Browsing Tag

Folk Duo

‘Oh, the White Death’ ties mythic mortality to modern consciousness through the threads of Leiting & Van Kammen’s folky post-rock poetry

Posted on 18 December 2025

Leiting & Van Kammen dig through the annals of history to parable what still remains in modernity in Oh, the White Death, excavating ancient, immortal corners of the soul and tying us to our roots through traditional European folk instrumentation. As one of the standout compositions on their concept EP Death’s Dowry, the piece leans into atmospheric post-rock aesthetics while its accordant cacophony of folk strings resounds, reverberates, and angularly strikes with melodic fortitude. The vocals project as a sermonic hymn, spilling dark imagery to paint a portrait of how we all live with death hanging above us, trying to evade its gaze as we fill our worlds with heartbreak, hope and faith.

Based in Somers, Wisconsin, the duo shaped Death’s Dowry as a concept EP centred on Death as witness rather than villain, tracing legendary figures such as Saint Olga of Kyiv, Simo Häyhä and the Finnish tale of Lalli and the Bishop. They self-recorded and produced the collection, bringing together vocals, acoustic guitar, mandolin and cello into sparse, cinematic arrangements later shaped by mixer and mastering engineer Rob Kleiner.

Oh, the White Death channels their vision with particular force; it reaches the epitome of profound by leaving expansive room for interpretation as you absorb poetry that nestles into contours of consciousness rarely touched. Passive listening feels implausible while digging through this stridently impassioned, anthropologically macabre fable that wedges itself between mythology, mortality and melody. Against the skeletal hush of winter imagery, the song thrives as a reminder of how the stories we inherit can still mirror our own evasions and reckonings.

Oh, the White Death is now available on all major streaming platforms, including YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Folk Intimacy and Haunting Harmonies Defined The Lone Canary’s ‘Something Real’

Posted on 23 August 2025

If the timbre of a songbird could be strung across guitar strings, it would echo the way The Lone Canary’s latest single, Something Real, folds itself into the souls of folk listeners. Lifted from their forthcoming LP Dime Store Horses, the track dissolves the barriers between Americana storytelling and the profound nature of sonic connection, paying quiet homage to the landscapes that birthed it.

There are no clues in the composition that Something Real was written in the 21st century. Instead, it unfurls as a vignette of loneliness, tracing the isolation of being surrounded by hollow facades with nothing substantial to tether you to the present. Ephemeral moments drift by, leaving disassociation in their wake, yet within the mournful diaphanous tones, a warmth rises through the intimate harmonies. The catharsis is quiet, but no less potent, as Jesse Fox and Heather Camacho lock their voices into an unbreakable tether.

Rooted in Rockford, Illinois, the duo has spent over a decade cutting their teeth across stages with the likes of Over the Rhine, Lilly Hiatt, and Pieta Brown. With their third full-length release on the horizon, The Lone Canary have stripped their sound down to its barest truth, offering listeners something raw, resolute, and swimming with pensive grace.

Something Real is now available on all major streaming platforms – including Apple Music.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Where Dust Weeps and Thunder Waits: Welcome Stranger’s Folk Reckoning in ‘When They Let Up’

Posted on 12 April 2025

With a vocal timbre that chews on gravel before spilling its soul across the mix, Welcome Stranger drag folk-stitched Americana through the thorns of emotional reckoning in When They Let Up, taken from their EP You’ll Never Mind How I Leave. The title alone sets the tone: departure is a foregone conclusion, and this track unfolds as the moment of clenching before the storm finally breaks.

Their emotive echoes of alchemy will simultaneously leave you reaching for the tissues and to turn up the volume as you envelop yourself within the artful architecture of the single that is constantly opening new stylistic doors. From the first notes of the acoustic guitars, you’d never expect to be greeted by rougher-than-Waits vocals, or how the single builds into an intricately ornate tableau before building into an augmented chest-swelling anthem of radio-worthy, foot-stomping, full-bodied catharsis. Scored with scorned emotion, arranged with sweeping euphony, rendered through succinct reflection and refined through a poetic sense of emotional intellectualism, When They Let Up is an invitation to lose yourself in sound and connect the dots rhythmically laid before you to piece together the poetry with perspective.

