A very new fresh sound. Stimulating guitar and vocal work.

Rory Garforth & Adam Myers are the songwriting partnership at the helm of a folk/acoustic collective, involving musicians from all over the UK. With their base in South Yorkshire Garforth & Myers provide "lushly brewed melodious folk hypnosis; a multitude of and a masterclass in well crafted songs and understated delivery". After initially meeting whilst involved separate musical projects Rory & Adam started working on material together, this would form the basis of a selection of demo's which attracted the attention of producers Keith Angel and Andy Seward; perhaps best known for their work with Jon Boden , Kate Rusby, Martin Simpson, John Tams, Chris Drever et al… Work started on putting together a self-financed album after months of writing, planning and preparation and features the talents of Devon based Nick Wyke and Becki Driscoll layering up lush string arrangements which has become integral to the sound.

With additions from Magazine's Dave Formula on electric piano and Hammond, Andy Seward on Double Bass and Keith Angel on Drums and percussion the result has been one that all involved can be proud, of reminiscent of artists such as Pentangle or John Martyn.


http://www.myspace.com/garforthmyers

Last year we did a review of a new London based artist Sean Taylor and his Calcutta Grove album. Brilliantly inspired by many of the late great poets, he’s been busy recording and has produced his most mature album to date, Walk With Me.

Recorded in the studio of Trevor Hutchison (WaterBoys), Dublin during a weeklong session. Sean’s joined by Dave Hingerty (The Frames), Michael Buckley, Vyvienne Long (Damian Rice), Justin Carroll and BJ Cole.

Walk With Me is one very complete album, rich with feeling, soul and life.

Perfect Candlelight, Walk With Me, Love Hate On hold some very original piano work. There’s also a superb and very new approach to the traditional song ,She Moved Through The Fair. Bordering on psychedelic and funky.

The album is wrapped up and beautifully presented in very original cd case.

Official Website info:

Kilburn based singer songwriter Sean Taylor whose 2009 release CALCUTTA GROVE received rave reviews the world over has now produced his best work to date. WALK WITH ME is a stunning collection of eleven new tracks, nine of which are from the pen of Taylor; the remaining two are his take of the traditional She Moved Through The Fair and a superbly unique arrangement of a Shakespearian sonnet entitled Love Hate On

http://www.seantaylorsongs.com/

It’s been a long time since we have received an album like Signe Tollefsen’s self titled debut album. Breaking through the commercial norm Signe Tollefsen delivers pure feeling, heart and soul all rolled into one.

Uplifting and full of energy this is one album you can’t miss out on. With the rhythmic Dave Brubeck Quartet baselines in History Class through to the ballads like This is it, it’s simply amazing.

Signe Tollefsen is a half-American singer/songwriter that moved from the UK to Holland to study music at the Amsterdam Conservatory in 2004.

Was it ‘An American in Paris’? No, this is about an American in Amsterdam. But the story has elements of a fairy tale too. Picture this; an American tourist in Amsterdam gets bored with staring at the wallpaper of his hotel room and decides to take a stroll through the famous Vondelpark where a young female singer/songwriter is just finishing the last song of her ‘open-air concert’. All he hears is the last verse of the last song. Nevertheless he is very impressed and takes a recording of the young woman home. Friends and music industry professionals listen on his request to the tape and the verdict is unanimous: ‘beautiful, and an enormous potential’.

The American invites Signe Tollefsen to Los Angeles to record a number of songs in Linda Perry’s studio. Two of these recordings, You, Me & the Brewers and My Old Man are included on Signe Tollefsen’s CoraZong debut album. You, Me & the Brewers features legendary violinist Jerry Goodman, famous for his work with The Flock and John McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra.

For more information please see http://www.signetollefsen.com

Great to see Andrew Vladeck releasing more great music. He’s currently working on a new album and will be backed up by a European tour as close as September 2010. Stay tuned Nuremburg,Germany as this will be his first stop.

Here’s the link for the YouTube video:

The Wheel
End Up Records
Released 06/09/09

If you ask him, New York Native Andrew Vladeck will tell you it’s all about the words. Yet it’s his modern take on old-time instrumentation that first calls attention.  A Fender Twin amplifier doesn’t come to mind when one thinks of a banjo, but in his quest to escape the folky comfort zone, Andrew has hotwired his way into a truly individual style.

A well-known musician in the alt-folk scene in NYC, Andrew’s unique sound is captured on the upcoming End Up Records release “The Wheel.“ Produced by Kyle Fischer (Rainer Maria) and mixed by Dave Schiffman (Johnny Cash, Mars Volta), with appearances by Caithlin De Marrais and Lara Meyerratken (Ben Lee), the album includes the caustic “The Songs you Inspire,“ which won 1st Place in the Int’l Songwriting Competition.



