The images conjured up at the mention of the Green Man festival have, sadly, not quite matched the reality in the last couple of years. Where young children should have been gaily running amok in the secret garden, instead they’ve been whining about the mud. And when you’ve been dying to just stretch out on the grass and let the music wash over you, all that washed over you was the rain.
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Single: Noah and the Whale – Blue Skies
It’s hard to isolate “Blue Skies” from its album, “The First Days of Spring”, but seeing as it makes such a beautiful single, it’s worth a shot.
Noah and the Whale (namely Charlie Fink) have evolved massively as songwriters since last year. This is something “Blue Skies” optimises perfectly. The track builds up an air of expectant hope, not only in the lyrics (‘Blue Skies are coming/But I know that it’s hard’) but also in the opening bars of music that peak into a soaring chorus and then ebb back into place.
Album: Andy Nice – The Secrets of Me
Andy Nice has played cello with screaming gothic pervs Cradle of Filth and bald techno ravers Orbital, and is currently in string + dance combo Instrumental. He also has a name more suited to a particularly over familiar used car salesman.
Ignoring the fact he’s currently touring with deep-voiced chamber-pop stars Tindersticks and the embroidered patch on the front of the cd, you’d be forgiven for thinking there’s not much here for the good people of FFS. But press play and an entirely different sound to that expected issues forth – arresting, emotional, complex yet melodic cello music. And it really is cello music, pretty much just that instrument, with songs formed from layer after layer of rich string sound.
EP: Tigers that Talked – Black Heart, Blue Eyes
Tiger’s That Talked — Their name sounds mythical and enigmatic which I think perfectly describes this band’s sound. The four-piece from Leeds has, to date, released a few home-made EP’s and have recently released their first album, 23 Fears on record label Bad Sneakers. This EP, Black Heart, Blue eyes is almost a taster for fans and new listeners alike to understand their music.
EP: Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson – The Daytrotter EP
This EP was always going to be a winner with me- I’m a sucker for any gravely voiced bluesy man with a guitar. Especially when he sounds like Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam (swoon). This 25 year old singer/songwriter from Brooklyn is singing the blues with genuine reason. His past is peppered with regrets including becoming an addict and sleeping on benches in Coney Island. Every tortured artist needs a sob story, but it’s nice when you hear that turn into a genuine sound with relatable lyrics.
EP: Thom Stone – Hearts and Bones
Thom Stone is a scruffy haired English singer/songwriter who sings slow burning, acoustic folk-like music. His voice is unique and — on new EP Hearts and Bones — often accompanied by a haunting humming. Now without his backing band, this new offering is raw, acoustic and impressive.
Best Of: Daniel Johnston – Welcome to my World
Being a fan of Daniel Johnston can sometimes be both an enjoyable yet uncomfortable experience. On the one hand there is his honest, childish yet emotional pop music with clever lyrics dealing with love, life and everything in between but on the other there is the knowledge that you’re listening to someone struggling with a severe mental illness and can beg the question ‘am I a voyeur into a world that I can never understand and is it okay to be here and enjoy it?’
Album: The Dodos – Time to Die
There are some astounding duo acts out there, and The Dodos’ 2008 album Visiter easily set them apart from the rest. This year’s Time To Die does not disappoint and sees the duo become a trio, introducing vibraphonist Keaton Snyder into the mix with exciting consequences.
Album: Dust Poets – World At Large
Murray Evans really needs a redneck drawl, a proper Bible-belt country style voice, because it would really fit a lot of the songs on World At Large. Having the voice would definitely do something for the album, which otherwise is a little lacking. Evans puts on a fairly good redneck impression on the track ‘Codeine Dreams’ and it improves (perhaps that’s not the word I want – affirms?) it greatly.
Album: The Cave Singers – Welcome Joy
There is something rather comforting to this album, an almost homely feel to the slightly country influenced brand of folk that The Cave Singers create. Perhaps it’s the acoustic simplicity that gives this air of unassuming naïvety to the album, or perhaps it’s the hint of a croak in lead singer Pete Quirk’s voice; either way the music is trustworthy.