Albums

The aptly named Cinematic Orchestra (TCO) were formed by J. Swinscoe back in 1999. Swinscoe arrived at London with a background playing bass and guitar in bands and DJing, as well as a head full of ideas and influences, such as his love of jazz bass players, rhythm sections and film soundtracks.

Ben Cooper and Alex Kane are back as Electric President with a new album under their arms called The Violent Blue. I was introduced to Electric President through a compilation put together by a great music mag called Foggy Notions…it was a lush publication that has long since fallen by the wayside, just like Plan B…why do all the best ones crumble?

Trips and Falls are a new band to Frukie who have just released their album: He Was Such a Quiet Boy on Song, by Toad Records. Describing them is no easy task. There was some struggling with filling out the press release due to a lack of detail provided by the band.

First, Up from Below should have been my last years summer record. Second, their music videos are some of the best I’ve seen, so why the bloody hell haven’t I come across them before…another one of lifes little mysteries to dwell upon…I don’t know is the simple answer, but I’m glad I crossed their path over a strong coffee and early morning danish.

To the North is the second Communion Label release and debut EP from Matthew and The Atlas. For those of you that follow Communion, you’ll know that he featured on the groundbreaking Communion compilation. The album caused a big swell across the net with rave reviews and excitement on what would unfold in the future. This second release has the energy to keep it going in big mighty strides!

Bella Union have released Alessi’s Ark’s new EP ‘Soul Proprietor’. Alessi Laurent-Marke is one of those singer/songwriters who are able to sound great with what sounds like so little effort. Folks were not slow in recognising this as she signed her first record deal the day before her 17th birthday.

There is no harmony like brotherly harmony. Something indelible in the weave of voices and play of sensibilities is stamped into the fraternal DNA and also stems from a lifetime of shared experiences. You can hear it in classic brother acts across the musical spectrum, from the Louvin Brothers to the Everly Brothers

El Radio is Chris Garneau’s follow-up to his 2007 debut, Music for Tourists. The addition of an orchestra as well a feeling of new quirky inventiveness in the whole music structure make this release an absolute gem. The balance and feel is spot on.

Gareth Dickson has spent the last two and a half years touring with Vashti Bunyan as her guitarist. This gave him the opportunity to work with great musicians like Devendra Banhart, Juana Molina and Coco Rosie,

If I handed you an album and described it as “Decemberists meet Tom Waits meet Beirut meet Leonard Cohen”…you’d be impressed, yes? Well I would be. These are the words chosen to describe Brooklyn Singer/songwriter / Multi-instrumentalist, Robin Aigner’s latest release, Bandito.

A new arrival on Folk Radio UK is artist, Cam Penner with his third album, Trouble and Mercy which is released this week. I’ve been looking forward to reviewing this album ever since I first heard it.

At the Oupost is Edinburgh based Chris Bradley’s second album. The album has already caught the worthy attention of media critics including The Times who gave it very high praise. Chris is gifted in the songwriting and composing department where he has plied his trade for TV and radio in the past.