Dan Whitehouse - Introducing EP
Dan Whitehouse has just signed to one of my favourite record labels, Reveal. The Birmingham-based singer songwriter's last album Raw State remains one of the best albums of the last couple of years for me. Dan also played a great session on the show in May 2015 and I'm hoping he might come on again in the near future.
Introducing is his first release for his new label and is a mix of Dan's own songs and some choice selections of songs written by others - Boo Hewerdine, Chris Wood and Cowboy Junkies. In fact as much as I love Cowboy Junkies I think I prefer Dan's version's of their song Sun comes up, it's Tuesday morning to the CJ one. The EP, or is it a mini-album, features wonderful Norfolk based singer songwriter and Quiet Revolution favourite Jess Morgan on the opening song Close up. I last heard that sung by it's writer Boo Hewerdine when he played at the Jubilee Hall in Market Harborough last autumn. Introducing is one you need in your collection and is a taste of things to come on perhaps a full length album? I look forward to it.
http://dan-whitehouse.com
https://youtu.be/qnrjlSNvqY0
Megson - Good times will come again
The Guardian's Robin Denselow has described Megson as "the most original duo on the British folk scene" with Neil Spencer of The Observer referring to them as "a force in the folk revival". Megson are Stu and Debs Hanna, a couple from Teeside who have been based in Cambridgeshire for a number of years now. They have made consistently gorgeous music since 2003's album On the side. which is when I first came across them. Their latest album is a very welcome addition to their recorded works and could be described as very much for our times. I've kind of fallen in love with it all over again having seem them at Broadstairs Folk Week on 7th August. I've already played quite a few tracks on the Quiet Revolution, expect more on future shows.
www.megsonmusic.co.uk
https://youtu.be/GrxJX7p4R_U
Adam Holmes and the Embers - Brighter Still
I was pointed in the direction of Adam Holmes and the Embers music by way of a tweet from Ross Wilson AKA Blue Rose Code. This was at the time of the Edinburgh troubadour's previous album Heirs and Graces which was produced by the legendary John Wood. Adam has drawn comparisons with John Martyn and it has been suggested he combines a mix of americana and celtic soul. I rather like that description. I've dipped into this album a good deal on my show and my current favourite track is Joanna. Worth buying the album for that song alone. Oh and did I mention Eddi Reader duets with Adam on one of the tracks? It's called Love down the line in case you were wondering.
If you've not yet discovered Adam's music I encourage you to rectify that.
www.adamholmesandtheembers.com
https://youtu.be/ajZ9VDEv6zQ
My girl the river - This 'ain't no fairytale
Kris Wilkinson-Hughes is from Louisiana and her husband Joe Hughes is from Coventry. They are based in Bedford and before forming My girl the river put out music under the name Cicero Buck.
This 'ain't no fairytale is their debut album as MGTR and it's a wonderful record. At the moment I'm pretty much hooked on the Woods behind our house, it's been an ear worm for a while now! Yet the rest of this album is equally as fine. Great singer songwriters in their own right, Jonathan Byrd and Will Kimbrough, both Quiet Revolution favourites, are to be found on the album alongside Kris and Joe. Kris is also a big Talk Talk fan and the art direction for the album was undertaken by James Marsh.
Kris and Joe came into the studio and played a fantastic live session in July. I'm hopeful this will be the first of a number of visits to Market Harborough.
www.supertinyrecords.com
https://youtu.be/6ca8On9M1Uo
Spain - Carolina
Spain were another real find for me in 2016. I can't believe I haven't been aware of them before, after all the band have been around since 1995. Well I'm glad to have come upon their music now albeit late.
Josh Haden fronts the band and this new album is his first for 2 years. There are songs on Carolina about the Great Depression, mining disasters and Josh's own childhood in Malibu. Kenny Lyon who has worked with Joe Walsh, Bruce Springsteen and The Lemonheads, amongst others, produced the record and he's made a great job of it. Why not have a listen?
www.spaintheband.com
https://youtu.be/H1L4nm78B0A
Wednesday, 17 August 2016
Thursday, 4 August 2016
The first 6 months of the year - my favourites so far: part 5
Phil King - The Wreckage
I was a big fan of Phil King's album They come, they go. I feel similarly enthused about the Bristol-based singer-songwriter's most recent album The Wreckage which was released in April. The album was recorded at Peter Gabriel's Real World studios and it's an absolute gem of an album. Many tracks have weaved themselves into the fabric of my show through playlists from April onwards.
Phil's excellent live too. I was lucky enough to see him play a short set at The Donkey in Leicester earlier in the year. If you get the opportunity to catch a live performance from him jump at it. And grab yourself a copy of The Wreckage, you will find yourself rewarded with one of this year's finest releases.
https://youtu.be/GOeOOPcNTYU
www.phil-king.net
Ellie Ford - The Other Sun
Quite often I find myself being sent albums from artists wholly new to me. Ellie Ford is one such artist and her album, a debut release on Hidden Trail Records, has made quite an impression on me.
Ellie is based in Brighton and is described as an 'alternative folk musician'. She and her band recorded this album live as much as is possible. Harp, violin, clarinet, drums and guitar all feature on this album alongside Ellie's captivating vocals and a fine mix of songs. Writing this reminds me it's about time I played another track on the show.
https://youtu.be/9XPpAe_rtJ4
www.elliefordmusic.com
The Lowest Pair - Fern girl and ice man
Another new discovery for me in 2016. The Lowest Pair are Kendl Winter and Palmer T.Lee. The two met on the banks of the Mississippi. They started making music together and the new album had it's beginnings in Minnesota in the winter of 2015. They wound up recording enough material to fill two albums, Uncertain as it is uneven (a title I think is just superb) and the album that found it's way to me at HFM Radio, Fern girl and ice man. The album is on Team Love Records which will be familiar to Simone Felice fans; Nick Baker I'm talking about you here and me and I'm sure many others. How to describe the glorious sound that The Lowest Pair make? Americana - yes; folk - yes; alt-country - yes. Just have a listen to them for yourself and I imagine you'll be hooked as I was.
https://youtu.be/hPmUevabXvI
www.thelowestpair.com
Ana Egge and the Sentimentals - Say that now
One of my favourite releases of last year was an album by American singer songwriter Vanessa Peters and the Danish band The Sentimentals who include M.C Hansen amongst their number.
