For Folk's Sake » Cocos Lovers

Blog | The making of our charity compilation It’s Christmas 2011

Lynn Roberts — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 19:39:02 +0000

First of all, MERRY CHRISTMAS FOLK FANS! I hope you’re reading this full up and content.

Secondly, I’d like to say an enormous thank you to everyone who has contributed to, bought and supported For Folk’s Sake It’s Christmas 2011. It’s been brilliant. We’re so stoked to have so many of our favourite bands on the album, we’ve had an overwhelming reaction from loads of kind people, and we’ve raised far more money than we’d dared hope for the Integrated Cancer Centre. But it’s not over yet, and the grand total will be released after Christmas.

We’ve got a real mixture of acts on the album, some you’ll definitely have heard of, and some you definitely won’t have (because they named themselves just in time for the record sleeves to be printed). So for your perusal on this festive day, here’s some inside info on the tracks and artists.

1. Howard Carter – Christmas Blues

Cerys Matthews singled it out as one of her favourites from It’s Christmas 2011 and said she thought the pianist sounded like a cynical drunk santa!

I’ve known Howard since university, and always thought he was a jolly nice chap. I knew he was a musician and producer, but to my shame I had no idea just how blimmin’ talented he is. What a joy, then, to be presented with this incredible track, which Howard played and recorded especially for the record. Not only is it a brilliant stand-alone song, and the perfect start to the album, but it turns out I’m pretty much pals with a young Jools Holland. Cool.

You can listen to Howard’s soundtrack for Dark Light here.

2. The Leisure Society – Christmas Mistakes

FFS favourites The Leisure Society need no introduction for readers of this website. They won our first Schmercury best album poll in 2009 with their debut The Sleeper.

When I interviewed Nick Hemming and Christian Hardy from the Leisure Society around the release of their brilliant second album Into The Murky Water (buy it buy it buy it!), Nick asked if we’d be doing another Christmas record this year, and mentioned they’d be up for doing a song. So it was decided. We were doing another record.

The Leisure Society squeezed the recording of this track in between touring cathedrals with Laura Marling and their own European tour, pulling all-nighters to get it finished. But faced with time pressure they certainly didn’t do things by halves. When I asked Nick how the track was coming along he said “It’s fine. We’ve just got to get a harp player and brass section in.” And that’s on top of the strings and woodwind that come as standard with the band.

I’m sure you’ll agree it was worth it – you can hear the Brian Wilson-like perfection and precision that make this song just incredible.

3. Caitlin Rose & Keegan DeWitt – You Never Come Home For Christmas

Caitlin Rose is a Nashville singer and songwriter who’s on the thoroughly excellent Names Records in the UK (also home to Alela Diane. See? Excellent.) She played an Allotment night back in 2010, which we organised with promoter, artist and blogger Anika in London. Caitlin donated this ‘depressing Christmas song’ that she recorded with her friend Keegan De Witt for a Rough Trade bonus EP. Caitlin’s debut album Own Side Now is country at its most down-to-earth and marks her out as a songwriting force to be reckoned with.

4. Cocos Lovers – Christmas Is Coming/God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

We first came across the brilliant Cocos Lovers at London club A Folking Good Night and were instantly charmed by their laid-back and rustic folk. They won our best album poll in 2010 with their debut album Johannes. They laid down these gorgeous layered vocals for us around the table after Sunday lunch. The band are based by the seaside – in Deal in Kent – and this cosy recording only makes their lives sound more lovely.

5. Devon Sproule – Send Me To Coventry

Completing the set of our best album poll winners, Devon Sproule took the (imaginary) trophy with I Love You, Go Easy this year. She and her husband, musician Paul Curreri, have recently moved to Berlin from the US, and Devon wrote this lovely song about spending Christmas with her friends in Coventry. And Devon’s label – the lovely folk at Tin Angel Records – have launched a competition to make a video for Devon’s song. Enter here.

6. Darren Hayman – Lost In The Snow

Ex-Hefner frontman Darren Hayman is another one of our favourite UK artists, so we were delighted when he & Fika Records allowed us to use this song from his new EP Christmas in Haworth. Also check out his advent calendar with songs, videos and stories contributed by Darren’s creative friends. There’s an especially amazing picture of Darren with his real dog and a remarkably lifelike lego model.

7. Paper Aeroplanes – In The Bleak Midwinter

Harmony-laden folky pop band Paper Aeroplanes is Sarah Howells and Rich Llewellyn. I first came across Sarah singing with fellow Welsh songwriter Al Lewis on their EP Skin & Bones, and fell in love with her vocals. Sarah’s been a friend of us at FFS for a while – contributing a lovely jingle with which we open our London Fields Radio show, and we’re delighted that she and Rich could record this gorgeous version of ‘In The Bleak Midwinter’ for the compilation.

8. Kathryn Williams & Neill MacColl – Christmas In Hell

Tom McCrae suggested I ask Kathryn Williams if she’d be interested in writing a song for the record. Kathryn was nominated for the Mercury prize for her second album Little Black Numbers in 2000. Neill MacColl is folk music royalty – his father is Ewan MacColl, his mother is Peggy Seeger and Kirsty MacColl was his half sister. And Neill’s son Jamie is in Bombay Bicycle Club. Neill has had an illustrious career himself as a guitarist, singer and producer working with Steve Earle, David Grey and Eddi Reader among many others. The pair also released an album Two together in 2008.

9. Fiona Bevan – Love In A Cold Climate

I’m very grateful to Rockfeedback man Kev Molloy for putting us in touch with Fiona Bevan. Her bright and upbeat music is perfect for a crisp winter day. Find out more at www.fionabevan.co.uk.

10. Hollows – Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Hollows are a new East London-based choir of folk lovers, taking well-loved and little-known songs and adding layers of female harmonies. This is their first recording.

11. Adam Killip & Mi Mye – O Come All Ye Faithful

Adam Killip was the singer and songwriter of London-based band the Tailors. He teamed up with his pals in Wakefield band Mi Mye for this brilliant rendition of O Come All Ye Faithful. Us FFSers particularly like the bit where he sings “Chriiiiist” and misses off “the Lord’. It’s the little things.

12. Laura Boyle – Silent Night

Seventeen-year-old Laura Boyle is a new act on the London acoustic circuit. Her debut release The Nightengale EP was released this month in postcard format via Turf Records. Find out more here.

Thanks again to everyone involved in the record. And have yourselves a merry little Christmas evening!

Lynn x

Need last minute Christmas presents? Make your own ‘It’s Christmas 2011′ CD

Lynn Roberts — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 12:06:46 +0000

In need of a last-minute Christmas present for a music lover? We’ve made the cover of our festive compilation album For Folk’s Sake It’s Christmas 2011 available to download so you can make your own copies.

Here’s the plan…

1. Go to www.forfolkssake.bandcamp.com and download For Folk’s Sake It’s Christmas 2011 for a bargainous £5. (All proceeds to the Integrated Cancer Centre).

2. Burn the 12 EXCELLENT tracks onto a disc.

3. Download the artwork & tracklisting here by right clicking & selecting ‘save as’.

4. Wrap up the CD and make someone’s Christmas folkily brill.

The For Folk’s Sake It’s Christmas 2011 compilation album is being sold to raise money for the Integrated Cancer Centre. The compilation features original recordings from Devon Sproule, The Leisure Society, Cocos Lovers, Howard Carter, Fiona Bevan, Laura Boyle, Kathryn Williams & Neill MacColl, Paper Aeroplanes, Adam Killip & Mi Mye and Hollows. As well as songs from Caitlin Rose and Darren Hayman. The artwork & illustrations are by Amber Cassidy.

News | Cocos Lovers to release second album in March

Ian Parker — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:30:09 +0000

It is with much excitement that we today learn FFS favourites Cocos Lovers will give a full release to their second album Elephant Lands on March 19th, 2012. The record is the follow-up to 2009 debut Johannes, which earned glowing praise from us and then topping our 2010 Schmercury poll, so this new record already has plenty to live up to.

The Kent band spent the summer at festivals across the country, playing Green Man, Secret Garden Party, Glastonbury and Cambridge Folk Festival, selling along the way a handful of pre-release pressings of the new record. The rest of us were made to wait but will finally be able to lay hands on the album when it is released via Kent-based Smugglers Records next year.

The band will also soon anounce a tour to support the album, but in the meantime you can have a listen to ‘Feral and Wild’ below, and don’t forget – Cocos Lovers were contributors to the For Folk’s Sake It’s Christmas 2011 album, which you can get here.

Cocos Lovers – Feral And Wild by laurenrazavi

News | For Folk’s Sake It’s Christmas 2011 – available now!

Lynn Roberts — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 10:00:19 +0000

Please forgive us for adding to the bit-too-early Christmas chat, but we’re SO excited to announce the release of our second Christmas compilation For Folk’s Sake It’s Christmas 2011, which is out on 28th November 2011 and available to pre-order now at forfolkssake.bandcamp.com.

Some of our very favourite artists have donated songs to the record, which is being sold to raise money for the Integrated Cancer Centre. Just look at who we’ve got for you…

Howard Carter – Christmas Blues
The Leisure Society – Christmas Mistakes
Caitlin Rose with Keegan DeWitt – You Never Come Home For Christmas
Cocos Lovers – Christmas is Coming/God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Devon Sproule – Send Me To Coventry
Darren Hayman - Lost In The Snow
Paper Aeroplanes – In The Bleak Midwinter
Kathryn Williams & Neill MacColl – Christmas In Hell
Fiona Bevan – Love In A Cold Climate
Hollows - Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing
Adam Killip & Mi Mye – O Come All Ye Faithful
Laura Boyle – Silent Night

Some truly lovely physical copies, featuring more artwork from Amber Cassidy (there’s a wee preview below), are available to pre-order now from forfolkssake.bandcamp.com priced at £8 (+ postage). All pre-orders come with an immediate download of the album. There’s a very limited number of physical copies available (cos we have to post them out BY HAND) so get them while they’re still in our sitting room.

Then, on 28th November, For Folk’s Sake it’s Christmas 2011 will also become available as a download for £5. Or you can choose to give more if the Christmas cheer/sherry has got you feeling extra charitable.

All profits from the sale of For Folk’s Sake It’s Christmas 2011 will be donated to the Integrated Cancer Centre at King’s Health Partners, a pioneering centre that combines cancer research with innovative treatment, trials and care.

A huge thank you to all the bands and artists who donated their time and talents so generously - we’ll be bringing you more from them in the coming weeks.

Album | Cocos Lovers – Elephant Lands

Lynn Roberts — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 11:39:45 +0000

Kent-based eight-piece Cocos Lovers won our best album poll with their debut album Johannes. Their second offering Elephant Lands opens with a cinematic soundscape, that sounds disconcertingly like being lost in the dark feels. Soon it gives way to the electric guitars and the band’s trademark chorus, with flute tumbling over the rest of the ensemble.

The strong, clear vocals of Poggy Hatton open ‘Door to the Andes’, and are almost startling set between the chorus singing and polyphonic orchestration. Will Greenham has an apprehensiveness and melancholy to his voice, which contrasts beautifully with the reassuring stoicism in Vella’s. And the album becomes a conversation between these two vocalists.

Darker in sound than the band’s first record, the lyrics show a fondness for simpler times (lamenting “these times of thoughtless pleasure”). Unlike traditional folk, which feels unnaturally weighted in history, here the stories are told with humour and a light touch. Strip away the lyrics and you are left with toe-tapping, rousing and affecting orchestration from these eight excellent musicians. Traditional folk instruments are mixed with indie-rock guitars and sometimes tribal sounding drum beats.

