Carson Mchone - Carousel:</b></span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sad</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Drugs</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lucky</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Good Time Daddy Blues</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dram Shop Gal</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Intro Gentle</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gentle</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Maybe They're Just Really Good Friends</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">How 'Bout It</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Spider</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is alt-country crafted on pretty much her own terms. The new versions of the songs from the earlier release, and I decided not to say which they are as you can easily find out if you wish, are sometimes rather different to the earlier ones and even slightly upbeat. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There's very much a bluesy, honky tonk vibe going on in a lot of this but she is no slave to a particular trope. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">That said the version of Dram Shop Gal on this release is beautifully wistful in its new incarnation and a particular highlight for me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />It's hard to tell where she might turn next, but that's really exciting and exactly why I want to see her play live at the earliest opportunity. She's something of a wild card I think; to that end I tried to retro-engineer one of the photos on the album cover. I think that it says a certain something about her approach.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What's the carousel worth if you ride to the fairground bareback on a gray steed?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">She is wilfully different. I hope she stays that way, just howsoever that may work out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Note added 30 October 2018:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Carson Mchone has signed to <a href="https://www.loosemusic.com/" target="_blank">Loose Records</a> for the UK and Europe. Carousel will be released on vinyl, CD and digital on 25 January 2019. She will be crossing the pond to tour it including an Americana UK festival date.</span></div>
Richard Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15211395613151181693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34229954.post-61478828484436872612018-09-04T17:26:00.000+00:002018-09-04T18:01:35.902+00:00New Music 2018 - Part 24 - Fara - Times From Times Fall<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Times From Times Fall is the second full length release by Scottish folk four-piece Fara, all of whom are from Orkney, and is the follow-up to 'Cross the Line' (2016) that I mentioned <a href="http://rpgreenhalgh.blogspot.com/2016/10/new-music-2016-part-55-fara-cross-line.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />All the music on this record is composed by the band, sometimes co-writing at others individually, and many are tunes. The final track 'Maxwell's Light' is a tribute to Scottish scientist <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Clerk_Maxwell" target="_blank">James Clerk Maxwell</a>, arguably most famous for his unifying theory of electromagnetic radiation published in 1861-2. A true Victorian polymath he was also a fine engineer and the inventor of light-fast colour photography.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Three of the four songs are poems by Orcadian writers set to new tunes by the band. The fourth is a tribute to a lost relative.</span>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fara - Times From Times Fall (Fara Music, FARA002, 19 October 2018).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Fara - Times From Times Fall</b></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Port Polka / Rognvald Ritch, The Little / The Shore</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Speir Thoo The Wast Wind</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">At The Ebb</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">7, 8, Nein / I'll Do It Last Friday</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Song (Love Gathers All)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Miss Rosa Sermanni Holmes / Vintage Pals / Upside Down Under</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Frances' Day</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">See It All</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Depliction / My Favourite Cow / Farewell To The Prid</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Simple Dirt / The Fighter</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Road Home</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Maxwell's Light</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In my opinion absolutely everything on this album is well worth listening to. The lead release taken from it is 'Speir Thoo The Wast Wind', a poem by <a href="http://www.writingthenorth.com/christina-costie/" target="_blank">Christina Costie</a> set to music by Fara. It is available to listen on Spotify <a href="spotify:track:0t6NyZ0qyiV6vBRbR2yY8l" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
Richard Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15211395613151181693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34229954.post-77842212943062013412018-08-27T16:05:00.000+00:002018-08-27T22:47:05.096+00:00Green Man 2018 - a few thoughts and pictures.<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If there is a discernible thread to this post then it is that it encapsulates why I like festivals so much. I treasure</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> the ability to explore music I might like, a result of the one ticket for everything ethos, as much as the freedom to wander away from what it turns out I don't much care for and go in search of something else instead. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As well as new music I quite purposely choose to see artists again. That even includes ones about which I was undecided on my first live acquaintance. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Photography started as a basic </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">aide-memoire </i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">when most of the acts I saw were entirely unknown to me at the time of observation</span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">.</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">attend festivals as a free agent and this entirely selfish approach has a corollary; I am, in so far as it is reasonably possible to be, immune to peer-group pressure or the crowd mentality and open to recommendations as to music worth hearing from anyone I meet. I shall start with three artists that I had never seen live before. I could happily have listened to any or all of these for three hours straight...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://jimghedi.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Jim Ghedi</a>, Walled Garden stage, Green Man Festival, 18 August 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.jazzrefreshed.com/nubyagarcia/" target="_blank">Nubya Garcia</a>, Mountain stage, Green Man Festival, 18 August 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Hawk_and_a_Hacksaw" target="_blank">A Hawk and A Hacksaw</a>, Walled Garden stage, Green Man Festival, 18 August 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The three that follow are acts/artists that I have seen live before and were more than happy to see live once again. This first is one of <i>the </i>artists of 2017 - 2018, both recorded and live.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Courtney Marie Andrews, Mountain stage, Green Man Festival, 18 August 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Amber Arcades, Mountain stage, Green Man Festival, 17 August 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Joan As Policewoman, Mountain stage, 17 August 2018.</span></div>