Well on Ana Egge's new album (pronounced Eggy by the way) she too is joined by the Sentimentals. She certainly knows how to choose damn fine collaborators as her last album, and another of the best releases of last year for me, Bright shadow was recorded with the excellent American roots band The Stray Birds. Interestingly Ana has a connection to Denmark. Although she was born in Saskatchewan and grew up in North Dakota her mother was of Danish heritage. Indeed on her website Say that now has been described as having a sense of hygge, a Danish word that translates to warmth, cosiness, a welcoming environment. The latest album is certainly welcoming, once you've listened to it you want to keep dipping back in for more. There are some heavy topics covered on the album all with relevance to the world today yet it's been rightly referred to as both an inward and an outward looking album. I recommend it highly to you.
https://youtu.be/oOK_yd8IEmY
www.anaegge.com
Yorkston, Thorne and Khan - Everything sacred
OK, in the spirit of full disclosure, I'm a long-standing fan of James Yorkston's music. To be honest I like that whole East Neuk/Fence Collective thing, the amazing King Creosote and The Pictish Trail included. James is part of that. James' song Woozy with cider is probably one of my favourite records of the last 20 years. So yes, I like him a lot. And he's something of an innovator. This most recent trio project is certainly different, it kind of reminds me of, in some ways Pentangle crossed with Tinariwen with a hint of Quintessence and some Incredible String Band and...well, I could go on. However, any album that includes a cover of the late great Ivor Cutler's Little Black Buzzer featuring the Irish singer Lisa O'Neill has got to be good in my view. The band in addition to James are jazz double bass player and member of Lamb Jon Thorne and New Delhi classical singer and sarangi player Suhail Yusuf Khan. One of the most innovative albums of the year for me.
https://youtu.be/Xw38BNZ9dpc
www.yorkstonthornekhan.com
Richard J.Birkin - Vigils
Possibly one of my favourite record labels over the last 6 years or so is Derbyshire based Reveal. Tom Rose has some very talented people on his label and generally I've been used to receiving gorgeous albums broadly from the contemporary folk, singer songwriter and americana genres. So Richard J.Birkin's album I'll admit took me a little by surprise. A very pleasant, most welcome surprise though. It remind me in some respects of contemporary classical musicians like Dustin O'Halloran and Ed Alleyne-Johnson (around the time of his Purple Electric Violin album) and then on one of the tracks halfway through Richard comes in with some vocals. Almost impossible to try and categorise, so I won't bother, just give this album a chance, be open minded and open-eared! I think like I did you'll find it just beautiful.
https://youtu.be/lw4vuL_AN4U
www.richardjbirkin.co.uk
Edd Donovan and the Wandering Moles - Making mountains volume 1
As a radio presenter and a music lover I'm always hungry to hear new music. The ways I discover it can be many and various. Often I'll be sent a promo or a download by a label or a promoter or often the artist themselves. I may be recommended something by a listener, a Facebook friend or a musician (sometimes both). I can catch someone doing an opening set at a gig and find myself captivated by their music. Perhaps I can be leafing through one of the music magazines, R2, Uncut or Mojo perhaps or an online blog and stumble on something that has an immediate appeal or makes me want to investigate further. The latter one of my most used or over-used phrases by the way! I came to discover the wonderful music of Edd Donovan and the Wandering Moles through the recommendation of a fellow radio presenter Alex Huskisson who puts together and hosts a highly recommended show on Severn FM called the Mystery Train. Do, err, investigate further if you possibly can. You'll doubtless wind up adding lots of new albums to your to buy list. Anyway, Alex suggested to Emma from the Wandering Moles that I'd most probably enjoy the album and he was absolutely right. So thanks Alex and Emma.
Tom Robinson of BBC 6 Music has described Edd and the Moles album as "summery alt-country to gladden the heart" and Maverick magazine have referred to it as "contemporary folk with a powerful and tuneful message". I'd agree with both of these descriptions. Making Mountains is a truly excellent album, Edd is a very talented songwriter offering thought-provoking lyrics. The instrumentation just adds to the overall listening experience, you have keyboards, accordion, strings and brass plus a rhythm section. I'm very much looking forward to the follow-up record from this Cheltenham-based musician who hails originally from Merseyside. In the meantime we have Making Mountains to enjoy and I suspect I'll be looking at the previous album too, 2014's Something to take the edge off.
https://youtu.be/4dTM4M_alns
www.edddonovan.co.uk
I was a big fan of Phil King's album They come, they go. I feel similarly enthused about the Bristol-based singer-songwriter's most recent album The Wreckage which was released in April. The album was recorded at Peter Gabriel's Real World studios and it's an absolute gem of an album. Many tracks have weaved themselves into the fabric of my show through playlists from April onwards.
Phil's excellent live too. I was lucky enough to see him play a short set at The Donkey in Leicester earlier in the year. If you get the opportunity to catch a live performance from him jump at it. And grab yourself a copy of The Wreckage, you will find yourself rewarded with one of this year's finest releases.
https://youtu.be/GOeOOPcNTYU
www.phil-king.net
Ellie Ford - The Other Sun
Quite often I find myself being sent albums from artists wholly new to me. Ellie Ford is one such artist and her album, a debut release on Hidden Trail Records, has made quite an impression on me.
Ellie is based in Brighton and is described as an 'alternative folk musician'. She and her band recorded this album live as much as is possible. Harp, violin, clarinet, drums and guitar all feature on this album alongside Ellie's captivating vocals and a fine mix of songs. Writing this reminds me it's about time I played another track on the show.
https://youtu.be/9XPpAe_rtJ4
www.elliefordmusic.com
The Lowest Pair - Fern girl and ice man
Another new discovery for me in 2016. The Lowest Pair are Kendl Winter and Palmer T.Lee. The two met on the banks of the Mississippi. They started making music together and the new album had it's beginnings in Minnesota in the winter of 2015. They wound up recording enough material to fill two albums, Uncertain as it is uneven (a title I think is just superb) and the album that found it's way to me at HFM Radio, Fern girl and ice man. The album is on Team Love Records which will be familiar to Simone Felice fans; Nick Baker I'm talking about you here and me and I'm sure many others. How to describe the glorious sound that The Lowest Pair make? Americana - yes; folk - yes; alt-country - yes. Just have a listen to them for yourself and I imagine you'll be hooked as I was.
https://youtu.be/hPmUevabXvI
www.thelowestpair.com
Ana Egge and the Sentimentals - Say that now
One of my favourite releases of last year was an album by American singer songwriter Vanessa Peters and the Danish band The Sentimentals who include M.C Hansen amongst their number.
