Honest, in-depth album reviews by KLOF Mag – championing and curating intelligent, uncompromising voices in contemporary and experimental music since 2004.
Albums
The songs on Revolutionary love are the fruits of a long and soulful career. DiFranco’s skill at the helm here, sounding almost natural while simultaneously being very experimental on her 20th studio album. Reap the good listens.
Justin Rutledge’s softer Americana/alt folk ambience effortlessly combines his clear, warm and tender voice with an eloquent, poetic lyric-writing strength. One for fans and an excellent primer for newcomers.
Ryan Dugré has created a work that suggests complexity, based not on the number of notes so much as the feelings behind those notes. A wonder exists within the wood and steel.
Recorded at home in isolation, ‘Grounded’ finds John Blek seeking to find a sense of balance and purpose amid the surrounding uncertainty. While experimenting with different compositional techniques it also cuts straight to the heart.
Described as a way to make sense of what it means to be human, connect, embrace change, and face another day…Valley Maker reminds us that the night is not endless.
Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne’s vocals and box-playing delve deep into the songs and tunes with an alarming virtuosity. For all those who don’t yet revere the squeezebox in all its glorious forms, this might well make a few converts.
Bill Stone wrote songs that played out like dreamy meditations. The delivery is soft-focused and hushed, Lo-fi before lo-fi existed…This is definitely one of those rare records that deserve the wider discovery it will now surely enjoy.
From The Reels 2012-2020 is a delightfully, warm, intimate, and genuinely stunning listen. Effortlessly evocative the album reinforces Ned Roberts as a true rising star. I, for one, will be following his career with much anticipation. Beautiful.
Opening to a flurry of percussion, banjo, mandolin, and echoing harmonies, Brown Mountain Lightning Bugs’ new album Folk(ish) is an exciting, and funky slice of Americana and bluegrass.