Welcome Stranger don’t rely on sonic frills or overplayed tropes to hit their mark; they hit harder by digging into the quieter tragedies, letting the rough-hewn vocals crack through the instrumentals like dried earth under flood. There’s more bruised beauty in a single bar than most artists summon across an album.

When They Let Up is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Somewhere In Between – Mr & Mrs: An Orchestral Indie Folk Tale of Amour for the Ages

Posted on 2 September 2024

Somewhere In Between, the soul-embracing union of Deena Robertson and Austin Bisnow is so much more than a new alt-indie folk act on the scene; the duo is a profound testament to love’s resilience.

Their debut single Mr & Mrs, taken from their double A-Side which also includes the single Wildflower, unfurls as an artfully orchestral folk narrative, resonating with emotional depths through dual-layered harmonies. The intimate glimpse into a romance that has battled odds as daunting as cancer and triumphed with a story sung through their very being reaches the epitome of heart-rending.

The single channels the delicate nuances of Thom Yorke’s artful signatures, the diaphanous echoes of Tom Odell, and the undeniable chemistry reminiscent of Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. It’s an ornately ethereal vignette of romanticism so vivid, it might just redefine your understanding of love, illustrating that true affection demands patience, compassion, and understanding.

Their journey began when Austin first heard Deena singing in Sanskrit during a hot yoga class in LA, leading to an inseparable bond forged at a retreat in Utah. Challenges soon followed, notably Deena’s cancer battle, compelling them to immortalise their vows in song with the aid of Grammy Award-winning artist Ry-X. Today, their Quebec barn-turned-studio is not just a place of creation but a sanctuary where their lives and art intertwine.

For those jaded by Hollywood’s glossy depictions of love, Mr & Mrs offers a real, raw, and profoundly authentic alternative. Hit play, and let the seraphic sentimentality carry you to where love reigns supreme, unscripted and unequivocally honest.

Mr & Mrs is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Interview with Judas Goat and the Bellwether: Unveiling the Inspirations Behind “There is Always a Dawn

Posted on 25 May 2024
There Is Always a Dawn by Judas Goat & the Bellwether

In this exclusive interview, Judas Goat and the Bellwether delve into the creative journey behind their latest single, “There is Always a Dawn.” Touching on themes such as climate change, the interplay between modern life and nature, and the mystical elements in their music, the duo offers a compelling narrative. The duo discuss their philosophical and artistic inspirations, the importance of reconnecting with nature, and their unique creative process. This conversation promises a deep dive into the minds behind the music and the messages they strive to convey.

Judas Goat and the Bellwether, your latest single, There is Always a Dawn, is a sublime slice of folk poetry, which strikes a deep chord with its metaphorical address of climate change, what inspired you to use a parable as a medium for this important message?

I (Sara) am a philosophical romantic who has been seeking truth and wisdom ever since my sister died in a car accident in 1989 and my quest has led me to a metaphorical oak door where I was guided to knock and seek out the buried pearls of wisdom within our Christian heritage, and thus wondered if I could write something which might have a bit of cultural weight to save “the green and pleasant lands” as did Blake’s poem “Jerusalem “ when it was put to music particularly!

What was it about William Blake’s Jerusalem poem that lit a creative spark? 

The term “dark satanic mills”, which revealed his prodigious insight into the perils of replacing handcrafts with machines and reduced one’s purpose to being cogs in a machine day in and day out, removed from innocence and creative freedom. 

How did it feel to win a recording session at The Bert Jansch Studios in Frome after this single was voted a runner-up in the Climates Songwriting Competition? 

Great!  It really helped us raise our game, recording in a world-class studio.

