Honest, in-depth album reviews by KLOF Mag – championing and curating intelligent, uncompromising voices in contemporary and experimental music since 2004.
Albums
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.
The London-based UK Americana close harmony outfit return with a self-titled album that is sure to see them following in the commercial breakout footsteps of The Shires and Ward Thomas.