<br />Richard Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15211395613151181693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34229954.post-25557336260206908872018-08-25T14:19:00.002+00:002018-09-04T19:56:59.656+00:00Catching up. Live...<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Earlier this month and in <a href="http://rpgreenhalgh.blogspot.com/2018/08/a-musical-journey.html" target="_blank">this</a> post I expressed a desire to see a quintet of US-based female indie rock acts live across a pair of UK festivals - <a href="https://www.greenman.net/" target="_blank">Green Man</a> and <a href="http://endoftheroadfestival.com/" target="_blank">End Of The Road</a>. As I am at home in the weekend between those two festivals I thought that I ought to post a mid-term report.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The first good news is that I saw all three of these artists that were performing at Green Man in South Wales last weekend and conveniently, for the sake of comparable photography if nothing else, all on the same stage. It is also my favourite stage at the festival.<br />Here are those three artists in the order in which they played - one artist each day as it happens - and starting with the youngest but not an artist to underestimate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Snail Mail is the work of 20-year-old Lindsey Jordan and she is originally from Ellicott City, MD. Début album 'Lush' was released by </span><a href="http://www.matadorrecords.com/" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;" target="_blank">Matador Records</a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> on 8 June 2018.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Snail Mail - Walled Garden stage, Green Man Festival. 17 August 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Phoebe Bridgers' album 'Stranger In The Alps' is something I have been listening to a great deal since its release by <a href="https://deadoceans.com/" target="_blank">Dead Oceans Records</a> in September of last year. For that reason alone I was delighted to see her added to the artists at Green Man this year. Then there were two duets.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Phoebe Bridgers - </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Walled Garden stage, Green Man Festival. 18 August 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Last but certainly not least, from Richmond VA, was Lucy Dacus touring her 2018 album 'Historian' that is also released by Matador Records. It is true that she started the set bespectacled as, perhaps, befits a historian...<br />The pretence didn't last long.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lucy Dacus - Walled Garden stage, </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Green Man Festival. 19 August 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I was expecting a great deal from all three of these artists. To say that I was not disappointed would be a serious understatement.</span></div>
Richard Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15211395613151181693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34229954.post-59584618299665042302018-08-21T21:56:00.001+00:002018-08-21T23:19:19.901+00:00New Music 2018 - Part 23 - Kitty Macfarlane - Namer Of Clouds<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is an album that, having seen the artist behind it live several times, I have been waiting upon for some time. It is her first full length and it follows on from the 2016 Tide and Time EP that I mentioned <a href="http://rpgreenhalgh.blogspot.com/2016/04/new-music-2016-part-29-kitty-macfarlane.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Kitty Macfarlane - Namer Of Clouds (<a href="http://www.navigatorrecords.co.uk/" target="_blank">Navigator Records</a>, 21 September 2018).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This LP and the aforementioned EP share </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">only one track and that is the EP's opener 'Wrecking Days'. This is the track list for the LP.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Kitty Macfarlane - Namer Of Clouds</b></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Starling Song</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Namer Of Clouds</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Seventeen</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sea Silk</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Morgan's Pantry</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Glass Eel</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Wrecking Days</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dawn & Dark</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Frozen Charlotte</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Man, Friendship</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Inversnaid</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One track that particularly caught my attention when first I heard it live at North Dorset Folk Festival last autumn is Glass Eel. That particular festival is sadly no more but here she is playing it at a brand new festival that I had the pleasure of attending just two months ago.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Kitty Macfarlane, Main stage, <a href="https://www.beardyfolkfestival.co.uk/" target="_blank">Beardy Folk Festival</a>, 24 June 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is acoustic folk but with a contemporary and often environmentally aware twist but it isn't overtly political. It doesn't have to be; it is too well crafted to need that crutch upon which to stand.</span></div>
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Richard Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15211395613151181693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34229954.post-7093566709457098482018-08-10T01:19:00.000+00:002018-08-25T23:07:30.263+00:00A musical journey by proxy...<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's been a while since I did one of these posts but I have to say it is always on my mind. The thing is that it just takes a little something to get started. In this case it is the realisation that I am spending twelve days over the next four weeks at music festivals.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For a start that means that I will be seeing one hell of a lot of live music. Another aspect is that I need to prioritise what I wish to see and part of that is to examine the possibilities in the context of what I already know. Finally, it needs a seed to grow into an idea and at the time I was fairly sure that this might be one possibility. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I was at the smallest stage of a festival almost four weeks ago and saw this woman live for the first time; in fact it was the first time that I had ever heard of her therefore I came to it with no preconceptions at all.<br />Nor indeed did I realise that Alabama blues was a thing. If I had then I would have come along with the concept that I was almost certainly gonna like this. I would have been right, too.<br />This turned out to be a starting point. It has still taken me almost four weeks to write about it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.debbiebond.com/" target="_blank">Debbie Bond</a>, Apple Garden stage, Truck Festival, 22 July 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Back home she normally plays with full band backing. Here it was just her and, on keyboards or harmonica, 'Radiator' Rick Asherson. I'm actually rather glad that I first got to hear this music stripped back and in such a small and intimate setting. It was pretty much how I imagine it should be, for this is essentially down-home music. Try 'Enjoy the Ride (Shoal Sessions)' <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/5HVVa0nWYMdlv1c8SyZqlT?si=qvUGz8EDSSa05Y8sA8Pb_w" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What really prompted me to start writing is another artist, again new to me, who has been plying her trade for a long time.<br />In this case festivals or indeed live music was not involved. Based on what I have heard I would love that to change. Again not a household name --- I suspect that this applies in her home country too.</span></div>