In your opinion, what is the importance of bridging the gap between the modernised and digitised human experience and the natural world? 

Incredibly important.  If we’re online all the time it wipes us out and we need to get out into nature for at least half an hour a day apparently, otherwise we lose connection with our soul and get depressed; and all sorts of evils flourish out of our disconnection including addictions, mental health issues and self-destruction!

How did you integrate the lyrical content and musical elements in There is Always a Dawn to enhance its spiritual and mystical appeal?

We didn’t have to think about it too much as the art flows rather effortlessly between us luckily.  Pete composes a riff and sends it over to me and then I find the words, and then we work out the shape of the song together and add layers as we go along.

What’s the story behind your moniker, and how does it reflect your artistic identity? 

When we first met we somehow got on to the dark subject of the Judas Goat and how it’s a real thing!  It’s a trained goat which befriends sheep and leads them to their slaughter in abattoirs.  The goat is then sometimes rewarded with tobacco so it has addiction issues too!  Pete thought it would be a good band name and added the Bellwether (lead sheep).

I thought about it for a bit and then realised it could be a really good platform for facing some of the darker, sadder realities of life which Pete’s moody and ominous chord changes evoke (a bit like Pink Floyd), and then we could shine some light and hope on things, as with this song. 

As a duo, how does your creative synergy come to fruition? 

As I mentioned earlier, we have a magical connection (most of the time!) – quite peaceful, graceful and poetic; if something has legs it flows easily luckily and we don’t have to think about things too much.

What’s next for Judas Goat and the Bellwether?

We have five songs essentially ready to go and we’re working with Ben Scott, a producer at Axe and Trap Studios in Wells, Somerset to get them recorded.  We’ve also recruited Jim Scriven on bass and hope to find a drummer soon.

Then when we’re ready to go we hope to get out to play as much as we can.  I’d particularly like to play in America as I’m foundationally influenced by the 60s counter-culture and Canada as they have a revolutionary micronutrient supplement for mental health issues which I’d like to research whilst I’m there, and Berlin is Pete’s spiritual home…

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Stream Judas Goat and the Bellwether on Bandcamp and follow their journey on Facebook.

Interview by Amelia Vandergast

Sun-Pinned Leaves shared the euphoria of being a rolling stone in their folk-rock reverie, See Y’all Again

Posted on 17 May 2024
Sun-Pinned Leaves

After winning the International Folk Duo of the Year award from the International Singer-Songwriters Association in 2023, the UK duo, Sun-Pinned Leaves are evidently still riding high, judging by the exuberant dreamland of nostalgia constructed within their latest single, See Y’all Again.

After the folksy piano keys have delivered their polyphonic euphoria, the rhythm section kicks in to deliver a rhythmically compelling beat that no 70s folk-rock fan will be able to resist. Even if you don’t know the joy of living on the road, you can live vicariously through this zestful vignette of how sweet it is to drift from coast to coast, where no goodbye is a definitive parting.

If Sun-Pinned Leaves aren’t on your radar yet, make room and stay tuned for their seventh LP, Seven Sins Aren’t Enough, which is set to become the sound of the summer when it releases in July.

See Y’all Again will be available to stream on all major platforms from May 15th. Find your preferred way to listen via the Sun-Pinned Leaves official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Igloo Hearts exhibited a new installation of art-folk in their ornately rendered vignette, Watering Can

Posted on 27 February 2024

Igloo Hearts’ latest offering, ‘Watering Can‘, is a masterful blend of folk sensibilities with a touch of baroque elegance. This single, emerging from the heart of Wrexham, positions the married duo as a folk force to be reckoned with while echoing the artistry of legends like Tori Amos, Kate Bush, and Mitski.

Katie Macgregor’s soprano vocals are the centrefold of the art-folk piece. Her haunting and ethereal timbres, cascade over the keys, enveloping the listener in a cocoon of timeless yet contemporary flair. The emotion conveyed through her performance is palpable, resonating with a depth that speaks to the soul.

