Author: For Folk's Sake

Album: Alexander – Alexander

The ‘Solo Career’ section of Alexander Ebert’s Wikipedia page states simply and coolly: “In 2010, Alexander began to dabble with a solo career.” Imagine this line as the last of a movie trailer – the line that tells us all…

Live: Ólöf Arnalds @ Vortex Jazz Club, 1 March

I first heard Ólöf Arnalds when her song ‘Surrender’ came on the radio and made my ears prick up. Eerily understated, it quickly gets under the skin. The music video, in which a haunted-looking Ólöf wanders in damp, gloomy forest, exploring…

Album: Wye Oak – Civilian

Listening to Wye Oak’s third full-length release, one conclusion among many confusions is apparent: when they’re good, they’re great. For a so-called indie-folk duo, though, it’s maybe surprising that the key component of Civilian is its unrelenting tautness. It offers…

Album: The Unthanks – Last

While rustic music of an epic thrust becomes ever more popular, sending the likes of folk pretenders Mumford & Sons all the way to the Brit Awards, the Unthanks remain something of a niche outfit, maintaining a high standing among…

Album: James Vincent McMorrow – Early In The Morning

Be warned: the rise of smokey-timbre’d troubadour James Vincent McMorrow will be littered with Bon Iver comparisons. Certainly the breathy vocals, haunting harmonies, and woodsy themes in McMorrow’s debut invite such characterizations, but Early In The Morning is no brooding…

Album: The Son(s) – The Son(s)

Back in May, The Son(s) received a glowing write-up from the FFS New Bands Panel, with words such as “ethereal”, “majestic” and “achingly beautiful” being thrown around and an appearance on the end-of-year playlist ensuing – so hopes were high…

Album: Zoey Van Goey – Propeller Versus Wings

Belatedly, completely and a little surprisingly, I have fallen for Zoey Van Goey. It hasn’t always been this way, but then the course of true love never did run smooth. Our first meeting came after an encounter on a website…

Album: Josh Bray – Whisky And Wool

Somewhat reminiscent of fellow singer-song-writer Ray Lamontagne, Josh Bray produces a very solid and pleasant debut. Recorded in a metal shipping container within a barn during wintertime, Bray was reported to have got through the recording process by downing whiskey…