Well on Ana Egge's new album (pronounced Eggy by the way) she too is joined by the Sentimentals. She certainly knows how to choose damn fine collaborators as her last album, and another of the best releases of last year for me, Bright shadow was recorded with the excellent American roots band The Stray Birds. Interestingly Ana has a connection to Denmark. Although she was born in Saskatchewan and grew up in North Dakota her mother was of Danish heritage. Indeed on her website Say that now has been described as having a sense of hygge, a Danish word that translates to warmth, cosiness, a welcoming environment. The latest album is certainly welcoming, once you've listened to it you want to keep dipping back in for more. There are some heavy topics covered on the album all with relevance to the world today yet it's been rightly referred to as both an inward and an outward looking album. I recommend it highly to you.
https://youtu.be/oOK_yd8IEmY
www.anaegge.com
Yorkston, Thorne and Khan - Everything sacred
OK, in the spirit of full disclosure, I'm a long-standing fan of James Yorkston's music. To be honest I like that whole East Neuk/Fence Collective thing, the amazing King Creosote and The Pictish Trail included. James is part of that. James' song Woozy with cider is probably one of my favourite records of the last 20 years. So yes, I like him a lot. And he's something of an innovator. This most recent trio project is certainly different, it kind of reminds me of, in some ways Pentangle crossed with Tinariwen with a hint of Quintessence and some Incredible String Band and...well, I could go on. However, any album that includes a cover of the late great Ivor Cutler's Little Black Buzzer featuring the Irish singer Lisa O'Neill has got to be good in my view. The band in addition to James are jazz double bass player and member of Lamb Jon Thorne and New Delhi classical singer and sarangi player Suhail Yusuf Khan. One of the most innovative albums of the year for me.
https://youtu.be/Xw38BNZ9dpc
www.yorkstonthornekhan.com
Richard J.Birkin - Vigils
Possibly one of my favourite record labels over the last 6 years or so is Derbyshire based Reveal. Tom Rose has some very talented people on his label and generally I've been used to receiving gorgeous albums broadly from the contemporary folk, singer songwriter and americana genres. So Richard J.Birkin's album I'll admit took me a little by surprise. A very pleasant, most welcome surprise though. It remind me in some respects of contemporary classical musicians like Dustin O'Halloran and Ed Alleyne-Johnson (around the time of his Purple Electric Violin album) and then on one of the tracks halfway through Richard comes in with some vocals. Almost impossible to try and categorise, so I won't bother, just give this album a chance, be open minded and open-eared! I think like I did you'll find it just beautiful.
https://youtu.be/lw4vuL_AN4U
www.richardjbirkin.co.uk
Edd Donovan and the Wandering Moles - Making mountains volume 1
As a radio presenter and a music lover I'm always hungry to hear new music. The ways I discover it can be many and various. Often I'll be sent a promo or a download by a label or a promoter or often the artist themselves. I may be recommended something by a listener, a Facebook friend or a musician (sometimes both). I can catch someone doing an opening set at a gig and find myself captivated by their music. Perhaps I can be leafing through one of the music magazines, R2, Uncut or Mojo perhaps or an online blog and stumble on something that has an immediate appeal or makes me want to investigate further. The latter one of my most used or over-used phrases by the way! I came to discover the wonderful music of Edd Donovan and the Wandering Moles through the recommendation of a fellow radio presenter Alex Huskisson who puts together and hosts a highly recommended show on Severn FM called the Mystery Train. Do, err, investigate further if you possibly can. You'll doubtless wind up adding lots of new albums to your to buy list. Anyway, Alex suggested to Emma from the Wandering Moles that I'd most probably enjoy the album and he was absolutely right. So thanks Alex and Emma.
Tom Robinson of BBC 6 Music has described Edd and the Moles album as "summery alt-country to gladden the heart" and Maverick magazine have referred to it as "contemporary folk with a powerful and tuneful message". I'd agree with both of these descriptions. Making Mountains is a truly excellent album, Edd is a very talented songwriter offering thought-provoking lyrics. The instrumentation just adds to the overall listening experience, you have keyboards, accordion, strings and brass plus a rhythm section. I'm very much looking forward to the follow-up record from this Cheltenham-based musician who hails originally from Merseyside. In the meantime we have Making Mountains to enjoy and I suspect I'll be looking at the previous album too, 2014's Something to take the edge off.
https://youtu.be/4dTM4M_alns
www.edddonovan.co.uk
Wednesday, 3 August 2016
The first 6 months of the year - my favourites so far: part 4
Sam Carter - How the city sings
It's been a while since Rutland born singer songwriter Sam Carter released a solo album, 2012 in fact when The no testament came out. I first discovered Sam's glorious contemporary folk four years before with the Keepsakes album. Before that their was a rather fine EP.
In between The no testament and How the city sings Sam has been working in a duo with another young, very talented singer songwriter, Jim Moray, putting out an album under the name False Lights.
However now we have new music from Sam and the album has been very much worth the wait. Sam played a superb gig at the Market Harborough Theatre at the time of Keepsakes release. Hopefully he will be making a trip to the town again before too long to play songs from the latest record.
https://youtu.be/7UTOacuwEec
www.samcartermusic.co.uk
Erika Kulnys - Rise Up
A real discovery for me in 2016 has been the music of Canadian singer songwriter, and soon to be Nashville resident, Erika Kulnys. Rise up is a social justice themed album recorded at Signature Sounds studio and featuring Fairport Convention's Dave Mattacks among others.
Erika grew up in Nova Scotia, she's a classically trained musician and Rise up takes in folk and rock styles underpinned by songs that have been described as intimate and political. The album is worth adding to your collection for the title song alone and there's a great deal to enjoy on this high quality release.
https://youtu.be/4sCTmwyKHcs
www.erikakulnys.com
Laura Gibson - Empire builder
It's been a while since Rutland born singer songwriter Sam Carter released a solo album, 2012 in fact when The no testament came out. I first discovered Sam's glorious contemporary folk four years before with the Keepsakes album. Before that their was a rather fine EP.
