From 4-track to Abbey Road studio 2, recording is a process any band has to go through. From my personal perspective as a Dufflefolk, it is of highs and lows. It confirms all your worst fears about a song through its magnifying glass but also appeals to the inner geek, which resides in most musicians. The process can be long or short depending if attempting the Magnus opus of Ok Computer or the instant energy of The Clash first album. Both I feel to be good.
Author: Lynn Roberts
Lynn founded For Folk's Sake in 2008. Her favourite artists are Joni Mitchell, The Leisure Society and The Mountain Goats. She plays keyboards in Joe Innes & the Cavalcade.
Album: Micah P. Hinson – All Dressed Up and Smelling of Strangers
The urge to do a covers album for most artists must seem like a pretty strong one. You have the chance to play and record your favourite songs from decades of recorded material. You can broaden your musical horizons without drawing too many questions about your decisions from pesky journalists trying to dissect your inspiration, and you can satisfy your ravenous record label with a brand spanking new CD without the years of mental torment.
Album: Kings of Convenience — Declaration of Dependence
If, like me, you’re a massive fan of anything folky and Norwegian then you too will be pleased to hear that indie faves Kings of Convenience are back with a new album. Declaration of Dependence is the duos third album and there’s been a five year gap since their last material, ‘Riot on an Empty Street’. So was it worth the wait?
Video: Lisa Mitchell – Coin Laundry (featuring Johnny Flynn)
Coin Laundry is Lisa’s second single from her forthcoming album Wonder. Some people will listen to this song and instantly love it – others may go hmmm, I don’t get it. Well, if you didn’t like this song the first time…
FFS interview: Mechanical Bride
FFS caught an under-the-weather Mechanical Bride before her appearance at Peggy Sue’s sold out headline show at the ICA on Friday in the scarce minutes between her soundcheck and stage call.
Cherbourg split as frontman Andrew Davie goes solo
Cherbourg’s ex-frontman Andrew Davie has told FFS that the band “is no more”. Davie said it became obvious that the four members — himself, Chris Maas, Kev Jones and Phil Fiddle — found that they wanted different things from the band. He said: “I can’t see us as a four playing together again… At the beginning there was a vision and a shared idea but it lost it’s direction.”
Album: Ruby Throat – The Ventriloquist
Ruby Throat is a collaboration between KatieJane Garside (of QueenAdreena) and Chris Whittingham (whom KatieJane spotted busking on the underground, apparently). Over the course of a year and a half they recorded this album which was released in 2007. Why review it now? Because they only released 400 copies in 2007 and now you can get your grubby paws on it, after a general online release.
Single Review – Tigers that Talked – Artificial clouds
Tigers that Talked are brilliant. Their sound has been compared to the likes of Arcade Fire and Ryan Adams but their sound is much more progressive and sincere. They are based in Leeds consisting of singer/guitarist Jamie Williams, violinist Glenna Larsen, bassist Owain Kelly and drummer Chris Verney. The new single Artificial Clouds is the best so far from their debut album The Merchant. That says a lot as 23 Fears and Black Heart, Blue Eyes are both mesmerising slices of music.
Album: Cymbals Eat Guitars — Why There Are Mountains
Cymbals Eat Guitars. Now, this Brooklyn quartet may have a bizarre name, but on much of their LP, the cymbals (and percussion) do eat the guitars! At the very least they match up to them, filling their songs with incredible energy, integral to the many tempo changes which jaggedly divide the tracks. Speaking of energy, Joseph D’Agostino’s vocals burst onto Why There Are Mountains with raw fieriness, but later on in the album we are witness to a more relaxed and honest twang, on ‘Cold Spring’, ‘Share’ and ‘What Dogs See’.
The Allotment #2 this Wednesday: Alessi’s Ark, Dufflefolks, Momeraths…
Hot off the heels of an immense success in October, The Allotment is back this Wednesday for a second installment. Lynn FFS and Anika of in London fame have gathered together a gaggle of happily talented musicians, one of the best cake bakers in the land, and bacon on coathangers (!? – that Anika’s a kooky character).