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Releases
Various Artists
Album:Fatea Showcase Session Summer 12:Tracks
Label:Fatea
Website:http://www.fatea-showcase-sessions.co.uk
With the usual proviso that this is one of ours and more about letting you know it's available and where to download it. This free to download compilation features eighteen artists whose stars should be in the ascendance and gives you the chance to sample their talent. Once you've heard the songs, please visit the artists websites to find out more about them. Give copies to your friends, play on your radio shows, mention in your blogs and on your Facebook. Get to know some great music and help the artists reach a wider audience.
Album:Fatea Showcase Session Summer 12:Tracks
Label:Fatea
Website:http://www.fatea-showcase-sessions.co.uk
With the usual proviso that this is one of ours and more about letting you know it's available and where to download it. This free to download compilation features eighteen artists whose stars should be in the ascendance and gives you the chance to sample their talent. Once you've heard the songs, please visit the artists websites to find out more about them. Give copies to your friends, play on your radio shows, mention in your blogs and on your Facebook. Get to know some great music and help the artists reach a wider audience.
Barricades Rise
Album:Repertoire II - Live, Covers and Demo's
Label:Self Released
Website:http://www.barricadesrise.co.uk
The album consists of 14 tracks that were recorded between 2010 and the end of 2011. There are a number of original songs that were in contention for ‘All I Have Is Here’ but never made the cut. Not because the songs were bad, but mainly because they ran out of time or they just didn’t sit well with the other tracks. There's couple of live tracks from a house show in 2011 and some alternative versions of our songs that did make the album. It's available as a free download and is a good way to discover Barricades Rise as it captures their personality well.
Album:Repertoire II - Live, Covers and Demo's
Label:Self Released
Website:http://www.barricadesrise.co.uk
The album consists of 14 tracks that were recorded between 2010 and the end of 2011. There are a number of original songs that were in contention for ‘All I Have Is Here’ but never made the cut. Not because the songs were bad, but mainly because they ran out of time or they just didn’t sit well with the other tracks. There's couple of live tracks from a house show in 2011 and some alternative versions of our songs that did make the album. It's available as a free download and is a good way to discover Barricades Rise as it captures their personality well.
The Blue Pig Orchestra
EP:Witches
Label:Wyre Records
Website:http://www.thebluepigorchestra.co.uk
Starting to create waves in the North West are Blackpool based five piece The Blue Pig Orchestra and judging by their five track EP "Witches" it shouldn't be long before ripples are felt elsewhere. A murder, hanging, alcohol abuse all get a treatment that reminds me of the likes of The Men they Couldn't Hang, no bad thing and a reminder that the dark side of folk is far from dreary. There's energy aplenty with lots of good vocal interplay and exchanges. A good EP leaves you wanting more and this folk/americana blend definitely does that. Well worth checking out.
EP:Witches
Label:Wyre Records
Website:http://www.thebluepigorchestra.co.uk
Starting to create waves in the North West are Blackpool based five piece The Blue Pig Orchestra and judging by their five track EP "Witches" it shouldn't be long before ripples are felt elsewhere. A murder, hanging, alcohol abuse all get a treatment that reminds me of the likes of The Men they Couldn't Hang, no bad thing and a reminder that the dark side of folk is far from dreary. There's energy aplenty with lots of good vocal interplay and exchanges. A good EP leaves you wanting more and this folk/americana blend definitely does that. Well worth checking out.
Joshua Caole
Album:Moon Palace
Label:Bullo Pill
Website:http://www.bullopill.com
I mentioned earlier in the year that there's some pretty good music coming from the principality at the moment and nothing I'm hearing on "Moon Palace" the debut solo album from Cardiff's Joshua Caole is making me change that opinion. There's loose, relaxed feel to the album, that's partly brought about by the laid back vocal, Caole seems content to let the song do the talking, rather than power it out, and partly by the minimal percussion that's enough to create a space for the instrumentation, particularly piano and acoustic guitar to fill for a good folk blues sound.
Album:Moon Palace
Label:Bullo Pill
Website:http://www.bullopill.com
I mentioned earlier in the year that there's some pretty good music coming from the principality at the moment and nothing I'm hearing on "Moon Palace" the debut solo album from Cardiff's Joshua Caole is making me change that opinion. There's loose, relaxed feel to the album, that's partly brought about by the laid back vocal, Caole seems content to let the song do the talking, rather than power it out, and partly by the minimal percussion that's enough to create a space for the instrumentation, particularly piano and acoustic guitar to fill for a good folk blues sound.