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<a href="https://sarahpeacockmusic.com/about" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;" target="_blank">Sarah Peacock</a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> - Hot Sheet Motel EP (27 July 2018, American Roots Records).</span><br />
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This, her latest offering, is definitely toward the rock side of things and is what initially caught my ear. I can't actually recall how this came to be so. I suspect it was <i>via</i> a Spotify 'Discover Weekly' playlist. This is a more acoustic take on her craft.<br />
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Sarah Peacock - Beauty In The Ashes Unplugged Volume 1 (12 May 2017, American Roots Records).</div>
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What bearing does this have on what I might wish to see at forthcoming festivals?<br />
I have the opportunity to see the gamut of somewhat younger female US artists live in a very short space of time. At this time most are still playing the smaller stages and I can't imagine another circumstance in which this might be possible.<br />
Here are five such, listed alphabetically by artist, that have come to my attention:</div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Japanese Breakfast - Soft Sounds from Another Planet (14 July 2017, <a href="https://deadoceans.com/" target="_blank">Dead Oceans</a>)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lucy Dacus - Historian (2 March 2018, <a href="http://www.matadorrecords.com/" target="_blank">Matador Records</a>)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Phoebe Bridgers - Stranger In The Alps (22 September 2017, <a href="https://deadoceans.com/" target="_blank">Dead Oceans</a>)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Snail Mail - Lush (8 June 2018, <a href="http://www.matadorrecords.com/" target="_blank">Matador Records</a>)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Soccer Mommy - Clean (2 March 2018, <a href="https://www.fatpossum.com/" target="_blank">Fat Possum</a>)</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The respective releases that have given rise to this see-live equivalent of a play-list are also there. That might sound like a mission. I</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">n a way I suppose it is but it is just a splash in the pool when it comes to three 3½ day festivals.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I rather suspect that some of the highlights will be acts about which I currently know absolutely nothing at all. I really hope that this is the case once again. One of the very best things about festivals is the surprise factor. Truck Festival last month only served to remind me just how important that is.</span></div>
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Richard Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15211395613151181693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34229954.post-79813307225345605832018-07-30T20:57:00.003+00:002018-08-23T19:31:46.902+00:00New Music 2018 - Part 22 - Eliza Gilkyson - Secularia<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There is a total change of tack for this post. We head over to Austin, Texas and the realm of US folk and, in passing, something of a dynasty in that regard. This is the latest from Eliza Gilkyson.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Eliza Gilkyson - Secularia (<a href="https://twitter.com/redhousefolk" target="_blank">Red House Records</a>, 13 July 2018).</span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Solitary Singer</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lifelines</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Conservation</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In The Name Of The Lord</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dreamtime</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Seculare</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Reunion</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sanctuary</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Through The Looking Glass</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Emmanuelle</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Down By The Riverside</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Instrument</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This has certainly caught my attention. It has also led me to investigate her extensive back catalogue too. I like the fact that it is about finding meaning but that the title suggests that it is, I guess essentially, about humanism. I know that I will be returning to comment on this further in due course. It's steadfast tone but lack of dogma is very refreshing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Her brother is guitarist Tony Gilkyson who played almost all the guitar parts for the biopic film 'Walk The Line'. Their father Terry Gilkyson was also a folk writer, singer and musician, being of the same generation as Woodie Guthrie, who wrote songs with and for many well known artists including, amongst others, Johnny Cash. He also widely entertained commissions for other artistic outlets including writing music for cinema.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">That included this: one of the most widely recognised songs from animated film that there is:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> This is the original, slightly scratchy and static inflected, version. Just the bare necessities.</span></div>
Richard Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15211395613151181693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34229954.post-41519105959200634932018-07-29T15:00:00.003+00:002018-07-29T19:31:55.338+00:00New Music 2018 - Part 21 - Phantastic Ferniture<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Just as summer in the UK seems to have gone AWOL for the weekend comes the release of this gem from Australia, where it is winter, but that's just fine! It's almost as if it had been organised to be so. It is perfect summer leaning, summer seeking indie garage rock.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When Julia Jacklin finally made it back to her Australian homeland in the summer (Northern hemisphere definition) of 2017, after about a year of touring her excellent but folky and somewhat downbeat début LP 'Don't Let The Kids Win' across the US and Europe, she was ready for a break and a change. I saw her live twice in that time and I certainly got that impression on the second occasion even though she provided a great show and had visibly grown in confidence from the one almost a year earlier.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The project might possibly have started as an idea, concocted over a beer or two, by Julia and home-town friends Elizabeth Hughes and Ryan K. Brennan. They are also joined by Tom Stephens.