Hotly tipped in the local press, it was no surprise to see a packed Bush Hall for Stealing Sheep’s first big headline gig in London this year. A couple of dates with Alt-J earlier in the autumn can only have…
Author: For Folk's Sake
Album | Straw Bear – Black Bank
I thought the banks were skint? This one seems to be full to bursting, with a remarkable range of ideas and styles filtered through layers of Fenland folk oddity. Generally speaking the tone is gentle folk-pop, not dissimilar to The…
Singles Round-up | Terry Emm, The Beatrix Players, The Lumineers & The Lake Poets
Terry Emm – Gently How have we not previously heard of Terry Emm? This Christmas single follows on from two albums – both of which are consistently as gorgeous as ‘Gently’. Not since Spandau Ballet’s ‘Gold’ has a song’s title…
EP | Hot Feet – Wood House
Let’s talk Hejira. Let’s talk Joni Mitchell’s eighth studio album. All big imagery, curiously picked guitars and Joni’s distinctive voice fluttering about like a pleasantly drunk moth. Hejira is the musician’s favourite Mitchell album and an obvious influence behind Laura…
Album | Daniel Pearson – Mercury State
Daniel Pearson’s second album finds the Hull singer-songwriter immersed in the parlous state of the nation’s economy and its effects on his nearest and dearest. Annoyed that the subject was not being confronted by musicians – “I suppose that’s the…
Album | Julia Holter – Ekstasis
Ekstasis is a shape-shifting album, reminding me of Grimes, Little Dragon, Laurie Anderson, Sigur Ros, Emilie Simon and Miles Davis by turns, blended into chorally-minded, near-orchestral compositions that defy any simple explanation. ‘This Is Ekstasis’ is a true soundscape, evoking…
Interview | The inexplicable music of Matt Corby
Matt Corby arrives in the bar of busy east London pub/venue The Cornershop having completed the sound check in the basement for tonight’s special, one-off, acoustic show. The preparations have taken an hour longer than expected, and the 22-year-old Australian is clearly…
EP | Seth Lakeman – Live With The BBC Concert Orchestra
As a general rule of thumb, adding an orchestra to something makes it vastly different. Examples of things that would be made wildly more interesting by the addition of an orchestra include train stations, casual conversation and bathtime. The opposing…
Live | Gabrielle Aplin @ Scala, London
Gabrielle Aplin, currently best known for soundtracking a snowman love story on the John Lewis Christmas advert, lit up the stage at the Scala with an impressive live show. Read Paul Woods’ review of Gabrielle Aplin live at the Scala on 22/11/2012 on For Folk’s Sake.
Album | Maia – Pepper Stars
“As the alien living amongst you, I’m glad to see we can finally live in peace,” coos Maia’s lead singer Tom Clegg on the opening track of ‘Pepper Stars’, in a vocal style similar to what one images an extra-terrestrial’s…