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.
Jack Goodall & The Kick - Never Happen
www.facebook.com/jackgoodallmusic
Jack Goodall And The Kick "are a new Birmingham-based band doing their own kind of music". They are indeed hard to categorise. Indie pop guitars, found sound background noise, synths and Djembe drums combine to make a sound unlike anyone else. But it's a great energising sound especially when the vocals turn into something from a protest march towards the end. An intriguing single that you will play on repeat until it sinks in and you are dancing round your kitchen to it. TM
Sarah Yeo - A Rainy Night In Glastonbury
www.sarah-yeo-singer.co.uk
Exeter singer songwriter Sarah Yeo has built a career in the country music space, she will be playing the British Country Music Festival in Blackpool as part of a stellar line up in September. This song however is more folk based. Not a new song, but a good one, painting a picture of the mists that are a feature of the Somerset levels when the weather takes a turn for the wet. This song also features as part of a fine live set available on Bandcamp from the always excellent Visual Radio Arts, who feature performances from Southwest artists online. TM
Jeff Chaz - A Toda Madre
www.jeffchazblues.com
Jeff Chaz is a New Orleans based blues guitarist. This is an instrumental that would be right at home on the soundtrack to a B movie set in the swamps of the southern states. A Toda Madre is Mexican slang for something totally awesome. With his amp's tremolo button turned up to max, and the growled title repeating throughout out the song, this is indeed A Toda Madre. TM
Jono Mason - No New Kind of Blue (Feat. John Popper)
www.jonomanson.com
Featuring the unmistakable harmonica and voice of Blues Traveler's John Popper, this is a great folk/blues song with a wonderfully relaxed groove. The guitar solo has a touch of Duane Allman to it. There's nothing big or clever about it, it's just fun. This is the lead single from an album, his tenth in fact, Stars Enough To Guide Me, due out at the end of March. If Blues without the bluster is your thing, then give this a listen, it was certainly enough to press preorder on the album for me. TM
Forty Elephant Gang - Miss You
www.facebook.com/fortyelephantgangForty Elephant Gang "are a rousing, engaging, and intensely innovative three-piece from East London who blend Folk, Americana, and American Blues, with truly classic song writing". We've looked at their music here before and this is another great folk-based song, driven along by a mandolin riff that lives up to the hype. Fun was clearly being had by all recording this, and it shows, great good time music. Still no idea what the name means though. TM
Featherhouse - Pull Up Yourself a Chair / Above The Trees
www.featherhouse.bandcamp.com
Hertfordshire based Pete Guy, performing as Featherhouse, has generally tended to be a solo performer producing carefully crafted moody and atmospheric music. His latest double single takes him to a new level with the addition of Liz Townsend on cello and organ, Jb Briant provides violin whilst Andrew Theakstone is on drums and Nick Kozuch adds additional percussion. Compared to his previous releases these tracks, both under three minutes, have a much lighter feel to them, almost pop, and a lift with sparkle. Pete's vocals are still very much to the fore and there is a link between the two tracks, as we're taken on an almost psychedelic journey through liminal space. It's a new and exciting direction from a respected singer/songwriter. Tracks are available exclusively at the artist's bandcamp page as a download. TB
Isolde Lasoen - Oh Dear
isoldelasoen.bandcamp.com
This is just great. Strange, but great. Imagine Astrud Gilberto singing 60 s psychedelic French pop. If you can then you've found your new favourite song. Jazzy, orchestral, poppy, it's just a blend of wonderful things. IN Belgium Lasoen is known for being the drummer in the bands DAAN and Absynthe Minded. 'This record IS my style. Every song has its own Isolde-like little world', she says. The vibes, strings, synths, and drums make the perfect backing to her voice. Once you've heard this you will want the album that it's the title track of. I did… TM
Hannah Scott - Into Your Grief
www.hannahscott.co.uk
One of the stars of the current folk scene, Hannah Scott has produced another song notable for its insightful words. She says "I wrote Into Your Grief in 2008 when my 3-year relationship was breaking down. I played the song, we both started crying, and that was it! We are still good friends 15 years later". Part of an EP Ancient Lights, which is a collection of songs from the beginning of her musical journey. If you haven't come listened to Scott's music, then start here. I'll be in the for her Bristol date In June, and having seen her live previously, my advice is get along to see her when she plays in your town. TM
Andy White & Tim Finn - Happiness Index/Warrior of Love
www.facebook.com/altandyliamtim
"'How happy are we?' The king of Bhutan wants to know. His Buddhist Kingdom allows itself to self-examine. We in the West however have turned his Happiness Index into a trans-global competition. How sad to view an existential question in such a limited way, but the AT song is a joyous and belligerent revelation of these tragic-comic contradictions." Usually, a band ALT with Liam Ó Maonlaí, this is a single from the duo that is an excellent piece of Indie rock that is part of an album due out soon. B side Warrior of Love is another epic sounding song, perhaps less joyful, but still a great song that bodes well for the album. TM
Natalie Merchant - Come On, Aphrodite
www.nataliemerchant.com
The single from Merchant's album Keep Your Courage, due in April. Over a 40 year career the quality of her music has remained at a level most artists can only dream of hitting once in a lifetime. With Abena Koomson-Davis (Resistance Revival Chorus) supporting her and a punchy brass section adding joy to the music, this is another essential song to add to so many in her catalogue. "'Come On, Aphrodite' is an invocation to the goddess of love and passion," she says. A new Natalie Merchant album is always worth paying attention to, and this one is now "keenly awaited". TM
Mooneye - In Between
www.mooneyeband.be
Belgian band Mooneye, have a couple of albums to their name, and are back with a new single. This lives in the space that early REM used to occupy so well, Folky elements with driving indie rock guitars, and vocals drenched in reverb. Old fashioned power pop like this has never been very fashionable, but done well, as it is here is never less than entertaining. TM
Una Monaghan - What Haven't We Heard
www.unamonaghan.com
This single from harper Monaghan comes from a new album Aonaracht, a new collection for solo traditional musicians and computer. This is a piece about gender balance in traditional music, it includes a poem 'Weather Vane' by Maureen Boyle as it's central section. The electronic elements to this song are very subtle. Other songs on the album are more abstract than this beautiful song, but the combination of ancient instruments and modern treatments is interesting and more than worth the time to get to know it well. TM
Robert Severin - Elena
robertseverin.com/home
With musical support from Alice Allen on Cello & pianist Rick Flahunt, this is a song about one of the invisible people in the world. "Elena, sixty-three today. Carries her world in a plastic bag" and "Elena wants someone to explain. Who thought that war's a winning game?" The story of an older woman having to flee her home as Russia invades Ukraine, proceeds from sales will be donated to the International Rescue Committee to support its humanitarian work in Ukraine. This an emotive pice. And the powerful words from Dutch poet Linda de Bruijn alone make this worth the purchase to support the cause. TM
The Shruggs - Country Girl
theshruggs.wixsite.com/theshruggs
The Shruggs are an "Acoustic Musical Duo' from Bandon Co Cork". This is an up-tempo country flavoured song that bounces along on fiddle and some slightly strange backing "woops". If you want to kick start your day with a happy song, then this is the one to pick. James Downing and Kees Hendrickx have produced one of the best good time songs so far this year. TM
Brigid O'Neill - Easy
www.brigidoneill.comBrigid O'Neill is, for me, one of Ireland's finest songwriters, and this country/folk song is up there with her best. She's been called "A great songwriter with a voice that can break your heart at 30 paces", and her voice could do just that. This has picked up a lot of airplay on Americana and folk radio, ahead of the release of her album, The Truth & Other Stories. If you haven't been entranced by O'Neill's music yet, start here. TM
Joe Martin - Empty Passenger Seat
www.joemartinmusic.com
A straightforward country song, and title track of an album that has a slightly unusual, at least these days, release plan. 'I have decided to only release the album in physical form as a CD before and during the April tour. I want to make a point of bringing people's attention to the fact that big streaming platforms, as convenient as they are for the user, leave artists will little to nothing to show for their work." A point that needs to keep being made, and a stand that needs supporting. Apart from anything else, artwork with an old Ford Capri on it makes the CD release essential, as does the excellence of the song. TM
Elaine Malone - Nothing Is Real
www.facebook.com/elainemalonemusic
Elaine Malone calls herself "an Irish psychedelic-folk musician". The distant vocals recall All About Eve or Nico with The Velvet Underground. 60's psychedelic guitar is a main feature. The washes of sound and voices mix into a soundscape that is more atmosphere than song. As it fades away you are left wanting it to continue for much longer. TM
Dianna - A Streetcar Called Evergreen
www.diannacountry.com
The press release tells us that "Dianña (pronounced Dee-on-ya) has found her true calling as a traditional country music singer/songwriter" That may be the case but this piece of relatively anonymous country by numbers, billed as a an autobiographical tale of her musical roots does not make an especially convincing argument for that. The best country is all about soul, and that is mostly missing here. TM
Holly Rees - Missing Out (Again)
www.hollyrees.co.uk
This is a full-band re-make of 'Missing Out' originally released on Rees' 2018 acoustic EP 'Slow Down'. She has been described as Laura-Marling-meets-Courtney-Barnett. The emphasis here is definitely on Barnett with a lo-fi take on the song which woks just fine as an electric workout for her band. This also has some "unapologetically down to earth lyricism", but there is a cleaned up version for those of a nervous disposition. Terrific, energetic indie pop, and I'm sure she an her band are just great live. TM
3Times7 - Wait!
www.3times7.co.uk
Kicking off with a drum lick straight off Ballroom Blitz, 3Times7 "are musicians connected through our love of soulful blues music, we live and breathe it, from our travels around the States to the clothes we wear and the people we meet." They also call themselves "a 4 piece rock roll rhythm and blues band". And that is closer to the sound on Wait! Smooth Harmonies over an almost rockabilly back beat make this another one to add to your spring playlist. TM
Angel Snow - Time/In Between Love
angelsnow.net
Both songs are taken from a forthcoming album - 'Yesterday Is Here' which comprises a ten track collection of Tom Wait's covers and an album of songs from "an artist whose music is very close to Angel's heart". Wait's songs often suit voices like Snow's. She manages to keep the essence of a unique artist's work but make the song her own. Time is particularly effective with Cello counterpointing her voice. . In Between Love has less Wait's about the sound, but that just let's her put her own stamp on the song. The album will be worth a listen and if you like this then also try the excellent compilation, Come On Up To The House: Women Sing Waits. TM
Rebecca Richards - Music Maker
www.rebeccarichardsmusic.com
Another single from Welsh singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Rebecca Richards. She says the song "music maker" is as much a personal statement of how she feels about letting go of her fears and pursuing her venture into music as it is a soul / blues infused blend of vocals, mandolin, drums, piano and guitar. "All I want to do is make music for you" says the closing line. And we're glad she is doing just that. TM
Craig Gould - Out Of The Woods
craiggouldmusic.com
Having built a reputation with a string of singles, Gould's first album Songs from the Campfire is set to appear in April. He is "proud to work in partnership with the mental health charity CALM", the Campaign Against Living Miserably. This a song that has a joyful upbeat feel thanks to the fiddle and chorus. Music as a support for mental health is taking a step forward through the work of artists like Gould and Lizzy Hardingham, and this is a great contribution to that cause. 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.
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