Plu

With their new album now out it was about time we reviewed the previous one by this Welsh alt-folk sibling trio. Its sublime, atmospheric (well they are from Snowdonia after all) and beautifully warm. Highlight is the wonderful "Tyrd yn ol" is melancholic, sweet harmonies and then a look back over the shoulder. Your heart melts.

"Hiraeth" is sparse, the backing cut back almost to nothing as the vocals cut through so clearly. "Glaw du" builds a compelling soundscape. "Yr ysfa" simple and warm, you might turn around when you listen to it because you'll feel like the band is right behind you.

MV : "Long goodbye (live session)" by Basia Bulat

Love this.

MV : "Tyrd yn Ôl" by Plu

Beautiful just beautiful.

Susan Christie - paint a lady

It might sound really odd these days that record companies could pay for albums to be produced and then not release it but it did happen quite a bit in the olden days, and Susan Christie's album "paint a lady" is an example of one. She had a minor hit with a novelty pop song in the late 1960s and then went onto make an album of psychedelic folk however it was not released by Columbia as it was not thought commercial enough.

Happily the album was finally released in 2006, 36 years late, and what do Columbia know? Its a really nice record, a bit strange perhaps and unpredictable with its sometimes haunting and sometimes funky melodies and introspective atmosphere but it wasn't too far out for 1970 by any means. Pick of the album is the cover of "Ghost riders in the sky", one of the best versions of this song i've heard.

MV : "Rainy day" by Susan Christie

Lovely song, just bought the album this is off in fact...

This Is The Kit - bashed out

I first listened to this album while driving to work earlier this week, a misty morning at the end of Summer and "Bashed out" seemed the perfect soundtrack. Misty alt folk then, songs of light and shade. This is the band's third album though "band" might be a bit strong as This Is The Kit is really Kate Stables.

The album and especially the song "Silver John" is lovely it really is, delicate and intricate. The album doesn't hit you over the head, its much more understated than that. It invites you in and makes you a cup of tea. The arrangements are deceptively simple and multi-layered. Like all the best work you find something more to appreciate the more you listen to it.

MV : Silver John" by This Is The Kit

Lovely song from a lovely album.

Donovan - a gift from a flower to a garden

This collects together 2 of 60s singer songwriter legend Donovan's albums, the electric "Wear Your Love Like Heaven" and the acoustic "For Little Ones". Originally released separately and then together as one of the first rock "box sets" and only the third rock double album ever apparently fact fans.

I prefer the electric album especially on tracks like "Mad John's Escape" (who came from Birmingham apparently and ran away from Borstal and make it to Torquay). It has lots of late 60s pop feel and a healthy dose of psychedelia, some of the Eastern philosophy in the lyrics maybe sounds a little twee now but it was of its time. And was meant well, there are far worse philosophies to write lyrics using.

Musically it can be quite twee as well, which i like. The vocals are soft and chilled, its definitely an album to calm down to rather than use to try and get pumped up.

Tina & David Meltzer - poet song

Celebrated Beat Generation poet David Meltzer recorded this album with his then-wife Tina (now passed away) in 1969 following on from another more psychedelic album they did together (with a few others) under the name of The Serpent Power. A mixture of songs and spoken word pieces, the former handled by Tina who has a lovely warm voice, indeed David said the album was written to showcase her voice and it surely does.

Highlight for me is "Lullaby", a truly beautiful song, a gentle yet slightly haunting melody supported by strings. To me its a true lost treasure from the late 60s. Unfortunately nothing else really matches up to that song to make this album a genuine lost classic but its well worth a listen anyway.

"Pure white place" is an "of its time" song with its themes and rootsy feel and is an enjoyable listen. Less essential maybe but perfectly ok are songs like the county tinged "Hymn to love" and "It is for you", a lightly fluffy and somewhat throwaway song but still fun.

MV : "Ghost riders in the sky" by Susan Christie

Great cover!

Jerry Garcia - Garcia

Jerry Garcia's first solo album from 1972 was a very solo affair indeed with the great man playing most of the instrument parts himself. Its a very strong album too with a strong folk-psychedelia blues rock vibe, a number of the songs later becoming part of the Grateful Dead's repertoire.

Highlights are the superb blues-rock of "Sugaree", the skanky folk of "Deal" and the astral cowboy epic "To lay me down", steel guitar taking you into outer space. Man.

MV : "Born again" by Emily

I reckon if i could only have one album it would be Emily's.

Mary Chapin Carpenter - songs from the movie

Only an artist like Mary Chapin Carpenter with such a rich and storied back catalogue could pull such a project, where some of her classic songs are orchestrally reimagined with heavy influence from film soundtracks, off with such aplomb. You can just only wonder what a film that actually had these as part as an original soundtrack would be like.

As well as musically rearranged the songs often had to be sung in a different way to suit the backing. Songs like "Come on come on" and "I am a town" are very different. Sometimes it doesn't quite work but overall the album is an exciting addition to the MCC catalogue. Atmospheric and complex, rich and deep.

MV : "Believe in me" by The Pierces

Kinda epic.

MV : "Glorious" by The Pierces

Yes it is.

The Pierces - creation

The fifth album from this folk-psychedelic duo and its a lighter softer affair. Its verging on soft rock territory in fact with a big sound and production washing over the tracks along with some terrific pop melodies. Its unashamedly catchy on tracks like "Kings" and the title track. Its all very luscious and uplifting, maybe a little bit more bite here and there could have made it a bit more complete but thats a minor nitpick, as a package its a brilliant listen.

MV : "Kings" by The Pierces

Off their new album which is out now, awaiting my copy!

Bob Dylan - under the red sky

Meaningless anecdote alert, years ago i was visiting my Grandma and she saw the advert for this album in my copy of Billboard. She asked me "Who is that scruffy man?" Back then i didn't really know, but years later i do and finally i have bought this album 24 years after that advert.

"Under the red sky" splits the critics, many called it rather poor. However i've found that that usually means i love the album, and this is no exception. A mysterious and somewhat fun collection of tunes starting with the ridiculous yet infectiously fun "Wiggle wiggle". Much of the album is quite childlike, utilising nursery rhymes and some good production. It doesn't take itself seriously and sounds great to be honest, but if you are like radical man you might not agree. The title track is another excellent track with some lovely organ and an easy laid back groove.

Hearts Of Oak - New England

"Country shoegaze" is the genre apparently, therefore Hearts Of Oak should score highly with me as they combine two of my favourite things in the musical world so lets see... Well there is certainly a very alt.country feel to much of this, its laid back and rootsy but also often with a vein of menace looming behind proceedings.

"Well lit highway" is a great psychedelic rock track, the vocals very Bob Dylan (albeit before Bob lost his voice) with some tasty wall of noise. Hearts Of Oak have a fairly retro late 60s and early 70s sound in many ways but updated sonically and technically for the now, and it sounds very fine indeed. "Lovers ain't easy" could be a late 60s Dylan song that went missing. "Grey riders" is a very appealing reflective track that stretches off into an effect laden soundscape.

I'm not sure about the "country shoegazer" label but there are elements of both especially on tracks like "Grey riders", but lets not get too hung up about labels. Its really good music, all the description you need really.

Blackbird Raum - swidden cassette

Released on the cassette indie Erode Releases (don't worry its also available digitally) this album is a wonderful slice of folk thrash or root punk or just good music if you prefer. Blackbird Raum are a US group who formed out of a squatter community in California. Living without electricity and much else they began playing folk (as you do) mixing it with other styles like ska, indie and punk and this is the result.

It is often chaotic but the band sound like they are having a blast as will you. "Rubicon drawn" is a perfect example of their genre splitting and/or creating style mixing folk dance and bluegrass with a punk energy.