Runnin With My Rhythm

Word Up!  it's only taken them 9 yrs, but holy moly some things are worth waiting for.  While Tom Craven has recorded & put out music as a solo artist over the past decade, The  E.P  "Take Courage" out on 30th July  is the first offering from  Tom Craven & The Chapter under the band banner, but I believe it's been to their advantage because the growth, the maturity, lyrically, vocally & musically has been well & truly nailed, Chapter and verse some might say? With a perfect blend of Folk Rock, acoustic, "Take Courage" is like listening to the soundtrack of a West End Rock/Tragedy yet to be written.  Kicking off the E.P & also debut Single "Parisian (Trial by Fire)" dramatic yet melodic, the leading man takes to the mic.  "The kiss of  life, the kiss of death, they'll save this kiss for you, A pinch of salt, the word regret & it echoes through & through"               ...

Where to start with the talent that is Minnie Birch? Plentiful as a Blackberry bush,  she's a  first-class female that puts the fact & fable into Folk. About to self-release an AA-side single John BarleyCorn/ Emeralds on the 13th July to draw attention to her second full-length album Tethered released at the end of 2017 ....... Is there no stopping this Hertfordshire lass?  Minnie has a  distinct sound, so even before her vocals enter the track "Emeralds" at 17 seconds you know whose music you're listening to. She said it was written post Brexit referendum & coupled with a personal situation left her feeling at a loss with the world  & thinking "We're not in Kansas anymore" a line from the Wizard Of Oz where Dorothy realises nothing is what it seems. In fact, there is many a lyrical nod to the Film, amongst them:  " With a Lions Mane & a Scarecrow Pride".  Minnie also created part of the percussion with her tap shows tha...

As someone who hears, analyses and can appreciate every element of a track in minute detail from lyrics, cowbells, brightening effects to an accidently recorded studio trump, I've always considered myself the queen geek/nerd of music..........But cue Folk-Inspired Singer/Songwriter   Zoë   Wren who Is on another level, we're talking the chocolate hobnob of nerdiness here but it's fascinating for one so young, as is her new Six track E.P  Gold & Smoke out for official release on 3rd March. First to the music, as someone who is a bit wary when it comes to that medieval folk vibe,  I breathed a sigh of relief, not a  Nonny-Nonny-No in earshot.  In fact, ther e's a significant continuity throughout the E.P that flows like a gentle stream in the form of  Zoës vocals, beautiful is a thought that surfaces rather a lot, along with  pure.  There were also some lovely lyrics, so simple and poetic it took me back to courting days...

I was introduced to Amy & The Calamities via the jam-packed talent that I recently reviewed on   Spiritual Live No.2 Album. Amy had a track on it "Now That I Know This". She is also releasing her own 6 track E.P this week titled:  "The Suspects"  I'd assumed Amy & The Calamities were a band?  If I'd checked out Youtube first I would've had my answer? DOH!.....it was time to find out more. She is, in fact, Amy Wawn a solo singer/songwriter/ musician hailing from Zimbabwe, the added  "Calamities" came about after a jokey conversation with her best friend who coined the phrase after an open mic night in Cape Town, about the comedic mishaps on stage. It's also about the coming together of friends and spontaneous performances that give way to mistakes, As Amy believes, all part of being human, and part of learning and growing.    Now that's sorted it was time for me to check out the E.P. and first track Bless, straight away ...

With a backlog of artists and bands to check out for review, I halted the Eargasm Column for a short while as I felt I couldn't continue until I'd paid tribute to a very dear friend and   talented local music artist Peter Ransome from St albans who sadly passed away unexpectedly at Watford General after a routine Op back in May, and to be honest it's still hard to believe his gone.                       I was first introduced to Peter in a business capacity at a venue in Hatfield way back as an 18ish yr old teenager, he was sat at a table, glass of  Courvoisier in one hand, cigarette in the other, and with his temporary big bushy beard & tanned weathered skin, lines branching out like roads of  journeys traveled he reminded me of a Jewish vagabond, something that still caused raucous laughter many years later.    He was neither of course , but like me there was always that idealistic d...

