End Of The Road festival returned in its fourth year with more magic and sparkle than ever before. All of the old favourites were there, including the secret disco, hidden piano lounge and of course the free-roaming people-loving peacocks.
Category: Reviews
EP: Withered Hand – You’re Not Alone
Withered Hand’s gnarly name reflects his sound perfectly – warts and all folk music that’s more world-weary than we will ever be.
Album: Lisa Hannigan – Sea Sew
She may have lost the Mercury Prize to a Sarf Landener who don’t get emotional but perhaps quite ironically Lisa Hannigan has created a debut solo album that is ethereally soft and floaty and packed to the rafters with the stuff.
Single: Mumford and Sons – Little Lion Man
Fans of Mumford and Sons have waited a painfully long time for their debut album, Sigh No More, which is finally due for release on 5th October. One week before, the waistcoat-sporting gents will release the single “Little Lion Man”. We can all breathe a collective sigh of musical relief.
Single: Fanfarlo – The Walls are Coming Down
Fanfarlo’s newest single, from the magnificent album Reservoir, might have something rather pertinent to say to our suited and booted friends in the city:
“They swallowed it whole, they went for the gold, for the gold / We fall for the same lies we all have the same shoes to fit / The preachers and books of your empire will fight here alone / Some day the will be forgotten and die one by one”
Album: Múm – Sing Along to Songs You Don’t Know
There must be a name for the act of singing along to songs you don’t know. It’s the sort of silly thing that academics deem worthy of giving a name to. The sort of thing they report on in the ‘And Finally…’ section on Sky News. Maybe if there isn’t a name for it we should give it one now. And maybe, if we’re to do that, we should call it ‘múmming’ in honour of the new album by Múm.
Album: Roy Rieck and the Medley Band – Never Trust the Holy Gracious Medley Band
Roy Rieck became a blues/folk singer in the most perfect way. Whilst serving in the military he picked up a harmonica and gave it a little play. Through this he discovered a love for this kind of music and set off for Mississippi in search of his formal folk education. After this Roy headed back to his homeland of Israel and met up with some childhood friends in similar musical boats. These friends became the Medley band and together they made beautiful music for the world to fall for.
Single: Lofty Heights – Eye Contact
Lofty Heights, Greg Griffin to his parents, is about to carve a nice little path out for himself and his debut single, ‘Eye Contact’ is about to set him on his cheery way. The California-born Londoner brings ukeleles, steel guitars, double bass and rickety drums together in a way that instantly tickles a smile.
Album: Noah and the Whale – The First Days of Spring
If Noah and the Whale’s debut album Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down was a summer fling, then their second offering The First Days of Spring is all the heartache and introspection that comes with the demise of your first true love.
Album: Mumford and Sons – Sigh No More
Wait no more – possibly the album you have all been anticipating more
than any other this year is finally here – hurray! Sigh No More is
the much-hyped debut album from the folk force charging its way in to
ears and hearts all over the country – Mumford and Sons. 12 tracks of
classic Mumford tunes – think your dad’s old folk records meets Welsh
men’s choir for hilly billy hoe down in a pub in Ireland on a rainy
evening. [Breath!]