In between The no testament and How the city sings Sam has been working in a duo with another young, very talented singer songwriter, Jim Moray, putting out an album under the name False Lights.
However now we have new music from Sam and the album has been very much worth the wait. Sam played a superb gig at the Market Harborough Theatre at the time of Keepsakes release. Hopefully he will be making a trip to the town again before too long to play songs from the latest record.
https://youtu.be/7UTOacuwEec
www.samcartermusic.co.uk
Erika Kulnys - Rise Up
A real discovery for me in 2016 has been the music of Canadian singer songwriter, and soon to be Nashville resident, Erika Kulnys. Rise up is a social justice themed album recorded at Signature Sounds studio and featuring Fairport Convention's Dave Mattacks among others.
Erika grew up in Nova Scotia, she's a classically trained musician and Rise up takes in folk and rock styles underpinned by songs that have been described as intimate and political. The album is worth adding to your collection for the title song alone and there's a great deal to enjoy on this high quality release.
https://youtu.be/4sCTmwyKHcs
www.erikakulnys.com
Laura Gibson - Empire builder
Empire builder is the fourth album from Laura and it's based after the Amtrak route she took while moving from Portland, Oregon to New York City in summer 2014.Her experiences prior to the album's release were traumatic to say the least. In March 2015 her East Village building burned to the ground in a horrific gas explosion which killed two people and left many homeless.
Gibson escaped from her apartment unharmed, but lost everything including every word she had written in response to her move. In view of these experiences Empire Builder possibly stands as her most personal album release so far.
And it's a rather superb album too, borne out of very difficult experiences. Check it out for yourself.
Sunday, 24 July 2016
The first 6 months of the year - my favourites so far: part 3
Birds of Chicago - Real Midnight
I first discovered Alison Russell as part of the excellent roots band Po'Girl (Trish Klein and Awna Teixera) and J.T Nero through his superb albums with his band the Clouds. Birds of Chicago offers a fine combination of the talents of the two singer songwriters who also happen to be married. Add to this Joe Henry as producer and you have one mighty fine album. The record has been described as melancholy but never shoe-gazing. I've harvested tracks from this album for my playlists often. Standouts for me are Remember wild horses, Real midnight and Dim star of the palisades.
www.birdsofchicago.com
https://youtu.be/F-dGWMVYVUM
Susanna Rose - Snowbound
Someone who describes themselves as writing poems and making them into songs has an appeal for me. Susanna Rose is one of those people. She started to learn guitar and write songs while residing in London in 2009. Back in Rochester, New York with some songs penned Susanna released her debut album. However it was 2016 that her music first appeared over my musical horizon. The album was recorded between 2014 and 2015 with the music coming together in her third floor apartment as the snow fell. Not a surprise perhaps that is acquired the title it did.
Snowbound offers gorgeous acoustic music, maybe a bit of a Joni influence, but Susanna is very much her own person, a unique singer songwriter. I urge you to go and discover her music.
https://youtu.be/-6hcEmhb1Fc
Winter Wilson - Ashes and Dust
Kip Winter and Dave Wilson's last album Cutting Free was amongst the ten best folk albums for summer 2014 in The Telegraph. This new record from the Lincolnshire-based duo, who went full-time as musicians in 2012, has garnered many deservedly glowing reviews. When I was sent a copy of their album I found myself very quickly hooked. I would suggest it's worth buying the album for the song Austerity alone. Doreen and Joe and To hell with Monday morning are yet further reasons why you need to add this album to your collection.
Kip and Dave are lovely people too. They played a live session on my show in June and were great company both on and off air. I'm hoping they'll be happy to revisit the Quiet Revolution studio before too long.
www.winterwilson.com
https://youtu.be/V-vmv27CNCI
Carter Sampson - Wilder side
Carter Sampson is a new voice to me, one of my discoveries of 2016. Yet it's this Oklahoma singer songwriter's fourth full-length release. I admit I was sold early on after hearing the title song, after all anyone that references James Taylor has got to be good. From setting the bar high on the lead in track Carter holds the quality to the last note on the final song. Heartbreak and the open road are clear influences on her songwriting through the album and she's assisted by another great country voice
John Moreland. Carter has earned comparisons to Emmylou Harris and Patsy Cline and while I can see those I'd also suggest that Nanci Griffith might be added to that list. A pretty impressive list of classy country musicians to draw comparison with.
I like this album a lot and will be digging into it's riches further as the weeks and months progress.
www.cartersampson.net
https://youtu.be/WFOAs71Htgk
Reg Meuross - December
Reg is a Somerset-based singer songwriter who was in the band The Panic Brothers and performed solo before releasing his first album in 1996. He's written many beautiful songs over that period of time. I was a massive fan of his England Green and England Grey album which came out in 2014.
His latest album December was recorded in London in a pretty short space of time, 2 days with Roy Dodds producing. His 1994 Martin guitar found in San Jose is key to this album. I won't go into the story here but have a look at Reg's website, the link for which is below.
I keep going back to December and always find another track I want to play. Current highlights for me? I'd go for When you needed me, The night, Man in a boat and I want you. Another day I could choose The day she never cried and The hands of a woman. Move to another day...well, you get the picture. It's an excellent album. Why not check it out and then start exploring Reg's back catalogue?
www.regmeuross.com
https://youtu.be/yC5z0Y87BcY
Tuesday, 19 July 2016
The first 6 months of 2016 and my favourites so far - Part 2
Jones - Happy Blue
Trevor Jones is one half of the excellent band Miracle Mile. Marcus Cliffe who is the other half of that fine combo is very much part of this record too as co-producer in addition to playing piano, upright bass and electric guitar on the album. Notable mention for BJ Cole and Melvin Duffy who add some glorious pedal steel. It's a gorgeous album with songs of loss and love. The photography is damn impressive too care of Di Holmes.
Happy Blue is one you really should have in your collection. Worth buying for Battersea Boy and the title track alone. And yes I did include the album in my best of 2015 round-up as I was fortunate enough to have got a copy at the end of that year, however the official release is 2016 so it can comfortably sit in this list too.
www.miraclemile.co.uk
www.hissyf.blogspot.com
https://youtu.be/X_Brpv4a4P0
Paul McClure - Songs for Anyone
Paul McClure, the Rutland Troubadour, is a very good friend of the Quiet Revolution. He's played two superb live sessions on the show in the last couple of years and hopefully will be in the studio again before too long. I just loved his last album Smiling from the floor up and played numerous tracks from it on the show. I still go back to it.
The new album, Songs for Anyone is another release on the excellent Clubhouse Records. Joe Bennett of another brilliant band, The Dreaming Spires, is in the producer's seat for this one and as with Smiling it's great that Hannah Elton-Wall, of fellow Clubhouse signing (and very very good they are) The Redlands Palomino Company sings alongside Paul on some of the songs here. Masses to enjoy on this album, there's the title track, Everyday is mine to spend, live favourites I could be a happy man, Yesterday's lie's and Unremarkable me. Going back to Paul's day's as part of the Hi-Lo there's a new version of My little ray of sunshine too. Go on, check this album out for yourself, you'll find you play it lots.
www.paulmccluremusic.com
https://youtu.be/LElMAdKrFL8
Applewood Road - Applewood Road
Emily Barker has been collaborating with a whole range of different musicians since her band the Red Clay Halo were put on hold. The Australian singer songwriter based in Gloucestershire met with songwriters Amy Speace and Amber Rubarth in September of 2014. This was in a cafe in East Nashville. They recorded their first song called Applewood Road and released it as a digital download. Thankfully there was more to come and a full album emerged earlier this year.
The vocal harmonies are simply beautiful. It's an old-timey country-inflected album. Yet whilst having echoes of the past it's also very much of today, yes I know it sounds like a contradiction.
My advice is have a listen, I'm convinced you'll be hooked.
www.applewoodroadmusic.com
https://youtu.be/r8U9zlRzqaQ
Gill Sandell - Songs of our years
Neatly following on from Applewood Road, Gill Sandell is a member of Emily Barker's band the Red Clay Halo. She also happens to be a solo artist with three albums to her name, released via her own Rowan Tree label. Gill has played on the show a couple of times, once in 2012 following on from her first album's release Tarry Awhile and in May of this year. Gill is also a great collaborator and released a lovely album of mainly covers in 2015 with Chris T-T called Walk Away, Walk Away. Please check out Chris's music too if you possibly can. But I digress slightly.
Songs of our years is a gorgeous record containing 12 original songs recorded at the Livingston Studios. In common with Jones Happy Blue, loss has inspired the songs on Gill's album. Talented fellow musicians appear alongside Gill including Red Clay Halo bandmates Jo Silverstone and Anna Jenkins, Ted Barnes, Kristin McClement and Samantha Whates - fine musicians all. If you like compelling songs, beautiful soft vocals and strings and piano to accompany I'd encourage you to investigate Songs of our years further.
www.gillsandell.com
https://youtu.be/qa4OWx7K3fQ
Kreg Viesselman - To the mountain
I discovered Norwegian singer songwriter Kreg Viesellman by way of a cover of his song Share Croppers (found on his album The Pull) played by Kirsty McGee and Mat Martin when they played at the Musician in Leicester some years back. I then investigated his music further. I liked what I heard. To the light was the follow up to the Pull and then earlier this year came To the mountain. All three albums have a great deal to offer, much to enjoy.
Trevor Jones is one half of the excellent band Miracle Mile. Marcus Cliffe who is the other half of that fine combo is very much part of this record too as co-producer in addition to playing piano, upright bass and electric guitar on the album. Notable mention for BJ Cole and Melvin Duffy who add some glorious pedal steel. It's a gorgeous album with songs of loss and love. The photography is damn impressive too care of Di Holmes.
Happy Blue is one you really should have in your collection. Worth buying for Battersea Boy and the title track alone. And yes I did include the album in my best of 2015 round-up as I was fortunate enough to have got a copy at the end of that year, however the official release is 2016 so it can comfortably sit in this list too.
www.miraclemile.co.uk
www.hissyf.blogspot.com
https://youtu.be/X_Brpv4a4P0
Paul McClure - Songs for Anyone
Paul McClure, the Rutland Troubadour, is a very good friend of the Quiet Revolution. He's played two superb live sessions on the show in the last couple of years and hopefully will be in the studio again before too long. I just loved his last album Smiling from the floor up and played numerous tracks from it on the show. I still go back to it.
The new album, Songs for Anyone is another release on the excellent Clubhouse Records. Joe Bennett of another brilliant band, The Dreaming Spires, is in the producer's seat for this one and as with Smiling it's great that Hannah Elton-Wall, of fellow Clubhouse signing (and very very good they are) The Redlands Palomino Company sings alongside Paul on some of the songs here. Masses to enjoy on this album, there's the title track, Everyday is mine to spend, live favourites I could be a happy man, Yesterday's lie's and Unremarkable me. Going back to Paul's day's as part of the Hi-Lo there's a new version of My little ray of sunshine too. Go on, check this album out for yourself, you'll find you play it lots.
www.paulmccluremusic.com
https://youtu.be/LElMAdKrFL8
Applewood Road - Applewood Road
Emily Barker has been collaborating with a whole range of different musicians since her band the Red Clay Halo were put on hold. The Australian singer songwriter based in Gloucestershire met with songwriters Amy Speace and Amber Rubarth in September of 2014. This was in a cafe in East Nashville. They recorded their first song called Applewood Road and released it as a digital download. Thankfully there was more to come and a full album emerged earlier this year.
The vocal harmonies are simply beautiful. It's an old-timey country-inflected album. Yet whilst having echoes of the past it's also very much of today, yes I know it sounds like a contradiction.
My advice is have a listen, I'm convinced you'll be hooked.
www.applewoodroadmusic.com
https://youtu.be/r8U9zlRzqaQ
Gill Sandell - Songs of our years
Neatly following on from Applewood Road, Gill Sandell is a member of Emily Barker's band the Red Clay Halo. She also happens to be a solo artist with three albums to her name, released via her own Rowan Tree label. Gill has played on the show a couple of times, once in 2012 following on from her first album's release Tarry Awhile and in May of this year. Gill is also a great collaborator and released a lovely album of mainly covers in 2015 with Chris T-T called Walk Away, Walk Away. Please check out Chris's music too if you possibly can. But I digress slightly.
Songs of our years is a gorgeous record containing 12 original songs recorded at the Livingston Studios. In common with Jones Happy Blue, loss has inspired the songs on Gill's album. Talented fellow musicians appear alongside Gill including Red Clay Halo bandmates Jo Silverstone and Anna Jenkins, Ted Barnes, Kristin McClement and Samantha Whates - fine musicians all. If you like compelling songs, beautiful soft vocals and strings and piano to accompany I'd encourage you to investigate Songs of our years further.
www.gillsandell.com
https://youtu.be/qa4OWx7K3fQ
Kreg Viesselman - To the mountain
I discovered Norwegian singer songwriter Kreg Viesellman by way of a cover of his song Share Croppers (found on his album The Pull) played by Kirsty McGee and Mat Martin when they played at the Musician in Leicester some years back. I then investigated his music further. I liked what I heard. To the light was the follow up to the Pull and then earlier this year came To the mountain. All three albums have a great deal to offer, much to enjoy.
Producer Bjarne Stensli apparently advised Kreg on the recording of this album to"just sit down, open your notebook and start playing". Clearly this advice worked as within an hour of the first session four songs that were to form part of To the mountain were recorded. Highlights on the album for me are Crazy horse, David, The inefficiency waltz and the title track. Try something new, check out Kreg Viesselman's music.
Sunday, 17 July 2016
The first 6 months of 2016 - my favourites so far Part 1
2016 is proving to be another great year for music. There have been releases from long-standing favourite artists and lots of albums from new voices to me that I've been delighted to stumble upon thanks to kindly promoters or the artists themselves.
It's a long list, so here are some of them.
David Berkeley - Cardboard Boat
David is a singer songwriter based in Sante Fe and Carboard Boat is his sixth album release but the first to come onto my musical radar. It's a beautiful album which once you discover it I feel sure you'll really like.
www.davidberkeley.com
https://youtu.be/A3N8RRMu19g
Erin Rae and the Meanwhiles - Soon Enough
Erin grew up in Jackson, Tennessee and Soon Enough is her superb debut release accompanied by her band the Meanwhiles. Over here it is released on the ever excellent Clubhouse Records, another fine signing from Danny and Tristan Tipping who run the label. Erin is a new discovery for me, I'm so glad to have heard her music.
Monticello is difficult to resist from the album and the whole record is a joy from beginning to end.
https://youtu.be/lk9Zxc3HhkA
www.erinraemusic.com
Peter James Millson - The Red Cafe
Peter James Millson is a very talented photographer. He also just happens to be a fantastic singer songwriter who I first discovered when I was sent a copy of his debut album Sweet the love that meets return which is well worth adding to your collection if you haven't got a copy already.
Peter's prolific too, there's an album called True or False which will hopefully be out later in the year. In May he released The Red Cafe tracks from which have graced my Quiet Revolution playlist over recent months. It's a wonderful follow-up to Sweet the love from this Bridport-based singer songwriter and photographer. And in the spirit of full disclosure Peter has played on the show and has very kindly given me a dedication in the sleeve notes.
www.peterjamesmillson.com
https://youtu.be/435Mdvd-gXk
Show of Hands - The Long Way Home
A new release from my all-time favourite duo is something to look forward to and The Long Way Home doesn't disappoint. In some ways this album marks a move back to Steve Knightley and Phil Beer's earlier albums, their days as duo before they became a three-piece band with Miranda Sykes.
It took me a while to adjust back to the change but it didn't take long. Miranda plays on the album yet although Steve and Phil are very much to the fore. It works incredibly well. Check it out for yourself.
www.showofhands.co.uk
https://youtu.be/gXAP-HQ1u6E
Vanessa Peters - The burden of unshakeable proof
I confess I'm a big fan of Vanessa's music. I loved her 2015 album with the Sentimentals and the new one comes pretty hot on the heels of that. She's based in Dallas, Texas and the new album was recorded in a newly built professional grade recording studio with 27 songs being written and demo-ed before deciding on the ones that would find their way onto the album. The songs are as good as ever and the cover art for this record is pretty impressive too.
www.vanessapeters.com
https://youtu.be/l6VO8keBUzA
The Black Feathers - Soaked to the bone
Ray Hughes and Sian Chandler are Gloucestershire based, married in 2012 and released a fine EP before Soaked to the bone, their debut album came out in February 2016. They make a great sound with influences of folk, americana and alt-country. They're excellent live too so if you get the chance to see them play take it.
I've played quite a few tracks from the album on the show and it won't be too long before I'm digging into it again.
www.theblackfeathers.com
https://youtu.be/PC-mhCocBzc
Aoife O'Donovan - In the magic hour
I remember seeing Aoife O'Donovan play once, at the Stamford Arts Centre, when she was part of the contemporary bluegrass outfit Crooked Still. In the set was a cover of Bob Dylan's Oxford Town which was just superb. On her second solo record, the follow up to the lovely Fossils, if you buy the deluxe version with an extra EP Aoife offers her excellent version of Joni Mitchell's You turn me on, I'm a radio. The rest of the album is self-written and mighty fine it is too. I encourage you to discover the music of this Brooklyn-based artist for yourself.
www.aoifeodonovan.com
https://youtu.be/B3eaxEG03nQ
Yorkston, Thorne and Khan - Everything sacred
I've long enjoyed the music of James Yorkston and this trio record in which he is joined by Jon Thorne and Suhail Yusuf Khan is a very different. It's almost folk and world music combined. It works wonderfully well to these ears. On their website the trio describe it as "Scottish-Irish-Indian-English music". There are some originals combined with a great cover of the much missed Ivor Cutler's Little Black Buzzer. Have a listen and keep an open mind (and open ears) and I think you will find a great deal to like in this record.
www.yorkstonthornekhan.com
https://youtu.be/NR3WH-ZV-Bk
It's a long list, so here are some of them.
David Berkeley - Cardboard Boat
David is a singer songwriter based in Sante Fe and Carboard Boat is his sixth album release but the first to come onto my musical radar. It's a beautiful album which once you discover it I feel sure you'll really like.
www.davidberkeley.com
https://youtu.be/A3N8RRMu19g
Erin Rae and the Meanwhiles - Soon Enough
Erin grew up in Jackson, Tennessee and Soon Enough is her superb debut release accompanied by her band the Meanwhiles. Over here it is released on the ever excellent Clubhouse Records, another fine signing from Danny and Tristan Tipping who run the label. Erin is a new discovery for me, I'm so glad to have heard her music.
Monticello is difficult to resist from the album and the whole record is a joy from beginning to end.
https://youtu.be/lk9Zxc3HhkA
www.erinraemusic.com
Peter James Millson - The Red Cafe
Peter James Millson is a very talented photographer. He also just happens to be a fantastic singer songwriter who I first discovered when I was sent a copy of his debut album Sweet the love that meets return which is well worth adding to your collection if you haven't got a copy already.
Peter's prolific too, there's an album called True or False which will hopefully be out later in the year. In May he released The Red Cafe tracks from which have graced my Quiet Revolution playlist over recent months. It's a wonderful follow-up to Sweet the love from this Bridport-based singer songwriter and photographer. And in the spirit of full disclosure Peter has played on the show and has very kindly given me a dedication in the sleeve notes.
www.peterjamesmillson.com
https://youtu.be/435Mdvd-gXk
Show of Hands - The Long Way Home
A new release from my all-time favourite duo is something to look forward to and The Long Way Home doesn't disappoint. In some ways this album marks a move back to Steve Knightley and Phil Beer's earlier albums, their days as duo before they became a three-piece band with Miranda Sykes.
It took me a while to adjust back to the change but it didn't take long. Miranda plays on the album yet although Steve and Phil are very much to the fore. It works incredibly well. Check it out for yourself.
www.showofhands.co.uk
https://youtu.be/gXAP-HQ1u6E
Vanessa Peters - The burden of unshakeable proof
I confess I'm a big fan of Vanessa's music. I loved her 2015 album with the Sentimentals and the new one comes pretty hot on the heels of that. She's based in Dallas, Texas and the new album was recorded in a newly built professional grade recording studio with 27 songs being written and demo-ed before deciding on the ones that would find their way onto the album. The songs are as good as ever and the cover art for this record is pretty impressive too.
www.vanessapeters.com
https://youtu.be/l6VO8keBUzA
The Black Feathers - Soaked to the bone
Ray Hughes and Sian Chandler are Gloucestershire based, married in 2012 and released a fine EP before Soaked to the bone, their debut album came out in February 2016. They make a great sound with influences of folk, americana and alt-country. They're excellent live too so if you get the chance to see them play take it.
I've played quite a few tracks from the album on the show and it won't be too long before I'm digging into it again.
www.theblackfeathers.com
https://youtu.be/PC-mhCocBzc
Aoife O'Donovan - In the magic hour
I remember seeing Aoife O'Donovan play once, at the Stamford Arts Centre, when she was part of the contemporary bluegrass outfit Crooked Still. In the set was a cover of Bob Dylan's Oxford Town which was just superb. On her second solo record, the follow up to the lovely Fossils, if you buy the deluxe version with an extra EP Aoife offers her excellent version of Joni Mitchell's You turn me on, I'm a radio. The rest of the album is self-written and mighty fine it is too. I encourage you to discover the music of this Brooklyn-based artist for yourself.
www.aoifeodonovan.com
https://youtu.be/B3eaxEG03nQ
Yorkston, Thorne and Khan - Everything sacred
I've long enjoyed the music of James Yorkston and this trio record in which he is joined by Jon Thorne and Suhail Yusuf Khan is a very different. It's almost folk and world music combined. It works wonderfully well to these ears. On their website the trio describe it as "Scottish-Irish-Indian-English music". There are some originals combined with a great cover of the much missed Ivor Cutler's Little Black Buzzer. Have a listen and keep an open mind (and open ears) and I think you will find a great deal to like in this record.
www.yorkstonthornekhan.com
https://youtu.be/NR3WH-ZV-Bk
Sunday, 29 November 2015
The best music of the year - a Quiet Revolution perspective
It seems almost impossible that it's come to that time of the year again where I'm reflecting on my favourite musical releases of the last 12 months.
I will begin by saying two things.Firstly, this list is in no particular order. That would be pretty impossible as 2015 has been another fantastic year for music.
I will begin by saying two things.Firstly, this list is in no particular order. That would be pretty impossible as 2015 has been another fantastic year for music.
There
will of course be some omissions, merely because there are albums I don’t have
a copy of yet but would have ended up on this list if I had. Additionally, there may well be an absolute killer of an album that is released several days after I've posted this but that's always going to be a possibilty. This is after all the art of the possible, I work with what I have in the here and now.
One confession, I’ve also broken
the rules slightly and added one album, that is not officially released until
2016 but I have a copy now so it felt OK to include it. It is also available to order direct from the artist as I write as part of a special 'early adopter' deal so that makes it feel yet more admissible. And whilst on the
topic of, er, bending the rules,one of my selections isn’t an album or even an EP, it’s a single but there will be an
album to come most probably next year so feel I can perhaps get away with that one.
I
haven’t made comments about each selection as it would take me forever and what I suggest though is you
seek out the artists music, check out their website, buy an album and go and
see them at a gig. I've helpfully added a direct weblink to the artist or band's website and in a separate post created a playlist of YouTube videos of songs from most of the albums I've listed here.
As I write this the music press are putting out their best of releases of the year features and in a few areas I agree, but generally find even my two favourite music magazines, Uncut and Mojo, since you ask,veer towards the mainstream a bit too much for my tastes. On the best releases within the americana and folk genres I find myself more in a position to concur with them in their selections. But that's part of the fun of year end reviews, lists and the fact we all enjoy different things.Which is a way of my saying please let me know through making comments here or via my Twitter account @awquietrevhfm
what your thoughts are, who you’ve enjoyed and what your favourites of the year
are. A bit of interaction is always welcome and also serves to point me in the direction of albums that have escaped my radar through the year. It has the added advantage of convincing me that I’m not sitting in a
radio studio in front of a microphone and playing music just for myself each
fortnight. Reassurance is very important in this game!
Thanks to all the artists for making such beautiful
music through the year and for sending me copies of their albums themselves or through
their promoters.
Also I would like to give particular thanks to two great supporters of the show who always go above and beyond to spread the word. So thank you Nick Baker (AKA Macwood Fleet); check out his superb music blog here www.macwoodfleet.blogspot.com and Rob Hurley who also has a strongly recommended blog here www.robsrawmusic.blogspot.com
OK so lets away….