Watering Can is an arresting showcase of their captivating sound, marked by classical piano, mesmerising chord progressions, and flawless harmonies, influenced by Jesca Hoop, Radiohead, and Kate Bush. The duo’s refined musicianship has earned them recognition as runners-up in the Purbeck Folk Rising Competition and Radio Wigwam’s Awards along with numerous BBC Introducing radio plays. Their live performances, held at esteemed venues like the Liverpool Philharmonic and Llangollen International Eisteddfod have received critical praise from across the board.

As they continue to gain acclaim, including an upcoming feature on the Channel 4 series ‘The Piano’, any self-respecting folk fan will want Igloo Hearts on their radar.

Watering Can was officially released on February 16. Stream the single on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Outpost Drive sang a bitter-sweet folk lullaby with their debut single, Go Back to Sleep

Posted on 13 December 2023

If you can relate to the melancholy of your dreams being more serene than your waking reality, prepare to be bruised by the emotional weight that will bear down on you when you hit play on the bitter-sweet folky acoustic pop lullaby, Go Back to Sleep, by the harmonically synergetic duo, Outpost Drive.

Between the aching of yearning and the gratitude of revisiting memories, Go Back to Sleep immediately cuts to the core of emotional juxtapositions when you are brought to tears recollecting the person who always knew how to make you turn a smile but only exists in dream. The lyric, “I’m lonely as I am free”, alluding to how life is just a dichotomy of Pepsi and Coke suffering, is especially potent as it cuts through the euphonically timeless orchestration, which proves how arcane instrumental minimalism can be when it is executed with superlative melodic command.

Willow Robinson and Mary Bragg Robinson, hailing from the English countryside and the American South, respectively marry the styles of British folk with Americana to deliver a sound that is as inventive as it is authentically all-consuming. The debut is a testament to the ability of love to transcend borders after the couple endured a year-long hiatus due to immigration hurdles. We can’t wait to hear what the ultimate folk power couple have in store for their sophomore release.

Go Back to Sleep was officially released on November 10th; stream it on Spotify or purchase the track on Apple Music.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

River Knight extended empathy for politically derived malady in their orchestral folk-rock score, Green and Gold

Posted on 7 December 2023

River Knight’s latest single, Green and Gold, is a socialist orchestral folk-rock masterpiece; with a reprise of “the system is broken and there’s no way back” as a lyrical opening, there’s no deliberation before immersing you into the infectiously empowering assault on late-stage capitalism.

The modern iteration of everyman’s blues keeps an upbeat tempo as the everyday atrocities unravel over the zeal in the instrumental arrangement to create an emotionally well-rounded score that unifies the disenfranchised while vindicating the anger that is breeding within the social tapestry.

With an ear for a compelling melody, an empathy for politically derived malady, and the technical prowess to construct a soul-sating earworm you’ll be humming for days, the UK duo who banded together in 2017 after Darren Knight’s wife passed away have become as essential as the Manic Street Preachers were in the 90s.

Green and Gold was officially released on November 24; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sahara CyberStars illuminated the airwaves with their alt-folk-rock score, Light Shines into a Space

Posted on 21 August 2023

After unveiling six LPs and six singles to date, the Dublin-forged, Australia-residing duo Sahara CyberStars, comprising the award-winning singer-songwriters Dave and Trish Long, exhibited how honed their synergistic sound has become in their latest single, Light Shines into a Space.

The duo may have gone down under, but their arcane Irish folk roots still linger at the epicentre of their theatrically inviting sound in Light Shines into a Space, which allows you to imagine how New Model Army’s post-punk musings would unravel with more ornate and orchestral instrumentals infused into their atmospheric stylings.

The deeply original score’s authenticity is only matched by the evocative pull of the release; from the first verse, you’ll be inseparably combined with the celestially scintillating experimentalism, which bends genres with the grace of an Olympian contortionist.

Light Shines into a Space is now available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast