There is something undeniably magical about the banjo. The way it gleams
when the light catches it, that slightly metallic, twangy sound it produces.
If you’re a fan of the instrument, then you’ll likely enjoy this
under-stated album, which never really goes anywhere special, but maybe
that’s the point.
Category: Reviews
Single: Slow Club – Trophy Room
Slow Club are amazing. Twin boy/girl vocals with sweet natured tones, their quirky British folk has made them one of the most exciting bands to emerge in recent years. Trophy Room, a standout song from debut Yeah So and the newest single is a beautiful example of why Slow Club deserve all the ravings they’re receiving.
EP: The Spinto Band – Slim & Slender
The new EP by The Spinto Band, Slim & Slender, is like a pack of wine gums, full of variety and flavour, and offering that one track that is more special than others, like the black gum people look eagerly for. In this case, ‘Jackhammer’ stands out over the others. It is the teaser of the pack, the happy-go-lucky tune that sends you swaying from side to side, with guitars on pinching mode and harmonies of vocals sliding downwards like cascades. It is a supreme melody, short and sweet, which makes you turn it on again like you would pop another wine gum into your mouth.
Live: Laura Marling @ St Pancras Old Church, 23rd Nov
Laura Marling walked on stage unnoticed at St Pancras Old Church on Monday night. There was a hush of silence as the crowd spotted an unfamiliar figure reaching out for the guitar and walking towards centre stage. Something wasn’t quite right.
“I have some explaining to do,” she said, leaning into the mic and waving her hand over her head. “About the colour of my hair,” she added and we all let out an awkward laugh. Laura Marling and her distinguished white/blonde hair were gone and instead a sophisticated brunette stood in her place.
Live: Andrew Davie of Cherbourg at Hoxton Bar and Grill
Davie’s headline slot at Hoxton Bar and Grill on Monday was a transition between Cherbourg and his new solo career. The six Cherbourg tracks he performed were in their original arrangements, which perhaps suggests that he doesn’t plan to take them any further.
Album: Wild Honey – Epic Handshakes and a Bear Hug
Spanish charmadillos Wild Honey have produced a truly beautiful album: fantastical melodies and schoolroom instruments accompany gentle, nostalgic storytelling that somewhat resembles the best bits of Belle and Sebastian.
Album: Wye Oak – The Knot
Every so often an album comes out of nowhere and absolutely blows your mind in such a way that you wonder how you even survived without it. Instantly you get a connection with it and it rings so true that you wonder if this band was made entirely for you. And according to Wikipedia- as if to make them even more impressive- Andy Stack plays drums and the bass lines at the same time at gigs. Again, this is Wikipedia… but if true, wow.
Live: Monsters of Folk @ Troxy, London
An evening spent with Monsters of Folk, a merry band of musical brothers I have admired for what feels like most of my musical existence: there was no way this wasn’t going to be good.
Live: Daniel Johnston, Laura Marling, The Wave Pictures @ Union Chapel, London
We arrived at Union Chapel to catch the end of The Wave Pictures’ earlier-than-advertised slot. The Leicestershire band delivered an assured performance, and have certainly come along way since FFS last saw them at End of the Road 2008. When they close with the brilliant Strange Fruit For David, we see why The Wave Pictures are so well-loved by established alt-folkers like Jeffrey Lewis and Darren Hayman, with whom they’ve appeared on stage.
Live: Willy Mason and Friends — St Giles in the Fields Church
From the importance of the local folk community inhabited by both he and his parents, to his preference for playing concerts in fans’ living rooms rather than ‘proper’ venues, Willy Mason is a man who understands the power music has to bring people together and share something special between them. Stood in front of the altar of St Giles church – a disconcertingly peaceful spot in the heart of bustling, grimy Soho – he allowed the congregation into his world as he stood alongside numerous fellow musicians for an inclusive night of shared sounds.