Jess Morgan “The Bournemouth EP” (2015, digital DL, Amateur Boxer)
Chip Taylor “The Little Prayers Trilogy” (2015, Train
Wreck Recordings)
Iron and Wine & Ben Bridwell “Sing into my mouth”
(2015, Black Cricket Recording Co)
www.ironandwine.com
Iron and Wine “Archive series volume number 1” (2015, Black Cricket Recording Co)
www.ironandwine.com
Iron and Wine “Archive series volume number 1” (2015, Black Cricket Recording Co)
James Edwyn and the Borrowed Band “The Tower” (2015,
Dead Collective Records)
Vanessa Peters “With the Sentimentals” (2015, Self-released)
www.vanessapeters.com
Vanessa Peters “With the Sentimentals” (2015, Self-released)
www.vanessapeters.com
Jonathan Byrd and the Sentimentals “Mother Tongue”
(2015, Sentimental Music)
www.mothertongueproject.com
www.mothertongueproject.com
Danny & the Champions of the World “What Kind of
Love” (2015, Loose Music)
www.dannyandthechamps.com
www.dannyandthechamps.com
The Barr Brothers “Alta Falls EP” (2015, digital
download, Secret City Records)
www.thebarrbrothers.com
www.thebarrbrothers.com
Anna Coogan and JD Foster “The Birth of the stars”
(2015, Anna Coogan)
www.annacoogan.com
Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou “Expatriot” (2015, The Anglophone Recording Company)
www.trevormossandhannahlou.com
www.annacoogan.com
Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou “Expatriot” (2015, The Anglophone Recording Company)
www.trevormossandhannahlou.com
Dean Owens “Into the sea” (2015, Drumfire Records)
www.deanowens,com
www.deanowens,com
The Dreaming Spires “Searching for the supertruth”
(2015, Clubhouse Records)
www.thedreamingspires.co.uk
Session Americana “Pack up the circus” (2015, Continental Song City)
www.sessionamericana.com
Andrew Coombs “All These Dreams” (2015, Loose Music)
www.andrewcoombs.bandcamp.com
www.thedreamingspires.co.uk
Session Americana “Pack up the circus” (2015, Continental Song City)
www.sessionamericana.com
Andrew Coombs “All These Dreams” (2015, Loose Music)
www.andrewcoombs.bandcamp.com
The Crooked
Brothers “Thank you I’m sorry” (2015, Crooked Brothers)
www.crookedbrothers.com
The Rosellys “The Granary Sessions” (2015, Clubhouse Records)
www.therosellys.vpweb.co.uk
www.crookedbrothers.com
The Rosellys “The Granary Sessions” (2015, Clubhouse Records)
www.therosellys.vpweb.co.uk
Samantha Crain “Under branch and thorn and tree”
(2015, Full Time Hobby Records)
www.samanthacrain.com
www.samanthacrain.com
Alela Diane and Ryan Francesconi “Cold Moon” (2015,
Believe Records)
www.aleladiane.com
www.are-f.com
www.aleladiane.com
www.are-f.com
Applewood Road (Emily Barker,Amy Speace and Amber
Rubarth) “Applewood Road” digital download single (2015)
www.emilybarker.com
www.amyspeace.com
www.amberrubarth.com
www.emilybarker.com
www.amyspeace.com
www.amberrubarth.com
Elvis Perkins “I Aubade” (2015, MIR)
www.elvisperkinssound.net
Co-Pilgrim “Slows to go” (2015, Battle Music)
www.co-pilgrim.co.uk
www.elvisperkinssound.net
Co-Pilgrim “Slows to go” (2015, Battle Music)
www.co-pilgrim.co.uk
Patty Griffin “Servant
of love” (2015, Patty Griffin Music)
www.pattygriffin.com
Robby Hecht “Evergreen EP” (2015, digital download)
www.robbyhecht.com
www.pattygriffin.com
Robby Hecht “Evergreen EP” (2015, digital download)
www.robbyhecht.com
Kenneth J
Nash & Fran Taylor “Live at the Old Hotel EP” (2015, Old Hotel Records)
www.kennethjnash.com
www.kennethjnash.com
O’Hooley and
Tidow “Summat’s Brewin’” (2015, Hum Records)
www.ohooleyandtidow.com
Sarah McQuaid “Walking into white” (2015, Waterbug)
www.sarahmcquaid.com
Phillip Henry & Hannah Martin “Watershed” (2015, Dragonfly Roots)
www.philliphenryandhannahmartin.co.uk
www.ohooleyandtidow.com
Sarah McQuaid “Walking into white” (2015, Waterbug)
www.sarahmcquaid.com
Phillip Henry & Hannah Martin “Watershed” (2015, Dragonfly Roots)
www.philliphenryandhannahmartin.co.uk
Rachel Taylor-Beales “Stone’s throw,Lament of the selkie” (2015,
Hushland)
www.racheltaylor-beales.com
www.racheltaylor-beales.com
Gill Sandell & Chris T-T “Walk away, walk away”
(2015, Rowan Tree Records)
www.gillsandell.com
www.christt.com
www.gillsandell.com
www.christt.com
Kris Drever & Boo Hewerdine “Last man standing
EP” (2015, Reveal Records)
www.krisdrever.com
Emily Barker “The Toerag Sessions” (2015, Everyone Sang)
www.emilybarker.com
www.krisdrever.com
Emily Barker “The Toerag Sessions” (2015, Everyone Sang)
www.emilybarker.com
John Jones “Never stop moving” (2015, Westpark Music)
www.jj-rr.org
Anthony Toner “Miles & Weather” (2015, Dozens of Cousins)
www.anthonytoner.net
www.jj-rr.org
Anthony Toner “Miles & Weather” (2015, Dozens of Cousins)
www.anthonytoner.net
Jess Vincent “Shine” (2015, Hat Records)
Tom Robinson “Only the Now” (2015, Castaway Northwest
Recordings)
www.tomrobinson.com
Sadie Jemmett “London Love Songs” (2015, Sadie Jemmett Music)
www.sadiejemmett.com
www.tomrobinson.com
Sadie Jemmett “London Love Songs” (2015, Sadie Jemmett Music)
www.sadiejemmett.com
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