Melanie McGovern
These three girls may appear the female counterpart to Robin Pecknold and Co. with their Appalachian revivalist vocals and hauntingly authentic folk, but there is something much stronger behind their whisperings. Mountain Man is comprised of Molly Erin Sarle, Alexandra Sauser-Monnig and Amelia Randall Meath who, having met at Bennington College, Vermont, began a transformation into the sound that they describe as “a creature growing from [their] mouths”. Upon hearing Molly playing what was later to become “Dog …
Canadian three-piece Plants and Animals indeed prove themselves to be chameleons of sorts in their ability to cross genres with little to no flicker of discomfort or hesitation. Melding post-punk, psychedelia, folk, and classic 70s rock; their compositions are as adaptable in style as the chameleon to his surroundings – and are commanded with a complete sense of authenticity. While their live shows are hailed across the small board of almost cult-status followers with …
Scottish/English folk band Lau started out back in 2004 in Edinburgh, and have since become one of Britain’s most highly acclaimed young folk bands: a status assuredly justified with their ‘Best Group’ winnings at the BBC Radio Two Folk Awards for three years running. Their 90-minute set at Cargo was met with whoops and howls of friends and family, old fans and new listeners instantly captivated by intricate jigs and …
Swedish sisters First Aid Kit’s “Happy 10th Birthday Wichita” show at The Garage proved the pair, still under 20 years old, to be growing masters of the narrative driven story songs they grew up listening to. We caught up with Klara and Johanna Söderberg before their show for a brief chat about Swedish folk music, their influences and plans to expand their line up:
The Communion Collaborations sprung out of a desire to continue on with the Communion franchise of home grown, generally London based, musicians. The night which began at the Notting Hill Arts Club in 2006 has been hugely successful in acting as a springboard for local musicians; catapulting the likes of Mumford & Sons and Laura Marling to fame.
It’s a very rare occurrence to stumble upon an artist whom you find to be both refreshing yet somehow like an old friend, in the stories they share and the emotions they stir up. Watching Rhode Island’s Brendan Glasson play under the moniker Vio/Miré on Wednesday night; supporting David Thomas Broughton; was just one of those occasions.
London based singer songwriter David Thomas Broughton is a rare breed of artist whose flaws are charmingly kept intact thanks to healthy doses of spontaneity whether in the recording studio where he often lays down a track in one take, or on the stage which he too treats as a playground of sound, looping what noises he can from his throat, guitar and an amalgamation of objects stuffed into a …
Devendra Banhart may have cut his luscious locks but he is still the same, folky, psychedelic, Jim Morrison channelling, animal loving hippy he ever was. One member of a modern incarnation of the Laurel Canyon set, which today includes Vashti Bunyan, Vetiver and Joanna Newsom to name but a few, Banhart’s distinguishable hirsute 1970’s throwback look was the only thing lacking at a jam-packed Koko on Sunday night. Everything else: …
Seattle’s churning out some pretty decent musicians of late and delightful Bella Union are adding artist after great artist to their roster by the bucket load so Pearly Gate Music proves a perfect union between the label and the city of the moment. The moniker of Zach Tillman, younger brother of Josh; the Fleet Foxes drummer and acclaimed solo artist, released his impressive self titled debut earlier this year on …
UK record label Bella Union, now in their 13th year are one of the most recognised independent labels going, not least for their discovery of Fleet Foxes which earned the label its first Platinum record, but also for their impeccable roster of artists ranging from the highly acclaimed Andrew Bird and Explosions in the Sky, to the lesser known likes of their new recruits exposed at their Evening at Union …
Never judge a book by its cover…or a record for that matter. However I love the pleasant surprise that often comes in doing just that. That was how I came to stumble upon Vadoinmessico, a five-piece based in London with members hailing from Mexico, Italy and Austria. They met at music college in the city in 2006 and it’s no wonder the summertime drizzle and grey skies made them yearn …