Browsing Tag

Alt Folk

An Avant-Garde Echo of Isolation: Lena Lovelace – The Lonely Doll Song

Posted on 12 July 2024

Lena Lovelace unexpectedly returned with her new single, The Lonely Doll Song, an audacious exploration into the depths of isolation and faded glory. Contrary to her announcement of a musical hiatus earlier this year, Lovelace’s latest orchestration plunges into the melancholic reality faced by child stars past their ephemeral peak of fame.

Inspired by the narrative of Björn Andrésen, whose youthful foray in the spotlight dwindled as portrayed in the documentary The Most Beautiful Boy in the World, Lovelace crafts a soundscape that mirrors this descent. The minimalist yet profound single, consisting of little more than ethereally haunting vocal layers paired with the sparse, resonant notes of an electric piano, becomes a raw, unfiltered reflection of neglect and obscurity.

Lovelace’s approach in The Lonely Doll Song eschews mainstream appeal to embrace a spectral quality; the melody and composition invoke a sense of disquiet, perfectly aligning with the theme of the piece which also exhibits the singer-songwriter’s awe-inspiring refusal to conform.

The Lonely Doll Song is now available to stream on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Go Metric USA entered a new alt-folk chapter with the archaic reverie in ‘Old Books No One Remembers’

Posted on 18 June 2024

The scent of bibliosmia drifts throughout the poetry of the anachronistic reverie in Old Books No One Remembers by the irreplicable artist, Go Metric USA. You almost get the sense that you will stumble into Oscar Wilde between the chapters of the beguiling alt-folk progressions which resound as though they have been conjured, not created in the formulaic fashion through which most modern music unravels.

The traditional folk instrumentation gives the single an authentically organic aura which sends sparks through the imagination when working in synergy with the abstract whispers of narrative enchantment. Old Books No One Remembers is a single that bores into the soul, tantalising it gently with timbres that will stir the most primal facets of your being.

This unique blend emerges from the heart of the Texas independent and experimental music community, from an artist which revels in exploring the space between spoken word and jangle music, resulting in a confluence of folk traditions, adventurous soundscapes and masterful songwriting.

Old Books No One Remembers is the perfect introduction to Go Metric USA and their ability to create matrimony between the past and present while ensuring the memories of their sound endures long after the final note.

Old Books No One Remembers was officially released on June 2nd; stream the single on Soundcloud and YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Wuzzo opened a portal to a celestial dimension with her scintillating folk lullaby, ‘I’m Made from Stardust’

Posted on 8 June 2024

Wuzzo, who has spent over a decade enriching children’s lives through musical theatre camps, channelled her nurturing spirit into her music with I’m Made from Stardust, taken from her debut album, Starseed Lullabies, which gently reminds us that the cosmos is carried within all of us.

Her experience working with children has profoundly shaped her artistry and personal growth; through Starseed Lullabies, she offers a heartfelt dedication to all the children she has worked with, her own inner child, and the one that lives, breathes and seeks nourishment within us all.

I’m Made From Stardust is a cosmic folk gem that instantly injects catharsis into the senses. The star-dusted tones work with the lyrics to affirm the beauty of recognising our worth and acknowledging the stardust within our anatomy. The LP stands as a tonal utopia, guided by Wuzzo’s consolingly arcane voice. Tuned to 432 hertz and blending harp, piano, and cosmic textures, the album provides a solace scarcely found in sound.

Starseed Lullabies is the perfect antidote to the endless distractions and grind of modern life. With its gentle guidance towards self-love and compassion, this album is a must-listen for anyone seeking a respite from the chaos and a reconnection with their most authentic self.

Stream I’m Made from Stardust with Wuzzo’s debut LP, Starseed Lullabies, on Spotify now.

 

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mystic Rhythms and Folklore Fusions: Musa Stone’s ‘Woman Please Is a Journey Through Sonic Serenity

Posted on 12 April 2024

Musa Stone added an ethereally mystic edge to the airwaves with the unveiling of his folklore-instilled standout single, Woman Please, taken from his debut LP, Fugue.

By painting from a scintillating colour palette and synthesising swathes of sonic cultures, the level of intrigue which oscillates through the artfully arcane production is off the scale. The celestial timbre of the sermonic layered harmonies feeds effortlessly into the otherworldly atmosphere of Woman Please, which is constructed through Latin rhythms and electronic aesthetics that register as organic as any classic folk instrumentation.

As a truly global artist, Musa Stone allows his sonic signature to span the landscapes that have shaped his material reality. While many artists solely use music as a means of expression or to feed their ego, music gave Musa Stone a home that no other phenomena or place could offer, while acting as a gateway to an emotional world. Hit play on Woman Please, which delivers deliciously imploring soul with a touch of desert folk, and you’ll instantly get a sense of the singer-songwriter’s ability to act as a conduit of the unfiltered essence of the human experience.

Stream Woman Please with the full Fugue LP on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Step into a spiritual awakening with DORA GOLA’s alt-folk séance, Humble Your Eyes

Posted on 30 March 2024

DORA GOLA’s latest single, ‘Humble Your Eyes’, is a mesmerising journey into the heart of alt-folk, infused with a deep spirituality that resonates with every note. Born in Poland and blossoming in Ireland, DORAG GOLA’s unique blend of Eastern European folk and traditional Irish folk testifies to her profound connection with music and nature.

The track begins with percussion that awakens something primal within the listener, a call to the roots of human existence. The arcane elements of European folk music add a layer of mystique, enhancing the transcendence of her vocal lines which ascend endlessly to deliver a slice of salvation for the soul and an invitation to attune oneself to the mystical allure of nature.

GOLA’s journey from a childhood steeped in a diverse musical heritage to her immersion in Irish culture and mythology has culminated in this hauntingly beautiful single. Her voice, a powerful and sensual force, draws listeners into a narrative of Earth’s consciousness and human longing. The fusion of Slavic folk, brooding synths, and lavish Eastern sounds reaches the epitome of alt-folk innovation. Do your psyche a favour and hit play.

Humble Your Eyes will drop on March 29th; check out the single on DORA GOLA’s official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jack Cade – The Glitter Around Your Eyes: Achingly Affecting Americana

Posted on 21 February 2024
Bewilderland by Jack Cade and the Everyday Sinners

If you always turn to Cohen, Waits and Nick Cave for sonic solace, redirect your quest for sanctity toward Jack Cade’s folk-meets-alt-country LP, Bewilderland.

His gruff baritone notes against Helen Muggeridge’s glassy-with-soul harmonies create a heart-wrenchingly sentimental dynamic in the standout single, The Glitter Around Your Eyes. Like all of the most affecting love songs, the alchemic feat of Americana lyrically locks into the minute details of affection to elucidate how deep in the veins the affection runs.

Around the bluesy guitar bends, honkytonk piano keys that give the track a touch of the 70s and the roots-wrapped tones as a courtesy of the slide guitar, the two vocalists portray a hesitant yet fervent testament of passion which reaches the epitome of compelling. Slow dance to it, cry your heart out to it as you mourn lost loves, or make it a playlist staple; whatever you do, don’t pass up on this timelessly touching serenade from the UK-hailing conduit of candour.

The Glitter Around Your Eyes was officially released on January 26th; stream the single and Jack Cade’s seminal LP, Bewilderland, on Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Grizzly Bird – Backpacker: A Soulful Sojourn Through the Indie-Folk Landscape

Posted on 18 February 2024

Grizzly Bird (AKA Hans Gnendinger) presents ‘Backpacker‘, an attentive commentary enveloped in a melodious indie folk journey. This single, nestled within the anticipated album ‘Creatures‘, stands out as a synthy, lyrically driven exploration of the backpacking subculture, infused with a wit and insight that is both refreshing and thought-provoking.

Gnendinger, a stalwart of the Berlin folk scene, brought his Bavarian roots and urban experiences to bear in this track. His storytelling, honed through years of songwriting and life’s vicissitudes shines through in the light-hearted track which delves into the essence of human nature and our quest for meaning, all while maintaining a lightness of touch that is characteristic of Grizzly Bird’s style.