<br />Whatever the truth might be this feel-good garage rock album is the result. The only snag is that, if it were to be just a project for their own musical amusement, it has worked out rather too well. It's winning plaudits left, right and centre. Rightly so I think. It is light-hearted in intention but never trivial in sentiment. They might have created themselves a new problem here; this needs touring.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hV2jY3DAQ_7sMxgfiTTPEpdRU5-LUz04iNiCV5NFxyonhMSG0SIFgOSPuleCW4B4SdsEE4hsJOnlZTT1r3KMg9nAW22ON9VMRhH9J9ZBoPs9ixGlt-CAZqYSCLAa5tTMlZV_oQ/s1600/Phantastic+Ferniture+%2528636px%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="636" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hV2jY3DAQ_7sMxgfiTTPEpdRU5-LUz04iNiCV5NFxyonhMSG0SIFgOSPuleCW4B4SdsEE4hsJOnlZTT1r3KMg9nAW22ON9VMRhH9J9ZBoPs9ixGlt-CAZqYSCLAa5tTMlZV_oQ/s640/Phantastic+Ferniture+%2528636px%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Phantastic Ferniture, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/phantasticferniture/" target="_blank">Phantastic Ferniture</a> (<a href="http://www.transgressiverecords.com/" target="_blank">Transgressive Records</a>, 27 July 2018).</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Phantasic Ferniture:</span></b></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Uncomfortable Teenager</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Bad Timing</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fuckin 'N' Rollin</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gap Year</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Take It Off</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Parks</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I Need It</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dark Corner Dance Floor</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mumma y Pappa</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It is also a rare beast: the first half is good, plenty good enough to recommend this album. The second half is even better. Dark Corner Dance Floor is a serious statement of musical intent.</span>Richard Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15211395613151181693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34229954.post-90723962746239012092018-07-27T21:44:00.005+00:002018-08-07T20:54:14.902+00:00New Music 2018 - Part 20 - Kick Out The Twang - Speedbuggy USA<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now this was fun! A band that I have seen before, at Truck Festival 2016, returned with a new album in tow and played two full sets within the space of 24 hours. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I saw all of both of those. That is only the sixth time that I have ever managed to do this with any artist.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGyA77LiGK61kOSzhfe4DlECcvM2IWwlVljnNramJ2WC4eHs5mcTNguUeylYWHk9Q_QJqfIRvjZTre3HUWBKE4gPdSSJgSizDagWRbUQ7DB3_t1phKwkYwecH9f9nnwQOJ3maOhA/s1600/IMG_9890+%2528636px%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="636" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGyA77LiGK61kOSzhfe4DlECcvM2IWwlVljnNramJ2WC4eHs5mcTNguUeylYWHk9Q_QJqfIRvjZTre3HUWBKE4gPdSSJgSizDagWRbUQ7DB3_t1phKwkYwecH9f9nnwQOJ3maOhA/s640/IMG_9890+%2528636px%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Speedbuggy USA, Truck Festival, Veterans & Virgins stage, 21 July 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">That new LP is this. It's a good time to be in the UK...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Kick Out The Twang - Speedbuggy USA (<a href="http://www.wagonwheelrecords.net/" target="_blank">Wagon Wheel Records</a>, 8 August 2018).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Take the Last Train to Clarksville</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Get Around</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Shaky Train</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hold My Head Up High</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Southbound Train</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sorry</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Wood Screws & Nails</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Unchain My Heart</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Long Gone</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Honky Tonk Singer</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Devil With Me</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Darlin' I'm Coming Home</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And here is a picture from the second set. Maybe the adults in the audience were a little jaded come Sunday lunchtime but the kids were just loving it. Great band and just lovely people too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Speedbuggy USA, Apple Tree stage, 22 July 2018.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">This was the playlist, more or less. </span></div>
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Richard Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15211395613151181693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34229954.post-56087990825030528942018-07-26T21:37:00.002+00:002018-07-27T22:30:25.896+00:00Festivals... Truck Festival 2018 and other things.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Two three-day festivals down and still three to go!<br />One of the great things about festivals is the expectation of seeing favourite artists once again. The other, perhaps more exciting still, is those complete surprises; the ones that blindside you and here is one such from last weekend.<br />Most festivals of any size run a competition for new artists with the prize(s) being a performance slot. Truck Festival is no exception. Once in a while this can be disappointing. This was most certainly not one of those occasions. Almost all original material and always beautifully done.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Charlotte Hackett, Market stage, Truck Festival, 21 July 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This was not to be the first nor the last of such welcome surprises. There has been a big discussion in the media about the relative lack of female artists at UK festivals, especially in headline roles the last year or two. It is a valid point I think and Truck Festival isn't at all good on that count.<br />On the other hand it is often not the headline acts that make me want to go to a festival anyway. On that premise then Truck Festival actually hosted several very good acts that were either all-female or female-fronted. Given that writing about it seems a pretty obvious thing to do despite, or perhaps because of, the fact that I am male.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Truck has a bit of history when it comes to all female grunge/garage rock as I recall. Here is another manifestation of that.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">London-based trio Hey Charlie. Market stage, Truck Festival, 22 July 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Originally formed as an art college project in Brighton in 2014, Dream Wife took wing and perhaps surprisingly it is</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> the only one of these three acts to have yet released a (self-titled) LP 'Dream Wife' early in 2018, which arguably just goes to show just what new talent is on offer here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Market stage, Truck Festival, 21 July 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Originally from Iceland, Rakel Mjöll on lead vocals.</span></div>
