A scoundrel of the mundane, Mr. Alec Bowman describes himself in the sleeve notes to this album. He goes on to dedicate it to his grandparents and to those who are struggling to stay alive, amongst others. The album itself,…
“The world’s falling apart – it’s like the apocalypse” spits the accompanying press release to Lucinda Williams’ latest record Good Souls, Better Angels. It sounds like something that could’ve been written about these strange times we’re living through, but it…
Ron Sexsmith is a name that needs no introduction to anyone reading these pages. The songwriters’ songwriter proves that that’s an accolade much deserved on Hermitage, his 17th studio album. We are greeted by birds chirping and playful and plaintive piano on…
Entering EartH (Evolutionary Arts Hackney) for the first time, I was almost overwhelmed by its beauty. Its simple and stripped bare architecture. Its sloped wooden seating reminding me of a US school gymnasium hall. A slogan draped across the front…
Sam Lee is a man who needs no introduction to anyone reading these pages. This is his fourth solo record and deserves as much recognition as his Mercury Award debut effort, Ground of its Own. This song hunter extraordinaire has…
An admission to begin with: As someone who has only dipped in and out of James Yorkston’s music over the years (despite being impressed by everything I’ve heard) this collaboration had totally passed me by until this moment. Navarasa: Nine…
If ever an album was tailor-made for a road trip (and this road trip has to have the words ‘great’ and ‘American’ in its description), it’s Fruit Bat’s latest record, Gold Past Life. Eric D. Johnson – the project’s singer/songwriter –…
This year sees the 30th anniversary of the Divine Comedy’s formation, Neil Hannon’s chamber pop ensemble with a revolving door policy on members. Twenty years on from the end of their greatest commercial successes, Office Politics is their twelfth studio…
J.J. Cale should hopefully need no introduction to For Folk’s Sake readers. The legendary Oklahoman musician and songwriter, who died almost 6 years ago, has had songs covered by many artists including Johnny Cash, Beck and, most famously, Eric Clapton.…
Lines, a trilogy of song cycles from the Unthanks inspired by poetry and focusing on three female perspectives over time – World War One poets, Emily Bronte and Hull fishing worker Lillian Bilocca – is a staggering meeting of music…