Rarely have I come across a record company independent or otherwise that has shown such consistency in the quality of artists that they promote..... step up and take a much deserved bow Director of Folkstock   Arts Foundation Helen Meissener . I've just had the pleasure of listening to Roxanne de Bastion who is about to   release a double A-side single on the 28th July taken from her self-released Album Heirlooms & Hearsay. Before a musical note had left the laptop speakers I was already intrigued by her promo photos & an Audrey Hepburn vibe, they spoke of mystery and stories to be told and I was eager to hear them. First up, Heart of stone that begins "I woke up feeling old" ....yup! I was sold, a lyrically beautiful song that I'm sure many will relate to?   She describes it as a song  about  "overcoming or repentance, to wash your hands clean and start anew, to let go of those dark thoughts and memories that weigh us down"   T...

I don't necessarily write music reviews every day, week or month, it's only if I stumble across something worthy or my inbox pops with a track that smacks of special......New Single, Carry My Heart by Indie/folk/pop Singer/Songwriter Toni Sidgwick    is one of those tracks. Fancy a  teaser?...oh okay then...... The swimming guitar intro immediately paints a picture of intimacy in a large space, like a candle in a cathedral.  This was swiftly followed by a vocal  that had my brain juggling between Ane Bruns Live In Scandanavia Album and Tracy Chapman, neither an effort to listen to. They are the type of artists whose albums you want to play all the way through.....and then play again, and Toni sits comfortably but freshly alongside. Originally from the Shetland Islands and now residing in County Durham  she's been honing her craft and supporting solid acts such as Newton Faulkner , Chris Helme , Mark Morriss & Maz O'Connor , not bad for...

If you love music and you're on Twitter then make sure to follow  @limey59music   he is a great supporter of Unsigned music and i've discovered some fab stuff via him and was excited by this weeks discovery of  Tidelands & their album "Old Mill Park".  The duo from San Francisco California are made up of Songwriter Gabriel Montanta Leis who just happens to play the Flugelhorn among other instruments?  ( Yes, I had to google it too)   & Mie araki on drum & keyboards.  As a Simpsons fan, I was first reeled in by the title of track  "Dog named Bart"   swiftly followed by  the intro  (It's always a good sign when an intro grabs you by the nether regions)  and then in crept a violin and we haven't even got to the first verse, brilliant.  "Four strings and a wooden box" opens with the most beautiful orchestral arrangement by Minna Choi and performed by  Magik Magik Orchestra,  and there's a patte...

It could be argued that most of us creative types are self-indulgent & I wouldn't disagree,  but once in a very rare blue moon, it's taken to a whole other level of genius. The last time I listened to such an album was Kanye Wests "My beautiful dark twisted fantasy"  And then along comes the folk equivalent in Kate Dimbleby .   Her Songbirds album recorded and released on the Independent Folkstock label 23rd February & produced by Lauren Deakin Davies  is an absolute corker.  The album is acapella, something we haven't had in the mainstream for many years and by layering her vocals Kate creates an exciting backing ambience that dances around & cradles her main vocal, techniques that were inspired by her time in New York learning from  Bobby "Don't Worry Be Happy" Mcferrin". The daughter of broadcaster David Dimbleby and classically trained mother Josceline, Kate has already released five solo albums and toured the world wit...

Lights off, candles on and the sound of  folk and roots duo  Oka Vanga  aka William Cox & Angela Meyer float across the room. I'm instantly lost within the mystical music and vocals of  the Wicken Tree, which is the first track off their new album "Dance Of The Copper Trail" It follows on from "Pilgrim" their award winning debut Instrumental album in 2014 & their 2015 EP release "Tales From Eyam" which after much persuasion from Wil, saw Angela introducing her alluring vocals.  The same has to be said for this new album Co- produced by Mark Tucker & Angela Meyer & worthy of a mention . If you're lucky, you'll often find two or three stand out tracks on an album, I was on my sixth when I gave up.  Ashes To The Wind,  The Devils Tide, My Sweet Guitar...and they  kept on coming. its a great album start to finish. From  guitar to mandolin to double bass (Oliver Copeland)  and a fiddle (Patsy Reid) to die for...