Reviews
Wildwood Kin Album: Turning Tides
Label: Silvertone
Tracks: 11
Website: http://www.wildwoodkin.com
Their profile raised considerably via their work, both live and on disc with Seth Lakeman (who co-credited them on his recent album), the Anglo/American harmony trio of guitarist Emillie Key, her sister Beth on bouzouki and keys and cousin Meghann Loney on drums, make their solo album debut under the guiding hand of Jamie Evans who had produced their self-released single 'Warrior Daughter'.
A rework of that is included here, its clattering drums, handclaps percussion and aggressive electric guitar towering over the traditional folk roots on which it's based. Indeed, this reps a significant experimental move away from their formative sound, announced in the skittering percussion and widescreen soundscapes of 'The Author' and reinforced on the Lumineers meet Fleetwood Mac influences of the rock-driven 'Run' and the electronica foundations of the ethereal pulsing Dove.
There are vestiges of their earlier style on the breathily sung, gathering tribal rhythm of 'Hold On', the simple acoustic shimmers of 'The Valley', a hymnal 'Circumstance' and the traditional-informed 'Taking A Hold', at least until it embraces blues rock and progressive shapes (is that a hint of 'Spirit In The Sky' guitar perhaps?), but mostly this is about them exploring the freedom the studio and making a debut statement gave them.
As such, you'll hear ghostly, ominous keys prowling through 'Steady My Heart' which conjures thoughts of Eurythmics, the synth waterfalls spilling through the shifting tempo 'On And On', and the chameleon five-minute summery title track which, redolent of CS&N, opens with Gaelic folk shades before its acoustic bed takes on a percussive scuff before departing in a cloud of echoey electronic drone. Whatever your expectations were for this, they're likely to be both confounded and surpassed and their upcoming headline Autumn tour promises to be rather special.
Mike Davies
| Previous | Next |
|---|---|
| Archie Fisher: Archie Fisher | Various Artists: Spiritual Music From The Hebrides |
Recent Reviews
- Wynonna:The Hard Truth
- Rob Lytle:Americana Dream
- Paula Fong:A Bird On The Wing
- Mimi O'Bonsawin:EVOKE
- Helen and The Neighbourhood Dogs:Anything That Moves
- Dryadic:Permission To Speak
- Clive Woolf:Live At Dingle's, 1974
- Carla Gover:Williams Branch Is Hard To Find: Si Kahn's Songs For Strong Kentucky Women
- Camille:The Sound Of Milk
- Birdvox:Shamming The Drama
Taking A Hold
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.