Creating one of the densest openings a song has ever had, The New Pornographers take ‘Really, Really Light’ from Continue as a Guest and rather than sounding soft and reflective they almost sound like Electric Light Orchestra. Everything jangles and…
“My God it’s good to see you/ Right here in the flesh.” With that Celebrants takes a look at what has gone on in the nine years since Nickel Creek released their last LP. Times and people change. Examining that…
Inspiration can come from anywhere. In the case of Almost A Sunset by Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman it seems to come from everywhere. Gargoyles, Robin Hood, tight rope walkers, even lions in revolt are spun into gold by the…
Life works in mysterious ways, Iris DeMent nearly gave up on the songs from Workin’ On A World, the album that had its genesis after America’s 2016 presidential anomaly. By 2020 the recordings helmed by Richard Bennet and Jim Rooney…
The Unthanks have always taken risks, how else can you explain covering King Crimson’s ‘Starless’? Yet when Rachel Unthank joined with Maximo Park’s Paul Smith as Unthank : Smith on Nowhere and Everywhere, no one really knew what to expect.…
Mark Erelli could have made a record of resignation, instead Lay Your Darkness Down is a record of empowerment. We live in a light that is ever waning. The landscapes get more shadowed, yet it has its own structure, nuance…
H.C. McEntire is one of the most compelling artists working today. From her rural North Carolina home, she has found a way to craft an album that celebrates Every Acre of this setting, while creating music and poetry brimming with…
It’s a week before Christmas in Western Massachusetts and Mark Erelli is driving to the dog park. His new album, Lay Your Darkness Down, is filled with songs that urgently address his personal will to move forward. The album comes out…
You need to have a good fix on who you are and where you are going to name your band after the roommate who hates your music, but The Trials of Cato tend to be quite fearless. Their second long…
The seasonal tunes that Mediaeval Baebes have uncovered for their newest collection MydWynter are not necessarily the seasonal songs we remember from our youth. Their focus is on a much darker reminder of the pre-Christian origins surrounding the winter solstice. Track after…