Browsing Tag

Acoustic Folk

ghost singers have released their plaintively hypnotic folk single ‘Remember When’

Posted on 2 April 2021

‘Remember When’ is the latest plaintively hypnotic folk single from ghost singers, a collective of artists that have never met. There may be plenty to mourn when contemplating our increasingly digital cultural landscape, but this harrowingly soft and sparse single definitely isn’t one of them.

Over quiescently picked guitar notes, the female vocals seem to find every inch of space to occupy them with celestial timbre. If you thought that Daughter’s or Sharon Van Etten’s vocals are arresting, wait until you hit play on this timeless single.

Remember When is now available via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Find the optimism in existentialism with Bill E Daly’s latest single, ‘All We Have’.

Posted on 11 March 2021

‘All We Have’ is the fourth single to be released by Irish singer-songwriter Bill E Daly, an artist in the habit of shifting perspectives with the lyricism cased in their constantly in-flux sound. The only constant is the assurance that you’ll be drawn in by introspection that dares you to embrace the dark while seeing the light.

By channelling the Doors and Cash into All We Have, it boasts the perfect contrast between tonal accordance and swampy lyrics. The dark folk imagery takes your psyche to a macabre school while Southern bluesy soul reaches out with a touch of compassion.

With their next single ready for official release on April 22nd, it will be more than worth making room on your radar for the singer-songwriter – especially given their tendency to pull optimism out of existentialism.

All We Have is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Award-winning bluegrass singer, Kevin Serey is set to release their wisdom-driven single ‘Old Man’s Eyes’

Posted on 9 March 2021

Singer-songwriter, Kevin Serey has been raking in the accolades since making their debut. As an Ohio Music Award Winner and an International Acoustic Music Awards finalist, his highly-anticipated forthcoming album holds plenty of promise. On the basis of the standout single, Old Man’s Eyes, he’s discernibly delivered.

As we’re collectively living through some of the most isolating times in living history, wisdom-fuelled singles, such as Old Man’s Eyes are priceless. Serey’s consoling words melodically shove you in a positive direction while his timeless bluegrass country folk tones leave you enraptured by evoking just as much emotion as the lyrics.

You’ll have to wait a little longer before you can check out Kevin Serey’s new album, in the meantime, hear their award-winning previous releases via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Alcohol and Cigarettes – Chris Miller wants us to talk

Posted on 23 December 2020
Chris Miller

When your first solo single (2019’s ‘Not Crazy’) goes on to make you only the third artist to win a Radium Award and is the most popular track of the year on Atomic Magazine’s stream space, you must be doing something pretty right. Now, following two further singles, Chris Miller returns with what may be his most beautiful, emotional track yet.

Raw, honest, and open, like the conversations it refers to, ‘Alcohol and Cigarettes’ is all about those difficult but necessary conversations with friends or family, when you’re struggling; about opening up to those that care for us, letting go and accepting vulnerability in return for succour and support. It’s exquisite, a mixture of Chris Stapleton’s ‘Whiskey and You’ and Justin Townes Earle, Miller’s heartfelt confessional vocal initially sitting atop sparse, perfect piano before the track builds slowly to its acoustic-guitar-drums-and-piano denouement. It’s stunning, a genuinely outstanding and powerful single which truly should earn Miller even greater plaudits in 2021.

Check out ‘Alcohol and Cigarettes’ on YouTube, or head over to Chris Miller’s website and Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

Axl Phnxx is incredible on the remarkable ‘No More Tears’

Posted on 12 September 2020

Axl Phnxx shines brightly with the deeply constructed new single with indie-folk ‘No More Tears‘.

After the well-received ‘Feel The Night‘, this is a fine follow-up to add to the galvanizing singer’s discography with a voice that grabs you by the heart. This is an artist who likes to push himself to make music that means something. It is not fake and plastic, it is the opposite. A gem in the rough, the type of music that puts you in your good place.

With a soft and introspectively calming intro, the firm but remarkable vocals float into your ears with a cascading brilliance. This is a song to chill with, candles on, beverage in hard, smiling but also knowing that you need to be strong now. The time for tears is done and now its about moving on. Moving on to something better, something more pure and something that you feel right about. Following your heart is the key here, unlocking that happy vision and doing what you think is best.

‘No More Tears‘ from Axl Phnxx is a lovely indie single from an artist who is creating incredible music.

Click here for the Soundcloud link.