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Richard Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15211395613151181693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34229954.post-66681425467600884822018-07-05T18:34:00.000+00:002018-07-24T18:11:13.169+00:00Beardy Folk Festival 2018<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Back in the cold, dark days of January I started to think about festivals again. Even the wet days of the previous summer's shows somehow seemed less discouraging after four months or so. I had already made a decision that at least one new (at least new to me) festival would have to be included in 2018. That was about as far as my planning had got until near the end of January a brand new festival came to my attention. I can't really recall how I became to know about it, but it was known as <a href="http://rpgreenhalgh.blogspot.com/2018/06/new-music-2018-part-19-im-all-ears-lets.html" target="_blank">Beardy Folk Festival</a>. The line-up, in so far as it was then available, looked very good</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> indeed and there were super-early-bird tickets on offer. I bought one pretty much on a whim on 30th January. What is more, being in June it was well apart in time from all other festivals that I had ideas about attending.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />Just what a fantastic decision that was only revealed itself last weekend. On Friday morning I headed north over the old Severn Bridge in glorious sunshine and then followed the river Wye north, pausing at Tintern and Monmouth, before arriving at the festival site near Cleobury Mortimer at about 12:40. Once was actually there I discovered just what a stunning location this is. More importantly though is that it soon became obvious the level of attention that had been put into organising this event. If you did not not know that this was the inaugural edition then you would not have guessed that it was the case.<br />The stage premise was very simple - just two the performances on which never clashed. The smaller, acoustic stage shared a long open-sided marquee with the bar at the top end of the walled garden and the Main Stage was at the bottom of the slope at the other end. Approximately 300 yards separated the two. Around the sides of the upper half of the garden arena were the food stalls and the quality on offer was really good.<br />What had attracted me back in January was the list of acts announced then, and in particular some of those those lower down the running order. One huge exception to that generality was, from Scotland and the main stage headline act on Saturday - Skerryvore.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Skerryvore, main stage, Beardy Folk Festival, 23 June 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I had never had the chance to take live pictures of bagpipe playing before. Various small pipes yes, but not the real deal. Then I ended up with two for the price of one! The band's latest LP 'Evo' was released 11 June 2018.<br />Up at the other end of the garden was another artist that I really wanted to see live and on the back of her two EPs 'Tracks and Trails' (2016) and 'Dandelion' (2017). It could hardly be further from the bombast of the above. Just voice and acoustic guitar, clearly British and she is based in the West Midlands, but quite evidently country-tinged. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Demi Marriner, acoustic stage, 24 June 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Next is an artist that I have seen live before and that, as a result of which, I was most keen to see live again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Kitty Macfarlane. Main stage, 24 June 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">She played both stages that day and included several new songs. Her début album is scheduled for release this autumn. Her 'Tide & Time EP' was released in 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Another artist that played both stages was Kim Lowings and The Greenwood. Whilst much of the music was from the traditional British folk canon the instruments were not so much so. In this case Kim Lowings on mountain dulcimer and Andrew Lowings on bodhran.<br />Many of the songs were taken from the album 'Wild & Wicked Youth' (2017).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Kim Lowings and The Greenwood. Main Stage, 23 June 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">That's just a few of my highlights from what was a truly memorable weekend. My thanks to the main organiser, known only to me as Dave, and everyone else that made it such a great occasion.<br />I have no doubt that I shall be posting more about it very soon. Super-early-bird tickets for Beardy Folk Festival 2019 are available <a href="https://www.beardyfolkfestival.co.uk/" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
Richard Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15211395613151181693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34229954.post-90285577239718643062018-06-29T19:21:00.001+00:002018-07-01T15:38:13.686+00:00New Music 2018 - Part 19 - I'm All Ears - Let's Eat Grandma<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have taken a month off blogging but that certainly doesn't mean that I haven't been listening; be that recorded or live. I spent a wonderful three days at a brand new folk festival last weekend too. There will be plenty about that here sooner rather than later.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />To ease back into writing this seemed an obvious start. It isn't folky at all. It is precipitated by the release of the second full-length album by a band that I saw live last summer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm All Ears - Let's Eat Grandma (<a href="http://www.transgressiverecords.com/" target="_blank">Transgressive Records</a>, 29 June 2018).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The twisted pop and psychedelic leanings of their début LP 'I, Gemini' were quite something. It is worth noting that Rosa Walton and Jenny Hollingworth are not twins, indeed they are not even siblings. Both from Norwich they met at the start of primary school education. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was certainly a very adept album release, or at least I thought so. Then I saw Let's Eat Grandma live. That is the point at which I realised this was something very special.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Let's Eat Grandma, Big Top stage, End Of The Road Festival, 2 September 2017.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Difficult second album syndrome? My inclination is that this is every bit the equal of their first and, if anything, even more surprising. They do eclecticism and see no reason to apologize for that. This album covers a lot of ground in its eleven tracks and 51 minutes. It is all the more likeable for that.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Let's Eat Grandma - I'm All Ears:</span></b></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Whitewater</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hot Pink</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's Not Just Me</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Falling Into Me</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Snakes & Ladders</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Missed Call (1)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I Will Be Waiting</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Cat's Pyjamas</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cool & Collected</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ava</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Donnie Darko</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It is also not the only album that I have that includes a song 'Cat's Pyjamas'; there is another quite different one of that name on the 2003 album 'Amorino' by Isobel Campbell! It is another beautifully off-kilter LP that is worth your attention, as it happens. It is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bOlJySs5hY" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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Richard Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15211395613151181693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34229954.post-38930480635349267732018-05-18T19:17:00.000+00:002018-05-29T21:39:00.411+00:00New Music 2018 - Part 18 - Living Room Worktapes EP - Tenille Townes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's never been rare that I feature artists from Canada performing in the folk, roots and Americana space. This is another one of them - the artist here hails from from Grande Prairie, Alberta. It is an EP as good as I have heard this year but perhaps not something I might have expected to be released on a major label. It is acoustic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tenille Townes - Living Room Worktapes EP (Columbia Nashville, 13 April 2018).