The lyrical wit reminiscent of John Grant, combined with the tongue-in-cheek reverie akin to Alex Cameron, positions ‘Backpacker’ in a unique space within the indie genre. Gnendinger’s voice carries the narrative with an effortless grace through the Radiohead-esque soundscape which exhibits Gnendinger’s skill with the acoustic guitar and his ability to weave complex emotions into his compositions while the synthy backdrop adds a contemporary edge to the folk foundation

In essence, ‘Backpacker’ is a mirror held up to a generation that seeks meaning in the nomadic, Beatnik lifestyle. Grizzly Bird, through this track, offers a perspective that is both critical and empathetic, urging us to question the romanticism of backpacking while also acknowledging its allure.

The official music video for Backpacker will premiere on February 16th; stream it on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sinéad Ann has released her spiritually spectral alt-indie-folk single, Four Walls

Posted on 6 October 2023

If any Irish folk artist has what it takes to surpass the fame of Glen Hansard in 2023, it is Sinéad Ann with her spectrally spiritual single, Four Walls, which haunts the middle ground between indie rock and alt-folk.

With vocals that command in the same celestially raw vein as Dolores O’Riordan and chamber strings aiding the depiction of the clash between our mortality and spirit, Four Walls makes no apology as it visualises the maleficence of our shadow selves.

Rather than painting the picture of incandescent innocence, Sinéad Ann elevated the murder-folk subgenre with her confession of nightmarish visions before taking her listeners to a place of enlightenment following the vanquishment of her demons. You couldn’t ask for a more scintillating narration of the triumph of good over evil. It definitively proves that nothing concerning the soul is ever black and white, crimson always has a part to play; it runs in our veins and has a role to play in redemption, whether that plays out in our shadow minds or in reality.

With more music in the baroque pipelines, any folk fans partial to expositions of the darker sides of the human condition will want to be part of the breakthrough artist’s ascent.

Stream Four Walls on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The LA singer-songwriter Eric Baugh has made his acoustic folk-rock debut with his compulsion-questioning single, Silent Spring

Posted on 2 October 2023

Eric Baugh strummed the decades and all the contemporary distractions which came as a courtesy of them in his debut single, Silent Spring. The bluesy lead notes against the quiescent calm of the acoustic folk-rock chords beneath his beckoning vocal lines will strike all the right notes with fans of Cat Stevens and Paul Simon.

The LA-based singer-songwriter made as much of a case for the beauty in simplicity in his guitar work as his lyrics which bring to question the way we live as though there’s no alternative. Consumerism and greed were never part of the human psyche’s blueprint; as eloquently illustrated by Baugh, we’ve been conditioned into commercialist conformity, and it is never too late to start again.

It may take more than one stunning song fuelled with small-town iconography and bearing R.E.M. reminiscences to derail our descent into further despondency with the world around us, but Baugh’s contribution is sure to compel his listeners into questioning their compulsions.

Silent Spring reached all major platforms on September 15; stream it via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Rossa Murray & the blowin’ winds will warmly render your heartstrings raw with ‘Who Really Wants to Get Clean’

Posted on 29 September 2023
Rossa Murray & the blowin' winds

The hype around the Irish alt-folk/rock outfit, Rossa Murray & the blowin’ winds, may be louder than the melancholic quiescence in the title single from their latest EP, but the accolades are far from hyperbolic.

Who Really Wants to Get Clean is a cutting- with razor-sharp precision – exposition on society’s issues around addiction; so much pressure is put upon the people numbing themselves by any means necessary to change, while the societal issues that make it a necessity for so many get ambivalently swept under the rug.

I can’t even remember the last time a track hit me this hard. The evocative delivery, the desperation in the vignette, the agony that lingers in the tempo of the minor keys, the profoundness in the strings, it all synthesises into a tear-jerking performance that leaves you in a sombre state of contemplation.

Fans of Bill Ryder-Jones and Frightened Rabbit won’t be able to tear themselves away from the Rossa Murray & the blowin’ winds’ discography after Who Really Wants to Get Clean has warmly rendered their hearts raw.

The Who Really Wants to Get Clean – Part 2 EP will officially release on September 29th. Stream it on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast