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.
Herman Dune book UK December dates
Herman Dune have announced they are to return to the UK for six live dates in December.
Jay Jay Pistolet records Black Cab Session
West London retro-folkster Jay Jay Pistolet has recorded a track for Black Cab Sessions.
Album Review: Insects and Apples by Lyla Foy
Insects and Apples sits firmly on the pop side of folk-pop and nods, constantly and rather emphatically, at Kate Nash throughout its 11 tracks. It’s a fantastically varied album – Foy’s style takes in music boxes, harmonicas and the crack of biting an apple in its instrumental repertoire, occasionally creeping over to the wrong side of perky. The opening track, ‘Fly on the Wall’, is screaming out to be a sitcom theme tune and ts Kafka-gone-wrong chorus, in which she sings about being a frustrated fly/bee, is so insanely catchy it’s actually quite frightening, particularly when combined with the insane circus-act refrain. Coulrophobics beware.