</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Where You Are</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jersey on the Wall</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Somebody's Daughter</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">White Horse</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Four tracks is all you get but it is a triumph of quality over quantity. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm not in the business of making comparisons but </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'd say a full album is worth the wait, however long that may be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm minded to take an audio 'road trip' through recent Canadian music sooner rather than later. There's plenty on my mind, several of which I am looking forward to seeing play live at festivals this summer. </span></div>
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Richard Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15211395613151181693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34229954.post-10586515791087038442018-05-12T14:19:00.000+00:002018-05-14T19:12:08.197+00:00New Music 2018 - Part 17 - Hawktail - Unless<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Acoustic. Bluegrass. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Instrumental.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I know that this isn't going to please everyone that happens upon it. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I don't care about that. I like this. It is my blog.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hawktail - Unless (<a href="http://www.padiddlerecords.com/" target="_blank">Padiddle Records</a>, 11 May 2018).</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
What awaits here is no less than forty-something </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">minutes of acoustic-string-band music virtuosity, courtesy of Brittany Haas (fiddle), Paul Kowert (upright bass), Dominick Leslie (octave mandolin) and Jordan Tice (guitar). Some of it is actually recorded live with an audience and these pieces are intercut with the studio recordings.</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Abbzug</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the Kitchen</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Horpe's Reel</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Unless</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">El Camino Pt. 2</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Boatwoman</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Britt Guit</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Randy</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Frog and Toad</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is the opening piece:</span><br />
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Richard Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15211395613151181693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34229954.post-28166538800464874352018-05-10T18:45:00.003+00:002018-05-21T21:05:47.820+00:00Festivals 2018 - must see (Part 2) - Joana Serrat<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Next in my 'Spring Homework' series about artists that I have never seen live before and inspired by the artists appearing at festivals that I am attending this summer. This is one from the programme of the all-new festival <a href="http://www.thelongroad.com/" target="_blank">The Long Road</a>.<br />In contrast to the largely UK folk theme of my last post we have swapped genres to that of Americana and alt-country but with things never being simple in these matters the artist in question is in fact from Spain but sings in English and is signed to UK label <a href="https://www.loosemusic.com/artists" target="_blank">Loose Records</a>; a label that is the home of very many good things. In 2017 she released her latest LP and this is it:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Joana Serrat - Dripping Springs (Loose Records, 29 September 2017).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This latest was recorded in Texas by Israel Nash (see him live if you get the chance - I have and you certainly won't regret it) at his studio </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">near the small town that gives this album its title. He also plays guitar on some tracks. The rest of the band is absolutely top-notch and so is the production. The whole thing is however carried by the lyrics and vocals of its prime creator.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It is her fourth LP within the space of five years, so rest assured that she has no shortage of material from which to choose. This of course meant that my "homework" involved listening to all four albums. I can say that it was not a chore.<br />I can't wait to see what her live playlist throws up. As for my personal favourites? I need a few more listens to decide. There will certainly be some from the earlier albums, that much is true.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Keep On Fallin'</span></center>
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Richard Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15211395613151181693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34229954.post-30193917377077433412018-05-03T19:31:00.001+00:002018-05-10T23:22:33.787+00:00Festivals 2018 - must-see (Part 1) - Kim Lowings and The Greenwood<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Right. It is time to jump in and mention t</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">he artists and acts that I want to see at the festivals that I am attending this summer.<br />This post is just one from the first of those festivals. The rule of engagement is that it must be one that I have never seen live before. It's not going to be difficult, apart for the choices between candidates that simply need to be made. I shall start with some folk, much but possibly not all of it, traditional. In any case, what exactly qualifies as traditional?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEsPW_VAP6EGCYsSeDVlCUM9jEAOzGnhW0NTf19X3AoOo9kSWjLD4NMI1EZjsO30OzGySknguG-8L62cttYQ68ERiPQdv8X4HBCFqI8IuKL3vRFhAa9M8156COTsrdYEX1ByahA/s1600/Kim+Lowings+and+the+Greenwood+-+Wild+%2526+Wicked+Youth+%2528636px%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="636" height="574" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEsPW_VAP6EGCYsSeDVlCUM9jEAOzGnhW0NTf19X3AoOo9kSWjLD4NMI1EZjsO30OzGySknguG-8L62cttYQ68ERiPQdv8X4HBCFqI8IuKL3vRFhAa9M8156COTsrdYEX1ByahA/s640/Kim+Lowings+and+the+Greenwood+-+Wild+%2526+Wicked+Youth+%2528636px%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Kim Lowings and The Greenwood - Wild & Wicked Youth (self-released, 2017).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Other versions of several of the songs on this record have appeared recently; 'The Cuckoo', it appears courtesy of Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker on their 2017 LP 'The Bird', is one.<br /><br />More remarkable, at least in contrast between versions, is 'Oh The Wind and Rain', Kim Lowings and The Greenwood and 'Bows' as it appears on the LP 'From Here' by Stick In The Wheel (2015). Both are versions of the same macabre tale of sibling murder and mysterious retribution. The source is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_Ballads" target="_blank">Child Ballad</a> 10 and the UK version of the song is likely of Northumbrian origin. '<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twa_Sisters" target="_blank">The Twa Sisters</a>' is yet another, more local name for it. The similar stories in other Northern European folklore traditions (see preceding link) are interesting in that, amongst other differences, the drowned sibling is</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> as often as not brought back to life</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, but the means to this end vary considerably.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There is plenty more from this band and indeed </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">this LP alone is quite sufficient to justify its inclusion in this list. She is not averse to covering Anglo-Scottish-Irish songs either. This, a lyric from which the title of the album comes, is the </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">well known song 'The Newry Highwayman':</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="text-align: left;">Kim Lowings and The Greenwood play </span><a href="https://www.beardyfolkfestival.co.uk/" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Beardy Folk Festival</a><span style="text-align: left;"> main stage on Saturday 23 June at around 4:30pm.</span></span></center>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />You might like to check out the rest of the line-up too. I have seen quite a few of them before and there isn't one amongst them that I wouldn't see again. As for those that I have never seen live it is open season.</span></div>
Richard Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15211395613151181693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34229954.post-90966716085588313372018-05-01T19:19:00.003+00:002018-05-07T16:35:19.913+00:00My spring homework --- Thoughts on music <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In previous years I have been rather lax about doing pre-festival homework aimed at investigating acts and artists about which I have little or no existing knowledge. There are plenty.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Whilst I regard absolute spontaneity as one of the greatest luxuries of attending a festival as an individual I am also acutely aware that this has caused me not to see bands which hindsight has revealed that I ought to have seen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I made much more effort in this direction last year, by starting my homework earlier at the very least, but this year </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I feel I should try harder again and that is something I'm now doing and, furthermore, thoroughly enjoying</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />That's fine and I have done so, but this is a two-edged sword as it is now clear that at all the festivals I attend it will be quite impossible to see all the things that I </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">already </i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">know that I want to. I'm quite sure that I will, as always, make spur of the moment decisions some of which I might regret. On the other hand such decisions have taken me in new, uncharted directions on many occasions too. Sometimes the deciding factor had been as simple as deciding to remain in a tented stage rather than leave it to see a band on an outdoor stage when it is teeming with rain. On some others it was a combination of incompetence and serendipity: this is how I came to see (at that point utterly unknown to me) Vukovi at Truck Festival last July; I headed off at the right time but to the wrong stage! That actually worked out very well indeed; the band I failed to see then was Goat Girl and I got to see them play at End Of The Road Festival some weeks later.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If all of the above wasn't enough of a problem what I have discovered is tending to reinforce an impression that I have had for a long while. This is that as I get older I am actually getting to seek out and enjoy a wider variety of music. This seems to run against the grain of many studies and articles thereon that suggest that one's taste in music is largely guided by, if not defined by, that which one liked in late teens and early twenties.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I only started writing this on a whim this evening. I didn't really expect to get beyond the preamble. An hour or so later what has happened however is slightly different. My thoughts have crystallised rather rapidly. This is something of a 'Thoughts on music' version of the State of The Union. It has also rekindled my enthusiasm for writing more often. I go through phases when that doesn't happen. I also tends to coincide with times when I listen to the most music.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm fascinated by what I am discovering. I'm not yet sure how to present this but possibly an act that I have never seen before from each of the five festivals that I'm booked to attend. The only hard part of that is likely to be choosing which one from each.</span>Richard Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15211395613151181693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34229954.post-3184184460475998392018-04-24T19:32:00.003+00:002018-04-30T18:53:10.492+00:00New Music 2018 - Part 16 - Bryde - Like An Island<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I had wanted to see Paper Aeroplanes live for some time but before I took the chance that project had ended. Thereafter Sarah Howells and her guitar started a new adventure, Bryde (with occasional help from others). I wasn't aware of the connection until, at Green Man Festival 2016, our paths crossed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Bryde, Rising stage, Green Man Festival, 20 August 2016.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A pair of EPs, both showcasing this from-the-heart brand of songwriting, followed. It is more direct than her work with Paper Aeroplanes but certainly none the worse for that. The recently released LP takes it to another dimension; raw, uncompromising and yet both compelling and relatable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Bryde - Like An Island (self-released, 13 April 2018).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It is right up there with the best releases of 2018 that I have had the pleasure to hear and of those there is no shortage. I can't wait to see Bryde live once again.</span></div>