Head through to the Insta page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Joey Sherman – PRETENDING: A Haunting Alt Folk Attack on Daily Monotony

Posted on 14 August 2020

If anyone’s looking for tips on how to orchestrate transfixing Alt Folk preludes, hit play on Joey Sherman’s single PRETENDING and grab a pen. From the first pensively picked notes, we were hooked.

After the ringing of an old school alarm clock which pretty much fills you with the I-don’t-want-to-go-to-work/school-dread, the raw, rugged and steady guitar notes lead you into a sombrely captivating soundscape which any fans of Bob Dylan will appreciate. It’s as haunting as it is stunning.

With the extended duration of PRETENDING, there’s plenty of room for absorbing instrumental solos which add just as much emotional depth to the single as the vocals and lyrics.

If you can relate to needing an escape, you’ll find plenty of resonance within PRETENDING which powerfully points out just how much energy is demanded of us in day to day life and how exhausting it can be.

You can check out Joey Sherman’s single PRETENDING via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Boa echoes into our hearts with real stories on ‘Pinch Of Salt’

Posted on 9 August 2020

Italian singer Boa enters in through the front door with his excellent new indie-folk single called ‘Pinch Of Salt‘.

Lorenzo Bonarini aka Boa is a songwriter who has explored various genres from punk, folk, jazz, to soundtracks for cinema, hip hop, reggae and more genres. His latest album called ‘Bag of Seeds‘ was meant as a tribute to Leonard Cohen but inevitably the seeds sprouted and so the music went in many different directions. This is a super creative artist who likes to challenge himself and the results are tremendous.

I like the simple drum taps at the start, the acoustic buzz and the clear vocals that are gritty and real. This is a song that could of been released in the 70’s or not. This feels eerily like a timeless song and one that all generations will enjoy.

‘Pinch Of Salt‘ from Boa is a fabulous effort that has weaved a bow of brilliance in the heat of 2020.

Head to Soundcloud to hear this classic.

Listen with the volume on full here via Spotify.

Click here for more info on Facebook.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Blonde Lion has released their enrapturing ennui-laden Alt Folk single “Ordinary Day”

Posted on 5 August 2020

Folk-Pop singer-songwriter Blonde Lion released their latest single “Ordinary Day” on August 5th. Elliott Smith may not be with us anymore, but Blonde Lion’s melancholic style is just as efficacious at drawing pensive emotions from you and offering aural resolve.

Obviously, I didn’t make it to the end of Ordinary Day with dry eyes. The delicateness of the atmospheric and intricate acoustic instrumentals was one thing, the resonance in the lyrics was quite another.  Ordinary Days was inspired by the days where you wake up and struggle to find anything which offers any meaning. The jaded ennui was all too relatable and it’s safe to say that after the global lockdown, plenty more people will see themselves in this sublime soundscape which serves as the perfect introduction to Blonde Lion’s compelling style.

You can check out Blonde Lion’s latest release by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Aurore Sibley – In Salinas: Beguilingly Baroque Folk Pop

Posted on 5 July 2020
Aurore Sibley

Singer-songwriter Aurore Sibley is set to release her debut album on July 24th. Ahead of the release, she’s released a mesmerising teaser with the single “In Salinas”.

Her beguilingly baroque Folk Pop style invites you back to a time when finding poetry in lyrics wasn’t akin to finding a needle in a haystack. The stunning storytelling narrative lyrics in Aurore Sibley’s single paint a romantic tale which you’ll be immersed in from the first verse.

The acoustic folk instrumental arrangement may be fairly stripped back. But an arcane ethereal atmosphere clasps around every note in the almost haunting soundscape which any fans of Nick Cave will undoubtedly appreciate.

You can check out In Salinas for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Follow the artist via Facebook to stay up to date with all their future releases.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Prepare to be sobered by Joe Johnson’s latest Indie Folk single “Be Who You Wanna Be”

Posted on 14 June 2020

Folk singer-songwriter Joe Johnson has recently released his instantly captivating single “Be Who You Wanna Be” and reminded us just how resonant Indie Folk can be.

Be Who You Wanna Be feeds you poignantly meta lyricism whilst grounding you with the melancholically-tinged instrumentals. From such simple guitar melodies and humbly tender vocals, Joe Johnson has created an atmospherically resounding single which will stay with you long after it has faded to a close.

The orchestral layers amplify the emotive weight in Be Who You Wanna Be, but in its essence, it’s a stunningly uplifting track which shares the same appeal as Eddie Vedder’s Into the Wild soundtrack album.

You can check out Be Who You Wanna Be for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast