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.
Brewflies - My Life
www.brewflies.com
American traditional music group Brewflies have recorded a cover of Iris Dement's My Life. They recorded this as a coda to their new album due in August, as a rumination on our "collective human insignificance and impotence in the face of nature's sometimes harsh backslap at our irrelevance and our own stupidity, greed, and jealousy; a song that is a reminder of how significant and potent our small gestures of grace, compassion, and love can be, which can 'make it seem better, for a while,' even in the midst of the plagues of a pandemic, racial animosity, political lies, and war". The gentle acoustic country lilt of their rendition makes this an excellent way to underline their "Covid album", TM
Dan Jordan - Death Valley
www.danjordanwarbirds.com
An interesting tune, guitar, piano and violin back Jordan's spoken word vocal, which almost drops into Leonard Cohen style singing. His bass voice makes no compromises to elegance or sweetness, and declaims the words more like a Patti Smith poem than a folk song. A challenging but satisfying listen. TM
Chris Ricketts - Old And New Friends
www.rickettsmusic.co.uk
Describing himself as a 21st century shanty singer, Chris Ricketts sounds like a salt water drenched acoustic Billy Bragg. Singing about the partings and friendships that a life at sea inevitably brings, he makes this a celebratory song rather than the lament it could have been. He has tours of the UK and Canada coming up, mostly coastal towns in both, and should be an engaging live performer on this showing. An album is due soon and will be an engaging listen. TM
Old Crow Medicine Show (Feat Willie Watson) - Miles Away
www.crowmedicine.com
Old Crow Medicine Show rarely disappoints and this single from new album Jubilee, is well up to standard. The return of previous member Willie Watson and a more sumptuous string sound than usual make this sound more like the Rolling Stones in country mode than some of their more robust old-time string band songs. Album now hotly anticipated, but then they usually with OCMS. TM
Angharad Jenkins & Patrick Rimes - Du Fel y glo
www.angharadjenkins.cymruA violin duet between two outstanding Welsh players. Offering a traditional tune, also known as Black as the Coal this a piece of fiddle telepathy that bounces along. They have played together in the group Calan and now have an album of traditional pieces called Amrwd, due later this year. They strike sparks off each other throughout the twists in this tune. A review of a recent festival performance called their sound "celebratory and joyous" and that does as a description of this tune. TM
John Reed - Coal Fires
www.johnreedmusic.com
n acoustic folk tune looking at the effects of poverty and desperation on how people live their lives. "Starting to burn the coal fires again" is an indicator of forgetting the need to look after the planet in order to keep up standards of living deemed to be required in the 21st century. Reed has now produced 2 great singles in a row and his Roy Harper and Ian Anderson inspired sound stands up well, along with his writing. An album is due and should be well worth a listen. TM
Jim Keller - Mistakes
www.jimkellermusic.com
Featuring a solo from Los Lobos, David Hidalgo this new single from blues singer Jim Keller has a groove based on Bob Glaub's funky bass line. Hidalgo's solo is suitably understated. Mitchell Froom's production is clear and warm. This could be a later Little Feat or JJ Cale song and has the soft bluesy appeal of both of them. TM
Jeffrey Halford And The Healers - Mississippi Flyer
www.jeffreyhalford..com
Bill Wyman, formerly of the Rolling Stones apparently asked Jeffrey Halford to do his song, Mississippi Flyer. Halford and his band have recorded a fine swamp blues filled rendition. Halford is a slide guitarist and produces a solo worthy of Lowell George or Ry Cooder. Originally played by Wyman's Rhythm Kings outfit this has kept the old-time blues feel but supercharged it with Halford's voice and guitar. A stomping good blues. TM
Erja Lyytinen - You Talk Dirty
erjalyytinen.com
Lyytinen produces power blues rock in the Joe Bonamassa/Hendrix mould. "My sound has changed since the last live recording. My playing has more of a hard-rock element and edge," she says. And this is blues rock with the emphasis on the rock. Fans of her earlier more traditional blues based sound may find this less to their taste, but hard rock lovers will find that this is a fine song with a modern ringing bass and big drums backing her formidable guitar chops. TM
Big Daddy Wilson - I Need You
www.bigdaddywilson.com
Soul/Gospel singer Wilson is joined by Jessy Martens on a churchified single. A powerful soul duet between 2 fine singers that also includes a stinging guitar solo. His new album Plan B, named for the change of release strategy that the end of Covid made possible is more of the same, and if you are partial to some blues gone to church then this will be for you. TM
Handsome Family - Skunks
handsomefamily.com
Brett and Rennie Sparks return with more of the American gothic sound and attitude that made their name. Inspired by a pest infestation, the words start on the many perils that can befall the homeowner in rural America. "Squirrels in the basement Raccoons in the walls Centipedes with stingers" The dark world of the Handsome Family is intact and all the better for it. If you are a fan, then you will be happy with this return. If you are new to them, this a good place to catch up. TM.
Caitlin LM - Kinetic
www.caitlinlm.comWe've looked at Caitlin LM's electronic sounds here before and as last time this is an interesting and innovative piece in Bonobo's part of the musical forest. A soundscape that in places sounds like some of Robert Fripp's guitar electronics and has an atmospheric swooping string sound running through it. One of the most interesting new electronic artists around today. She says, "It came into being in a beautiful moment of not overthinking, just feeling and moving, which is something I really struggle with". TM
Margo Cilker - Keep It On A Burner
www.margocilkermusicMargo Cilker's first album was a highlight when it was released in late 2021. And this is the single to promote her next release, with a New Orleans style brass band taking the lead on this stately paced tune. Listing the things, she wants to remember and reflect on, she tells us "Sometimes I feel it dipping beneath the water line, But I keep it on a burner in the back of my mind". The second album looks set to be as good as the first, which was a high bar to make. TM
Goldpine - Do You Have Me
goldpinemusic.com
Kassie Wilson's voice adds an extra dimension to this fairly routine Americana song. Her soulful power packed delivery which recalls hard rock singers like Ellen Foley as much as most country singers, can sound as soft as it can be strident. Benjamin Wilson is a fine guitar player and slots into the gaps left by his wife's vocals. A new band to me and one to investigate further. TM
Gabriella Hunzinger - Body Away
www.instagram.com/gabriella.hunzingerOn this darkly gothic tune, Gabriella Hunzinger comes cross initially as PJ Harvey lite. The mesmerising Cello and Guitar quickly do away with that view. A haunting tune from a singer with her own voice. She claims influence from Tori Amos, Kate Bush and Beth Gibbons. Of these it's the Portishead singer who is most clearly there, as is that band and Radiohead's sound in the cinematic sweep of the tune. Great stuff. TM
Beth Bombara - Moment
www.bethbombara.comA pedal steel driven song that has a laid back groove which also features a Mellotron sound in the background. She says, "When the world sort of came "back" after the pandemic, I wasn't ready for it. I'd adjusted to this slower pace of life, which gave me space to examine my priorities and what really brings me joy. It's a reminder to myself to live fully in the present, so that life becomes these poignant, meaningful moments that will carry us through the times ahead." And this feels like a chilled moment in amongst the chaos of the modern world. Good singer, and a great song. TM
Donna Marie - Falling Through The Cracks
www.donnamariesongs.com"A mid-tempo song that takes the listener on a journey of sorts. Two characters who have sacrificed foreach other all in the name of family but ultimately a reminder to each other that they still have hopes & dreams of their own." A blend of UK folk/pop and Country in sound Donna Marie's sound is not anything out of the ordinary, but her delivery and the quality of the song with it's twangy guitar sound raise it above run of the mill, into an essential summer Americana song. TM
Mitch Grainger - Mississippi
www.mitchgrainger.comA delta blues backing and Grainger's Nashville style vocal make an interesting and dynamic blend. While the Robert Johnson comparison that has been foisted on him by the American press is a bit much, I can see what they mean. The haunting, hypnotic aura of his music has a touch of Johnson and his successors while having a more laid-back groove than much of modern blues. 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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