Today marks the release of The Innocence Mission’s new album Midwinter Swimmers via Bella Union, their first studio album in four years. Watch the new video for ‘Your Saturday Picture’, illustrated and animated by Karen Peris.
The Unthanks In Winter is a rare offering that evokes the vast emotions of the cold winter months. It is a massive statement, a project that has taken around fifteen years to evolve, it has been well worth the wait.
With ‘Music for Space Age Shopping’, David A. Jaycock has achieved something quietly spectacular: an album rooted in highly specific locales and timeframes which nonetheless allows you to drift into nostalgia or to imagine better possible futures.
With ‘In the Shadow of John The Divine’, Chris Cleverley puts his personal spin on the usual festive fare that blends joy and wistfulness in the seasonal cocktail of often contradictory emotions, love and grief. Definitely one for your Christmas stocking.
The closing instrumental on Adam Finchler’s ‘The Room’ somehow manages to sound like Arthur Russell in a cocktail shaker. It puts a truly weird seal on what is already one of the most unusual, distinctive and delightful albums of the year.
The music on Aboubakar Traoré and Balima’s Sababu transcends time and geographical borders, creating an album of hope, pride, and optimism. Above all, it is an album of celebration.
Watch the video for Dean Owens’ ‘Spirit Of Us’, a boldly romantic ballad that captures the warmth of the festive season. It’s also the lead track from the final volume in The Ridge Trilogy EPs (Sacri Cuori), released this Friday, November 29th.
A Syrian American guitarist and teacher based in Chicago, Rami Atassi’s ‘New & Ancient Christmas Music’ is a radiant and rhythmic set that also reminds us that global connections endure in the message of goodwill.
Meet Echolalia, a band made up of friends Spencer Cullum, Andrew Combs, Jordan Lehning, and Dominic Billett. Their debut single, ‘Odd Energy’, sounds like they may have collectively tapped into an ancient leyline in old England; the psychedelic vibes on this are outstanding.
“Quiet Light” is the latest release from the Bristol-based folk trio Hands of the Heron. The ensemble’s profound sense of tranquillity and aesthetic allure provide a soothing balm for the contemporary world.
With Paper Tigers, the fourth teaming of Boo Hewerdine and Brooks Williams as State of the Union, the creative spark shows no signs of diminishing – an unfussy vintage-sounding album played with simple, consummate ease by two outstanding artists.
Such a perfectly realised amalgamation of concept, melody and landscape is vanishingly rare, but on Cloud Walking, Alice Boyd achieves it with an easy grace.
