Mary Lorson and the Soubrettes’ BurnBabyBurn constitutes a balancing act between its gentle, spacious, and warm sounds and its stark, honest lyrics. This balance is even obliquely referenced in the lyrics of ‘Only One Number Two’. “You walk the roof…
Author: For Folk's Sake
Album | The Rosie Taylor Project – Twin Beds
From the offset, Twin Beds lulls you into a false sense of security. Chirruping percussion contrasts to a swirling and dreamy rhythm on opener ‘Twin Beds (one)’, before ‘For Esme’ opens with a blast of trumpet, giving birth to a…
Album | Friend of All The World – The Wild
There’s an underwhelming description of the Friend Of All The World on their website which suggests the Montreal band don’t fully understand their own strengths. As statements of intent go, “tunes that evoke the camaraderie of a kitchen party” hardly…
Album | Sharon Van Etten – Tramp
Much like St. Vincent prior to the release of her 2011 album Strange Mercy, Sharon Van Etten’s music has seemed to linger on the periphery of reaching a deservedly larger audience. This is despite her two previous albums, 2009’s Because…
Singles | Beth Jeans Houghton, The Cornshed Sisters, Allo’ Darlin and Lucy Rose
Beth Jeans Houghton & The Hooves of Destiny – ‘Sweet Tooth Bird’ So I remember in primary school hearing a story about a father who challenged his daughters to fill a room with something to prove they loved him, which…
Album | Beth Jeans Houghton & The Hooves of Destiny – Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose
It’s been nearly three years since Beth Jeans Houghton burst my iPods with her jaunty, melodic folk pop EP Hot Toast Volume 1, and three years on I’m still listening to it, even though dreams of Volume Two long since…
Album | Foxes! – Foxes!
There’s something glorious about indie-pop. I dunno. Possibly it’s the images of chunky, patterned, jumpers that it conjures. The thought of skinny jean clad, Morrissey quiff sporting, men throwing flowers in the air and catching tears in their eyes. Perhaps…
Album | Django Django – Django Django
Django Django opens like a tribal video game, revs up to the happy dancing of ‘Hail Bop’ then launches into the near-irresistible beat of ‘Default’. It’s a great start and reminds me heavily of The Beta Band, but this is…
Album | Diagrams – Black Light
This slice of quirky loveliness comes from former Tunng frontman, Sam Genders, plus a host of supporting musicians that reads like a roll call of up and coming folk artists. These include Hannah Peel on backing vocals and trombone, Danyal…
Album | Kathleen Edwards – Voyageur
The glittering cast list attached to Kathleen Edwards’ new record promises a huge amount. Produced by her sometime spouse and fellow Wisconsin dweller Justin Vernon and featuring guest appearances from the likes of Stornoway, Norah Jones and Francis Farewell Starlite,…