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 Review: Jim White – Transnormal Skiperoo

The most remarkable thing about Transnormal Skiperoo is the conspicuous near-absence of death. No murder, no serial murders, no renegade killer preachermen, no suitcases of love letters floating forlornly down muddy rivers. And except for one song, there is little heed paid to death’s corollaries – unmendable heartbreak, despair, wounds that never heal.

Album Review: Blitzen Trapper – Furr

On first listen, the most striking thing about Furr’s songs is that you’ve heard them all before. ‘Sleepy Time in the Western World’ is pure Lennon; ‘War on Machines’ has obviously attended the Mick Jagger school of struts and wiggles; and the title track is the most uncanny Dylan impression you’re likely to hear (if Dylan wrote lyrics about, um, turning into a dog and back.)

Live review: Laura Marling supported by Jay Jay Pistolet @ The Scala, London

Arriving half way through Pete’s Roe’s set at the already incredibly crowded Scala on Tuesday, the excitement in the air was palpable. This was The Night Terror Tour’s homecoming and, after a brief trip around the UK and a longer one around the US with Mumford and Sons and Johnny Flynn, Laura Marling was back where it all began.

Album Review: The Old Terminal by The Research

Wakefield based The Research haven’t had it easy. ‘Unpleasantness’ with former label EMI cut short what was a promising escalation into widespread acclaim, and the three-piece on their Myspace page largely attribute their relative silence throughout 2007 to ‘politics’. So it was back to square one for the band, who now find themselves in the unenviable position of jostling for space in the wings of the indie stage, alongside a wealth of other, similarly promising, acts.

Album Review: The Stand Ins by Okkervil River

The Stand Ins is Okkervil River’s fifth album, a sister album to 2007’s The Stage Names. A week of relentless listening later, I’m struggling to describe it – possibly because I’m writing this as someone who has spent much of the last year listening to music that slips into easily definable genres. The Stand Ins has floored me slightly. If you’re a devoted Okkervil River fan, then you probably needn’t read this review, because you’ll have opinions enough of your own, but if you’re less familiar with their music, then read on.

EP Review: The Horse by Alessi’s Ark

One word that comes to mind when listening to Alessi’s Ark’s debut EP is ‘magical’. The Horse is four tracks of pure loveliness; perfect to brighten up these dreary winter days, her childlike vocal is reminiscent of early Joanna Newsom, but possesses an unusually haunting quality of its own.