Browsing Tag

Cinematic Folk

Syne – Plato’s Cave featuring L-FRESH The LION

Posted on 3 April 2020
Syne

With each new release from Alt Folk artist Syne, there’s a new chance to explore complexities in a soundscape while simultaneously exploring the complexities in your own mind.

Meditative music may not be made for radio but it does serve the fundamental purpose of transfixing you in a quiescent moment which requires you to simply exist. Syne’s latest single Plato’s Cave featuring L-FRESH The LION is practically a shortcut to a higher plateau.

The extended instrumental prelude will ensure that you’re suitably zen before the softly resonant vocals kick in. At this point, the track doesn’t feel like it will be throwing many aural curveballs your way. But there was no anticipating the Rap verses from L-FRESH The LION.

I don’t think I’ll ever forget hearing such relentless Rap verses over such feverously pensive piano progressions. Yet, that was just one of the seamlessly progressive unexpected twists which Plato’s Cave had to offer.

You can check out the official animated video to Plato’s Cave which premiered on March 11th, 2020 via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Julie Bouchard bares her soul in her evocatively compelling latest Indie Folk Pop single “Why”

Posted on 23 March 2020

Not all artists possess the ability to instantaneously pull you into a narrative which you’ll be invested in from the first verse to the last. Perceptibly, Julie Bouchard has been granted with that natural talent. The proof lies in her lyrically and melodically captivating latest single.

Her latest radio-ready single “Why” is a soundscape filled with fraught frustration and inspiringly tensile optimism which won’t fail to resonate.

This Indie Folk Pop ballad is the ultimate testament of the Austin, Texas-based singer songwriter’s commercial potential. Indie Folk doesn’t often come as cinematically powerful as Why. There may be a potent serving of raw pensive soul, but once you get to the outro, you will undoubtedly feel uplifted.

You can check out Julie Bouchard’s latest single Why for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mock Deer – Your Open Heart: Transfixingly Crushing, Cinematically Resonant Alt Indie Folk

Posted on 17 February 2020

“Your Open Heart” is one of the captivating singles found on the latest release “The Art of Loneliness” from London-based Alt Indie Folk artist Mock Deer.

Forget lyrical or instrumental hooks, the prelude offers an instantaneous sharp emotional hook which will great any fan of American Alt Folk with a familiar lacerating sting. With each progression, you’re drawn further into the striking resonance which pools around the creeping ethereal reverb and gently melancholic pensive notes.

Mock Deer is exactly the kind of artist you can hit play on for the first time and form an “I immediately need to buy all of their records” obsession – especially if you are a Paul Simon or REM fan. Despite the raw existential emotion projected into Your Open Heart, there’s the faintest hint of romantic optimism amongst the perfectly weighted commentary on 21st-century alienation and fear. It is transfixing, crushing, uplifting and transcendent all in equal measure.

You can check out Your Open Heart for yourselves via SoundCloud. Or you can grab a vinyl or CD copy via Rough Trade.

Keep up to date with the latest releases from Mock Deer via Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Bent Roads Tavern and Christian Stokkmo – Sweet Mirona: Cinematically Alchemic Semi-Orchestral Folk

Posted on 23 January 2020

If it’s been a while since you’ve checked if your soul is functioning, you can give it a thorough once over by hitting play on the latest single released by Folk artist Bent Roads Tavern “Sweet Mirona” featuring Christian Stokkmo.

With classical strings brought into this mix, Sweet Mirona is safely situated on the more cinematic side of Folk. But the roots of the genre still gently weave their way through this pensively alchemic mix. If you could imagine how Lou Barlow’s (ex Dinosaur Jr) vocals would resonate over a mesmerising contemporary Folk melody. You’ll get an idea of the stinging evocative potency which will permeate once you hit play on Sweet Mirona.

You can check out the video to Sweet Mirona which premiered on December 27th via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Osian Rhys – The Ballad of Mr Withers: Ethereally Cinematic Folk

Posted on 22 November 2019
https://osianrhys.bandcamp.com/track/the-ballad-of-mr-withers-2

Welsh Folk Singer-Songwriter Osian Rhys released their latest single “The Ballad of Mr Withers” on November 7th ahead of their upcoming EP “Autumn Shades of Gold”. With artists such as Bill Ryder-Jones influencing their hauntedly pensive style, it came as no surprise that it was such a hard-hitter.

Even before the semi-orchestral swells faded in to douse the already morose soundscape with even more striking evocativeness, the tenderness of the acoustic guitar and Osian Rhys’ vocals came together to create an ethereal aurally alchemic single.

Bill Ryder-Jones doesn’t fail to bring a tear to my eye, and neither does Osian Rhys. Yet, the soundscape still boasts plenty of distinction as the Ballad of Mr Withers unfolds with an archaically cinematic feel which you definitely don’t get to hear every day.

You can check out the Ballad of Mr Withers by heading over to Bandcamp now, the rest of the EP is due for release on December 13th.

Review by Amelia Vandergast