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.
Amelia Coburn - Ghost Town /Thinking Of You
www.ameliacoburn.co.uk
A tribute to Terry Hall with all money going to Cancer Research UK. Ghost Town's message actually jumps out of Coburn's jaunty Ukulele may be more effectively than the classic original. The words resonate now more than they have since 1981. The jazzy style of Thinking of You, one of Hall's best songs reminds us what a great writer he is. Coburn has done him justice here. Buy it at Bandcamp for so many reasons. https://ameliacoburn.bandcamp.com/music TM
Jessie Kilguss - Wuthering Heights
www.jessiekilguss.com
A cover of Kate Bush's Debute is hardly new, but Kilguss's bluesy vocal over Andrea Longato's guitar is an interesting take on the song. Harmonium and Glockenspiel join in for the last verse. As a fan of both Bush and Bronte, she finds that the song "really captures the spirit of the book in its melodrama and angst. I find it really fun to sing because of that." Breaking Bush's song down to just the words reminds us what a great song it is. TM
Little Lore - Normal
littlelore.uk
We talked about singer songwriter Tricia Duffy's last single only a few weeks ago, and now she's back with an Americana based tune "full of energy and observation about the choices we make to fit in.". The key line in the song? "Why be happy when you can be normal" is a wry observation of the world we find ourselves in. The quality of her voice comes across on this more up-tempo song, and the music sits in the sweet spot between mainstream country and harder Americana. An early entry in the artists to see live and listen to more this year. TM
Harlem Lake - I Wish I Could Go Running
harlemlake.com/en
Big band blues soul recorded live at Culemborg Blues in 2022. Dominated by Janne Timmer's vocal and Sonny Ray van den Berg's Steve Ray style guitar acrobatics there is a lot going on here and the basic groove does get a bit lost at times. The lead single from a live album due in February, this suggests they are great value when seen in the flesh, but that the energy is a bit much on record. TM
Kate Ellis - Other Side Of The Street (Radio Edit)
www.kateellis.comEllis's album 'Spirals' was one that I didn't pick up on until later in the year so a new single to draw attention is very welcome. Her Louisiana to London journey is reflected in her music. "We also wanted to celebrate the diverse and beautiful streets of London in a natural way - its quiet, leafy roads, vivid graffiti covered walls, former industrial districts, tunnels and canals - from morning through to sunset." And they have done just that, creating a breezy song that celebrates a weekend wander around the streets. TM
Midnight Ashes - Life Is For Living
www.facebook.com/MidnightAshesBand
Robert Lane and Emily Ewing have built on 2022's trend of the return of great adult pop rock with this song. There is nothing startling or original about it. It is just a good song played and sung well with no other reason to exist than to entertain. Which is just fine, we need good upbeat music in our lives. "Climbing a stairway, Or riding the highway, Makes no difference, Cause life is for living now" TM
Beak Scenatrio - Mysteriosa
www.facebook.com/Beak-Scenatrio
Instrumental jazzy dub funk grooves from Portugal. This will find its place on bar and café soundtracks in the Mediterranean next summer. Insubstantial except for the driving drums of João Sousa this updates the 60s Bossa Nova sound for the middle of the 21st century TM
Anton Glackin - Dust Clouds
www.facebook.com/eiremusic
Irish singer songwriter Anton Glackin's new single is an intriguing blend of the sounds of his homeland with the Appalachians. Banjo drives the song along over a fiddle that could come from Cork or Carolina. An individual singing style complements the music and makes for an individual sounds. It's disappointing that his online presence is so limited, I'd like to know more. TM
The Tim Shez Band - I Miss You
www.facebook.com/timshezmusic
"The Tim Shez Band deliver delicate and intimate original and cover songs that draw you in and take you with them." Delicate and intimate are the words that sum this song up. Shez's high plaintive voice sits over plucked guitar and bass. The malign influence of Coldplay is detectable in the build to an epic conclusion once the drums kick in. TM
Sara De Sanctis - Astray/ Have I Been Dreaming
saradesanctis.com
An Italian song writer living in the UK, her classical music background comes out in the choral backing to this trip-hoppy tune. I'm not the first to point out the Bond theme potential of this. You can hear this as a piano ballad as easily as with the moody synths and skittering drums here. The mark of a great song. Even better is what seems to be the B side. Have I Been Dreaming is more piano based and a gentler more chilled groove that allows her voice to shine. TM
Kyle Toolan - Overcast
www.kyletoolan.co.uk
This is Toolan's debut single and marks the start of a concerted attempt to build a career in music. He moved to Manchester, "believing it to be the best music city in the UK", to follow his dream. With musical influences rooted in the 90s, there are touches of Smashing Pumpkins, grungy guitars, and a vocal buried in the mix. As a debut this bodes well for the future and he deserves your support. TM
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.
Folk Friday Radio
Check out our shows and many other great shows on: