Beyond The 45
Singles, EPs, Downloads
The Fatea office also serves as a home for our weekly Along The Tracks show on Blues & Roots Radio and as a rule singles and Eps have generally gone in that direction whilst Fatea generally concentrates on albums and live reviews for our full length feature, but with more artists going back down the single route to keep themselves in the public eye, we thought it was time to reflect that in our offerings and as rules are made to be broken or at the very least adapted, welcome to the Singles Round Up.
Jennifer Kamikazi - Lebanon Mountains
www.jenniferkamikazi.com
This latest release from Jennifer Kamikazi (her surname means Little Queen in her native Rwandese) takes inspiration from both the music of her East African heritage and the biblical book Song of Solomon. Lebanon Mountains sits comfortably alongside her modern folk contemporaries however, with Laura Marling as an obvious point of comparison. Kamikazi's vocals are incredible; ethereal and full of fragile beauty. There is something deeply soothing and heavenly about Lebanon Mountains, which makes it the perfect song to listen to right now. AJ
MIHI NIHIL - Falling Star
www.smarturl.it/FallingStarMN
What do you get if you cross three self-taught alternative musicians from Los Angeles, with a classical opera singer from New York City? The answer is MIHI NIHIL (mee-kee nee-keel), named after vocalist Mihi Vox's nickname in college. Falling Star is their latest release, and it is a gorgeous swooning track with a rich layered sound. The song is about a struggle with the consequences of past decisions, and while full of lush nostalgic lament, there's also a sense of hope about it, which gives it a real lift. There is something quite timeless about Falling Star, and you won't regret the time spent listening. AJ
My Girl The River - Sad Dog
www.supertinyrecords.com
Sad Dog is the new single from Louisiana artist Kris Wilkinson and English bassist Joe Hughes, and it's an incredibly moving track. Written to mark the first anniversary of losing her mother, Sad Dog refers to the grief that follows her round; a constant companion at first and gradually visiting with less frequency. Grief is a difficult concept to capture in a song, especially as the result can be such a difficult listen, but Sad Dog is masterful. Grief is a complex concept full of sadness and longing, but also with moments of joy and bittersweet happiness. Wilkinson captures the melancholy but also gives it a lightness of touch which sends the song soaring at times with a positive poignancy. AJ
Madraykin - Black Cat
www.madraykin.com
Gloucestershire singer-songwriter Madeleine Harwood continues her folk-noir journey with Black Cat. As with her debut single, The Heart Has A Thousand Tongues, Black Cat has a dark melodic richness to it that makes this a captivating listen. It is also the perfect showcase for Harwood's vocal talents, capturing the attention effortlessly and showing an impressive range. On the strength of these first two singles, clearly Madraykin is going to be a name to look out for in the near future. The promise of future releases is alluring indeed. AJ
Charles James Livingstone - Midnight Moon
www.charlesjameslivingstone.bandcamp.com
With the pandemic making writing and performing in bands unfeasible for many over the last year, Charles James Livingstone is taking a forced hiatus from Lowlight Gathering to go it alone as a solo artist. The Co Monaghan singer songwriter has a full EP due for release later this year, and Midnight Moon is the first release. Aided remotely by former bandmates Shay Sweeney and Danny Mahony on drums and keys respectively, Livingstone's debut is a slow burner building up to a chorus that feels genuinely uplifting. On this form, Livingstone's upcoming EP should be hotly anticipated. AJ
Frances Luke Accord - Sunnyside
www.franceslukeaccord.com
The duo of Nicholas Gunty and Brian Powers have been building quite the following with their contemplative indie-folk music that has often led to comparisons with the likes of Simon & Garfunkel. Sunnyside represents an evolution of sorts, with more of an instrumentally-driven track that is achingly beautiful from start to finish. Covering social unrest, personal isolation, depression, Sunnyside may not sound on the surface the most uplifting of tracks, but it's full of warmth, hope, and fantastic harmonies. Sunnyside is an absolute joy. AJ
Elgin - Cherry Picked
www.facebook.com/ElginBandOfficial
Elgin is the new project from Anthony Furey and Paul Butler, two of the founding members of the Dublin group The Young Folk. Their first single as a duo is Cherry Picked, a song about letting go and finding the space to breathe. It's an incredibly assured first release, as you might expect given the pedigree of those involved, with a wonderful indie-folk feel that builds slowly to something quite enchanting. The piano and drum keep the track moving along, but it's the harmonies here that will stay with you. There's more to come from Elgin this year, and I for one will be waiting with a high level of anticipation for it. AJ
Blue Touch - Walkin' Blues
www.facebook.com/toriawooff
Robert Johnson's classic has been a popular cover over the years, with versions released by the likes of Eric Clapton and Grateful Dead. In the hands of Blue Touch it becomes a whisky-soaked foot-tapper, which drives along at some pace. It has an element of rawness to it that can't help but pull you in, and an in your face quality that will pull you reluctantly onto the dancefloor and show you a fun time. This is blues at its most enjoyable. AJ
Ultan Conlon - The River Flows
www.ultanconlon.com
The River Flows first featured as a solo version on Galway native Ultan Conlon's 2016 album, Songs Of Love So Cruel. The new version though is elevated by the inclusion of Gaby Moreno, the two meeting on a Milk Carton Kids show in LA, and then again as guest artists at The Watkins Family Hour show. It's a re-imagination that has been recorded in Galway, London, LA, and Nashville, and as a collaboration it is breathtakingly beautiful. Conlon and Moreno's vocals gel so well together you'd think they'd been recording together for their whole careers. It's the perfect song to see in the change of seasons with. AJ
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.
Pirate is the current session and features 16 fantastic artists check out the website to find out more about them and download your copy
www.fatea-showcase-sessions.co.uk for all the artist information.
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