Malcolm Middleton, once half of Arab Strap along with Aiden Moffat, denies being a grump, but his website is adorned with wee unhappy faces and he wants to start a miserabilist girl band in which “a bunch of young lookers with great voices sing all the black shit that comes out of me during my worst depression”. Sounds pretty good actually… here he answers our “above average bunch of questions”.
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.
For Folk’s Sake Interview: The Dø
Jo Legg conducts a friendly interrogation of super busy genre-hoppers The Dø. This duo make fantastic pop songs, and here FFS finds out exactly how they do it.
Album Review: Malcolm Middleton – Waxing Gibbous
It’s fair to say that a new release by Malcolm Middleton who is no longer just known as one half of the defunct Arab Strap, but as an established solo artist in his own right, is quite an anticipated occasion.
Album Review: Headwater – Lay You Down
Alright, hands up; who amongst us drizzle soaked, mass marketed, 9-5 Brits have the image of country music firmly imbedded in chequered shirts, straw hay bails, and cowboy hats on everybody? I thought as much, and I too once followed this belief which was brought about by mocked images of seventies country musicians interspersed on TV programmes poking fun at the image, rather than talk about the music. But no more, I’ve fought for my education, and now let me help you destroy the image of a Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks, by introducing to you Headwater.
Album Review: Lady Of The Sunshine – Smoking Gun
There are times when trivial things begin to get on top of you, and you wonder how you came to be at this junction in your life. You daydream about taking a road trip on a summers’ day, along the coast and through hazy meadows, tranquil blue skylines and accompanied by blurred visions of friends laughing.When your epiphany seizures into your new reality, Smoking Gun will be the soundtrack to your life, enrapturing you into a blissful state of being.
EP Review: A Murder of Rooks – Never Came He
The debut EP from A Murder of Rooks features pared down versions of four traditional songs. Simplicity and restraint is the key and sparse musical arrangements and unadorned vocals from Isobel Morris breath life into tales of unlucky thieves, transsexual sailors and grieving widows.
For Folk’s Sake Interview: Cara Dillon
Celtic darling Cara Dillon was barely out of her teens when she was invited to replace Kate Rusby in the Warner-backed folk supergroup Equation. Cara didn’t stay long with the group, preferring to breakaway with fellow band member Sam Lakeman whom she married and has recorded with ever since. After three albums on Rough Trade, Cara’s latest album Hill of Thieves was recorded at home, produced by Sam and put out on their own label. It finds the couple returned to their folk roots with simple acoustic versions of traditional songs. Cara talked to FFS about breaking free from major record labels and the challenges of touring while being a mum, but only after she had put the twins to bed.
Album Review: Lau – Arc Light
There must be a huge amount of pressure that comes with being the Radio 2 Folk Awards ‘Best Group’ of the year for two years running, especially when the latest award comes months before the release of your second album of original material.
Album Review: Akron/Family – Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free
The new Akron/Family album comes at an important crossroad for the band. Having lost an original member soon after the completion of their last record, question marks arose over whether they could maintain the quality and flair shown on their previous three albums.
Single Review: Eugene McGuinness – Wendy Wonders
This is the third single to be lifted from Liverpool boy wonder Eugene
McGuinness’ self-titled debut album from 2008, and easily the best. For
those who have some catching up to do, it starts off gently enough with some
simple strumming and that distinctive voice, which reminds of Ray Davies or
even John Lennon. The song swells up sweetly like a love-bite before the
surprising conclusion: “I’m a fucked up little sub-zero psycho, I know.”