Recorded in a converted caravan in Kent, music has never sounded so wholesome. Made up of families and friends, the band’s camaraderie is woven through each song. And listening to Elephant Lands – with the chuckle at the end of Lost Kings and the false start on Barcelona – you feel like you’re being let into the club.

Cocos Lovers – ‘Elephant Lands’ – Album Sampler by Smugglers Records

Live: Unplugged Sessions at the Windmill, Mayfair

Helen True — Mon, 23 May 2011 12:31:02 +0000

When a polite young man writes to you offering you a night of brilliant unplugged music, it’s generally a good idea to say yes. If said young man mentions pie, it’s basically impossible to keep FFS away.

We were delighted by no fewer than five acoustic acts over the course of 200-odd minutes at the Windmill, and a couple of sweet potato, lentil and feta pies into the bargain. Needless to say, this was a very sensible use of an evening. So enjoyable that, were it an eligible bachelor, FFS would have married it.

First up, the night’s promoter Samuel Brookes took to the carpet for a couple of ‘warm-up’ songs. Generally when a promoter plays at their own night we’re not so pleased, but gracious Sam is good. His gentle, slightly countrified folk is right up our street. Download his EP, St David’s Hall Live, here for no pounds and no pence. He’ll be getting the New Bands Panel treatment shortly, so keep your eyes peeled for more.

Next came Howlin’ Lord. We spied him reading some Hemingway before the music began, and the poet is strong in this one. The poor lad had a very tired out voice indeed, but his pacy, lyrically fascinating songs had touches of Bob Dylan and the Two Gallants, and were remarkably strong for a man who quite possibly had tonsillitis.

Third was the rather charming Jamie Harrison, who had us thinking about Gideon Conn, Johnny Flynn and fish suppers all at once. We especially loved his rendition of ‘When the Boat Comes In’ (which you’ve all heard, because a well-known fish company use it to advertise their stuff), and original song ‘The Bear’. Harrison wasn’t entirely comfortable unplugged, fiddling with an imaginary microphone stand and resorting to a ‘vanity amp’, but he wasn’t attacked by advertising standards officials, so we’re guessing he got away with it.

Liz Green (pictured), who won the Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition back in 2007, took her turn next. Her unnervingly unique voice, darkly-tinged lyrics and whimsical, eccentric performance style rubbed us up the right way entirely. Her badly behaved guitar, pen-and-paper ‘video’ and rendition of ‘Who Killed Cock Robin’ combined to make this one of the most memorable live performances FFS has seen in a long time. Oh, and she wore a robin’s head at one point. Yep – what a woman.

After all that, Cocos Lovers squeezed themselves into the cosy patch of carpet that served as a stage to bring proceedings to a searingly lovely conclusion. Reduced from their customary 8 to a conservative 5, this Deal-based band of ladies and gentlemen delivered harmonies that soared all the higher for following a procession of solo acts.

They’re a consistently healthy-looking group of young people whose friendly, assured style of performing rounded off an utterly splendid Monday evening. They’re favourites of ours, and yours, having won the 2010 FFS Schmercury Prize.

Playing a mix of beloved favourites from Johannes as well as a few rather lovely newbies, including the out-and-out depressing ‘Gin Song’ and ‘Elephant Lands’. We hear there’s a new album of the same name due on 15th July. As if there wasn’t enough excitement already.

Cocos Lovers win Schmercury Poll 2010

Lynn Roberts — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:15:50 +0000

We’re delighted to announce that the wonderful Cocos Lovers are your choice for our Schmercury Best Album Poll.

The Lovers’ debut LP Johannes was shortlisted alongside 11 other albums from the past year, and thanks to a groundswell of internet support, pipped Laura Marling’s I Speak Because I Can to top position.

Our Editor’s Picks this year are Broadcast 2000 – Broadcast 2000 and Anais Mitchell – Hadestown. All three are remarkable albums which we’d be very proud of indeed if we’d had anything to do with them. Which, sadly, we didn’t.

To celebrate the poll, we’re offering you the chance to win a plethora of B2000 goodies, kindly donated by the man himself Joe Steer.

To enter just email schmercs [at] forfolkssake.com telling us YOUR favourite album of the year.

Schmercuries: vote now for your album of the year.

Lynn Roberts — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 07:40:42 +0000

It’s the last day of voting for our Mercury spoof the Schmercury poll… Don’t miss the chance to vote for your favourite.

Schmercuries interview series: Cocos Lovers

Lynn Roberts — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 07:33:19 +0000

Cocos Lovers are nominated for our best album poll for their magnificent debut Johannes. Will Greenham from the band answered our questions.

FFS: Congratulations, you’ve been nominated for a Schmercury. How do you feel?
Will Greenham: We were surprised and very happy. There are some great bands listed and it’s good to feel that an album that was pretty much recorded and produced on a shoestring can sit along side these.

What did you think of the Mercury nominations this year?
To be honest, it is not something I’ve kept up too speed with, so wouldn’t know.

Aside from your own, what’s your favourite album on the Schmercuries list?
‘I Speak Because I Can’ by Laura Marling is brilliant

What album (released this year) have we missed off the list?
Infinite Arms – Band of Horses

What are your thoughts about the album?
We were very pleased to get it done. It was an album we needed to make, as we wanted to move on from some of the songs and also the time it represented in our lives.

Did you know it was special when you were making it?
It will always be special to us because it’s an amazing way to collect memories in the form of a song. We had some great feedback from people who really relate to it and that makes it feel even better.

Were you happy with it when it was released?
Yes and No. We recorded it mostly live, so there was no big production, hopefully it captures something, however, some of the songs I feel are better experienced live. I’m, still pleased and proud to have made the album, but it’s hard to ever to be truly happy. There is always something that can be improved. I think in 5 years I may feel truly happy with it.

What do you think about the reaction to it?
It’s been great, reviews have been positive and the sales of the album on the road have been phenomenal. It has created a great foundation for our next album.

What’s your favourite song on the album?
Either Silence of a Moonlit Sky or the secret track Johannes. These tracks create good memories.

What’s your favourite album ever?
Graceland – Paul Simon

Do you have plans for your next album?
Yes very much so. We will be entering the studio for the winter, which is very exciting. This album is likely to be a little more old school with analog and more time spent on the overall production. We have a number of new songs already and can’t wait to start recording.

You can still vote for your favourite album below, the winner will be announced on Wednesday 15th September

Brian’s Mixtape #41: Pick of the Schmercuries 2010

Lynn Roberts — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 12:22:58 +0000

This weekend we launched our Schmercury Poll – FFS’s best album award, in which we’re asking you to vote for your favourite of 12 albums released in the past year. While the FFS editors were tearing our hair out, trying to whittle down the huge pile of wonderful albums released this year to our favourite 12 being forced to discard dearly-loved works of art to get down to the requisite dozen, Brian was sitting back, tapping the armrests with the tips of his wings, and biding his time.

Then when we announced the list, he took a quick glance over it, scribbled down 12 tracks with an air of nonchalance that was frankly a little irritating to the frazzled of nerve, and handed over this list with a wryly arched eyebrow.

As much as we hate to admit it, Brian is right to be smug. We think this might be his best playlist ever. The swine.

Listen on Spotify: Brian’s Mixtape #41: Pick of the Schmercuries 2010

Caitlin Rose – For The Rabbits
Field Music – Them That Do Nothing
Laura Marling – Goodbye England (Covered In Snow)
Noah And The Whale – Love Of An Orchestra
Broadcast 2000 – Your Own Worst Enemy
Peggy Sue – Watchman
Midlake – Acts Of Man
Anais Mitchell – Way Down Hadestown
Cocos Lovers – Time To Stand
Mountain Man – Dog Song
Sea Of Bees – Wizbot
Local Natives – World News

Spotify is now freeeee. You can download it here for access to tons and tons of music. As the name suggests Brian has put together rather more playlists than just this, with themes to suit your every mood. Pop over to our mixtapes section to discover them all.

For Folk's Sake » Cocos Lovers

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