Richard Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15211395613151181693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34229954.post-80258735261667655982018-04-11T22:30:00.001+00:002018-04-15T17:06:50.135+00:00Why festivals matter - a photo gallery.<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have been thinking about 2018 festivals of late and that has, in part, been responsible for reminding me about all the artists that I saw in 2017 that, at least in some cases, I have never mentioned before. This is a case of 'Live With No Comment'. I have added the act/artist and the stage to each photo but that is as much as you get. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">All of them were taken by me at End Of The Road Festival 2017 and I own the copyright in these pictures. Feel free to share away but please give credit to the artists. These pictures are in no particular order, by date or any other criterion. I flicked through the photos I took in an haphazard way and simply chose the ones I wanted as and when I found them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />Even more importantly please listen to artists, buy their music, go and see them live.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Julia Jacklin, Garden stage, 3 September.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Goat Girl, Big Top stage, 1 September.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lisa O'Neill, Tipi stage, 1 September.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Shovels & Rope, Woods stage, 1 September 2017.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tasseomancy, Tipi stage, 2 September.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jens Lekman, Garden stage, 1 September.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Girl Ray, Tipi stage, 3 September.</span></div>
Richard Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15211395613151181693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34229954.post-19177737723635932082018-04-02T16:07:00.001+00:002018-04-02T23:48:02.022+00:00New Music 2018 - Part 15 - Beelzebub Jones - A Good Day To Be A Bad Guy<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Not many artists choose midnight at the end of Easter Sunday to drop a new release. I guess if they do then there are not that many people </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">just waiting to discover it and listen there and then. As it happens I was and not because I had any prior knowledge. I'd been out doing something completely different and got home in no mood to turn in</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. I needed some wind-down time first and needless to say this immediately caught my attention. Some things are just meant to happen and this collaboration between Andrew McClatchie (Half Deaf Clatch) and Richard Wall is, to paraphrase their own description, dirty cinematographic Americana.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It is the soundtrack to a spaghetti Western that you have never seen simply because it doesn't actually exist. You can therefore imagine the plot to suit yourself. The cover art might look rather daunting but do you judge everything by its cover? </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Music is as much about your imagination as it is about the people who make it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Beelzebub Jones - A Good Day To Be A Bad Guy (<a href="https://speakuprecordings.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Speak Up Recordings</a>, 2 April 2018).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It is based on a short story by Richard Wall and that accompanies the limited edition of the physical release (CD, 100 copies) as part of the 26-page A5 booklet. Here's the play list to contemplate:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Nicotine, Liquor & Blasphemy</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Whiskey For Breakfast</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dry, Dry Bones</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Rattlesnake Interlude</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Heist</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Death Of The Teller </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Never Take Me Alive</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sinners Last Request</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Vultures</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Crossing Place </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Working For The Devil</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Revenge Is My Only Friend </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Showdown</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I can only presume that title 'Beelzebub Jones' is taken from a comic strip, with a Wild Western
theme, that ran in the Daily Mail from December 1938 -
December 1945. If that is true then it is quite something, if not it is an astonishing coincidence. The clapperboard is all yours.</span></span></div>
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Richard Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15211395613151181693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34229954.post-89275890185487588342018-03-29T20:46:00.001+00:002018-03-30T13:20:44.345+00:00New Music 2018 - Part 14 - Darrin Bradbury - Elmwood Park: A Slightly Melodic Songbook<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I didn't find this. Someone, that I have never met and quite possibly never will, just saw fit to recommended it to me. That this is how it works is amazing in itself. I struggle to find many male artists that I really like listening to when compared to female ones. That is just the way it works for me. This is one of those exceptions.<br />The music here is awesome. I'm quite wary of musical monikers such as 'outlaw country' but be-that-as-it-may this is pretty close to what I imagine it might involve should it indeed exist. It is cynical to a fault, but given a perspective that suggests both a longing-for and respect-of the faults that it reveals. That includes a dose of self-deprecation.<br />In that sense it makes me think of when I discovered the 2016 album 'Rockingham' by BJ Barham.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Elmwood Park: A Slightly Melodic Audiobook - Darrin Bradbury (<a href="http://www.caferoosterrecords.com/home" target="_blank">Café Rooster Records</a>, 2016).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If I could find it on vinyl at a half-sensible price then I would have already ordered it. I can't. At least (here in the UK) you can enjoy it on Spotify <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/5nbfiMk9S2jVyx88robVGF?si=dSPwGRlRRHquH20RxuHi5A" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Elmwood Park: A Slightly Melodic Audiobook - Darrin Bradbury:</span></b></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">True Love</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Life Is Hard</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Joey</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Almost Great Lakes</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Roadkill Song</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Junkie Love</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Swordfish</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Elmwood Park</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I Knew Him as Sam</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Blue Highway</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have listened to it three times right through this evening and that was certainly not part of my game plan three hours ago. On the other hand nothing even half as interesting as this actually was. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It is actually a 2016 release but I had never heard about the artist, let alone the record.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Its time is now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<center>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="357" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/261339229&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=false&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true" width="636"></iframe></span></center>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is 'True Love'.</span></div>
Richard Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15211395613151181693noreply@blogger.com0