Plumhall
EP:Live At The Courthouse
Label:Self Release
Website:http://www.plumhall.co.uk
With their debut album, "Smoke And Mirrors" due out imminently, Plumhall, have primed the market with this live EP recorded at their appearance at The Courthouse, Leeds. A super duo, is such a thing exists, Plumhall, consist former member of Chumbwamba and Waking The Witch, Michelle Plum and Nick Hall from the Hall Brothers. All bodes extremely well, there's a wealth of experience and talent to draw and a real sense of passion and attack in the delivery. This is fine guitar driven singer/songwriting that veers towards the rock part of the folk genre and does so with aplomb.
EP:Live At The Courthouse
Label:Self Release
Website:http://www.plumhall.co.uk
With their debut album, "Smoke And Mirrors" due out imminently, Plumhall, have primed the market with this live EP recorded at their appearance at The Courthouse, Leeds. A super duo, is such a thing exists, Plumhall, consist former member of Chumbwamba and Waking The Witch, Michelle Plum and Nick Hall from the Hall Brothers. All bodes extremely well, there's a wealth of experience and talent to draw and a real sense of passion and attack in the delivery. This is fine guitar driven singer/songwriting that veers towards the rock part of the folk genre and does so with aplomb.
Marla Mase
Album:Speak
Label:Mase Music
Website:http://www.marlamase.com
Marle Mase's previous album, "A Brief Night Out" was subtitled 'a rock 'n' roll' musicial, "Speak" has a similar feel to it. Some albums can only come from one place and "Speak" couldn't be more New York if they'd turned the Brooklyn Bridge into dust and impregnated it into the fabric of the cd. "Speak" is an interesting CD that I really can't decide if I like, but feel really pleased that I got to listen to. Mase takes a big vision pitch to her music, the staging is fantastic, maybe it needs a few guests to be the characters for this left field album to take the final step in the spotlight.
Album:Speak
Label:Mase Music
Website:http://www.marlamase.com
Marle Mase's previous album, "A Brief Night Out" was subtitled 'a rock 'n' roll' musicial, "Speak" has a similar feel to it. Some albums can only come from one place and "Speak" couldn't be more New York if they'd turned the Brooklyn Bridge into dust and impregnated it into the fabric of the cd. "Speak" is an interesting CD that I really can't decide if I like, but feel really pleased that I got to listen to. Mase takes a big vision pitch to her music, the staging is fantastic, maybe it needs a few guests to be the characters for this left field album to take the final step in the spotlight.
Polly & The Billet Doux
EP:Hold Fast
Label:Self Released
Website:http://pollyandthebilletsdoux.co.uk
I first came across Hampshire's Polly & The Billet Doux when they played Cambridge last year. It was an impressive live set and easy to see why they had built such a reputation for their performance, well judging by "Hold Fast" they know what they are doing in the studio as well. For a start they don't try to capture the exuberance of the live performance, instead they focus on making sure that the songs are bang on the mark. This is an EP that stands on it's own two feet, because you feel the artists are living the songs, rather than building performance around them. Delightful.
EP:Hold Fast
Label:Self Released
Website:http://pollyandthebilletsdoux.co.uk
I first came across Hampshire's Polly & The Billet Doux when they played Cambridge last year. It was an impressive live set and easy to see why they had built such a reputation for their performance, well judging by "Hold Fast" they know what they are doing in the studio as well. For a start they don't try to capture the exuberance of the live performance, instead they focus on making sure that the songs are bang on the mark. This is an EP that stands on it's own two feet, because you feel the artists are living the songs, rather than building performance around them. Delightful.
Sproatly Smith
Album:The Minstrel's Grave
Label:Folk Police
Website:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sproatly-Smith/
The more astute of you will be saying 'Haven't Fatea already covered this one?' Yes we have, but since then, Hereford's finest psyche-folkers have been snapped up by Folk Police, which will hopefully help them reach the wider audience they deserve. "The Minstrel's Grave" is a wonderful and enthralling combination of fascinating melodies, harmonies and lyrics that seem as though they've been caught between old English and neo-Pagan. There is a touch of gothic fairytale over the whole, dark and entertaining. An album to be explored time and time again.
Album:The Minstrel's Grave
Label:Folk Police
Website:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sproatly-Smith/
The more astute of you will be saying 'Haven't Fatea already covered this one?' Yes we have, but since then, Hereford's finest psyche-folkers have been snapped up by Folk Police, which will hopefully help them reach the wider audience they deserve. "The Minstrel's Grave" is a wonderful and enthralling combination of fascinating melodies, harmonies and lyrics that seem as though they've been caught between old English and neo-Pagan. There is a touch of gothic fairytale over the whole, dark and entertaining. An album to be explored time and time again.
Cleo T
Album:Songs Of Gold And Shadow
Label:Folkwit
Website:http://www.facebook.com/cleotmusic1
It came as no surprise to discover that Cleo T is French. The black and white, pre-Raphelite sleeve hints at something from the left field, or should that be left bank, and that is pretty much confirmed from the opening track of "Songs Of Shadow And Gold". A large range of instrumentation, including Theremin and crystal glasses combine with delightfully melancholic melodies to give the album a film noire feel, with Cleo T playing the role of the femme fatale. An album that drifts into your consciousness like a skiff emerging from the mist, cloaked figure in the prow.
Album:Songs Of Gold And Shadow
Label:Folkwit
Website:http://www.facebook.com/cleotmusic1
It came as no surprise to discover that Cleo T is French. The black and white, pre-Raphelite sleeve hints at something from the left field, or should that be left bank, and that is pretty much confirmed from the opening track of "Songs Of Shadow And Gold". A large range of instrumentation, including Theremin and crystal glasses combine with delightfully melancholic melodies to give the album a film noire feel, with Cleo T playing the role of the femme fatale. An album that drifts into your consciousness like a skiff emerging from the mist, cloaked figure in the prow.
Chico Chica
Album:Melangerie
Label:Self Released
Website:http://www.chico-chica.co.uk
We don't get a lot of jazz come through the office so it always comes as a pleasant surprise when we do and "Melangerie" from London trio Chico Chica, is no exception to that rule. The trio are the lead of a larger band that play at the lighter end of the jazz spectrum, touching on some great chanson singing as well as more instrumetally focused jazz/pop. There is a contemporay feel to both sound and subject, modern urban living as much a focus for the mellow notes as relationships, though at the heart is the relaxed beat of kicking back and chilling.
Album:Melangerie
Label:Self Released
Website:http://www.chico-chica.co.uk
We don't get a lot of jazz come through the office so it always comes as a pleasant surprise when we do and "Melangerie" from London trio Chico Chica, is no exception to that rule. The trio are the lead of a larger band that play at the lighter end of the jazz spectrum, touching on some great chanson singing as well as more instrumetally focused jazz/pop. There is a contemporay feel to both sound and subject, modern urban living as much a focus for the mellow notes as relationships, though at the heart is the relaxed beat of kicking back and chilling.
Auburn
Album:Indian Summer
Label:Scarlet Records
Website:http://www.auburn.org.uk
It's been a while since we've had a new release from Auburn, but the Liz Lenten lead group have returned with a certain amount of aplomb. "Indian Summer" feels like a songbook as much as an album, but that's no bad thing. Liz is a songwriter, choral arranger and vocal coach and has to deliver for a wide range of events and performers. I like that this album pulls in songs from many aspects of the acoustic spectrum, a bit of folk, a bit of blues, a little bit of jazz. I also like that it feels very positive, a real sense of self belief.
Album:Indian Summer
Label:Scarlet Records
Website:http://www.auburn.org.uk
It's been a while since we've had a new release from Auburn, but the Liz Lenten lead group have returned with a certain amount of aplomb. "Indian Summer" feels like a songbook as much as an album, but that's no bad thing. Liz is a songwriter, choral arranger and vocal coach and has to deliver for a wide range of events and performers. I like that this album pulls in songs from many aspects of the acoustic spectrum, a bit of folk, a bit of blues, a little bit of jazz. I also like that it feels very positive, a real sense of self belief.
Steve Tyler And Andy Clarke
Album:Steve Tyler And Andy Clarke
Label:Self Released
Website:http://www.myspace.com/stevetylerandyclarke
This selftitled album has been out for a little while, but I've only recently come across it and it's definitely still well worth bringing to your attention. Steve Tyler and Andy Clarke have pulled together an album that is very firmly rooted in the folk tradition, including the instrumentation, featuring as it does the much maligned hurdy gurdy as well as the cittern and bouzouki. This gives a bright almost cheerful timbre to the sound and serves to remind that most were written as dance tunes as well as to accompany story songs. A refreshingly different aural feast.
Album:Steve Tyler And Andy Clarke
Label:Self Released
Website:http://www.myspace.com/stevetylerandyclarke
This selftitled album has been out for a little while, but I've only recently come across it and it's definitely still well worth bringing to your attention. Steve Tyler and Andy Clarke have pulled together an album that is very firmly rooted in the folk tradition, including the instrumentation, featuring as it does the much maligned hurdy gurdy as well as the cittern and bouzouki. This gives a bright almost cheerful timbre to the sound and serves to remind that most were written as dance tunes as well as to accompany story songs. A refreshingly different aural feast.
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Fatea Showcase Sessions
The Fatea Showcase Sessions are a series of downloads featuring acts that we've really enjoyed and think that more people should get the chance to hear.
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