A former Urban Park Ranger, Andrew was fascinated by the interplay of nature with Gotham, and the edges where the two meet.  Andrew is similarly inclined towards music, striving to blend his affection for the ante-bellum with the contemporary.  The result is folk and indie rock reconfigured—a “new wave” of folk that is distinctly American sounding.  Still, Andrew is first and foremost a wordsmith, whose sparkling, sharp-edged approach sets his often dark and hilariously ironic lyrics over sparse and tasteful instrumentation.
Andrew was featured on BBC’s The World, and was voted NYC Artist of the Month in The Deli Magazine.  He’s also a founding member of the upcoming indie folk quintet The Honey Brothers, and is a regular contributor to the NYC-based folk collective, Balthrop, Alabama.

The Wheel is the first full-length release by Vladeck since 2006.  He will be touring extensively throughout the summer and fall in support of the new record.
 
- Offical Andrew Vladeck Site

Soulful, poignant and delicate are just some of the words being used to describe the music of West country-based singer/songwriter Diana Johnstone. Born in Plymouth, Devon, Diana began singing and playing guitar in her late teens at the famous Folk Cottage in Mitchell, Cornwall, performing alongside Mike Silver, Clive Palmer and Ralph McTell.

There she met and subsequently married multi-instrumentalist, Davey Johnstone (Magna Carta, Noel Murphy, Joan Armatrading.) In 1972, Davey was asked to join the Elton John band just as the Rocket Mans career was heading into the stratosphere. For Davey, Diana and their son Tam the next few years would be spent in a whirlwind of whistle stop tours and incredible celebrity encounters: Groucho Marx at the Beverly Hills hotel, Stevie Wonder ..boards aboard the Starship (Eltons private plane), Gracie Fields, John Lennon During this time, Davey recorded a solo album for Eltons Rocket Records label with legendary record producer Gus Dudgeon at the helm. The album, Smiling Face (now remastered and released on Sound City records) features three songs co-written by Diana.

She also sings lead vocals on the track A Lovely Day (as featured in playwright Willie Russells Daughters of Albion - Yorkshire TV, 1977.) When Diana and Davey divorced in the mid-1970s, Diana took up a career in film and TV set design (working with director Nic Roeg and actor Tony Curtis among others), before coming back to music in the late 1990s. On moving to the Bath area she began writing and performing her own material again. Her unique style of playing combined with her thoughtful lyrics and mesmerizing voice has already attracted a keen following. This, along with her well-received live performances has ensured that Diana Johnstone is definitely one to watch among the new breed of innovative female singer/songwriters. Dianas debut CD, Learning to Walk is available now.

- Offical Myspace Blog

On the 12th of October 2009 Beggar Joe will release their acclaimed self-titled debut album.

Beggar Joe, formed at Salford University where they had one idea in common, to create meaningful music. Coming fresh out of Manchester’s, bar, cafe and live music scene they soon attracted a strong gathering, large enough to catch the eye of C.A.T Records, where they recorded their debut album Beggar Joe.

The group consists of John Kenzie – guitar/vocals, Justin Sheren – keys, Andy Brown – double bass, Rome Mosabbir – percussion and Chris Butler – drums.

Beggar Joe style is hard to classify as it falls into not one genre but many. You could say folk rock, blues, soul, all wrapped up with a near African percussion sound, added for a touch of extra rhythm.

The production is pure bliss and very tight. Al Stone (famous for producing Jamiroquai’s Travelling without Moving) seems to capture the mood/sound straight from the group. Beggar Joe’s debut album really is a kaleidoscope of styles, which seem to roll into each other. This group will go far.

“Beggar Joe blend blues guitar with seamless finger work and raw vocals on their debut album. An Amalgamation of blues, folk, jazz and rock ‘n’ roll- it is good, very good. Take for example lead-off single ‘Sleeping City’. It’s a masterful bluesy number which triumphantly picks up speed towards it’s close and leaves you in no doubt that Beggar Joe means businees”
-Official PR

Checkout their site at: http://www.myspace.com/beggarjoe

Sean Taylor, fresh sounds from North London. His latest album Calcutta Grove seems to be a light in a very dark folk/blues world. After the loss of John Martyn and Davy Graham its good to hear an array of cleverly arranged songs with inspirations from some of the great heros.

From the soft bluesy fingerpicking of Calcutta Grove to a new and very original approach in Hard Time Killing Floor Blues, Sean seems to stay true. Calcutta Grove, 11 full tracks including some very inspiring piano playing in The River Merchant’s Wife and Hold onto your Love.

For more information see: http://www.seantaylorsongs.com

A clean distinct folk sound not straying too far from the roots. Houdini’s Blues is an album that searches for truth, where sometimes the vocals scarily resemble that of the late Skip James.

From songs like Dream Song #1 with it’s slow but very effective searching rhythm makes way to a slapping harmonic piece like “Hail To The Theif”. This is no Radiohead cover, it’s better, it’s the real thing.

Add to the combination, classic folk singer songwriter songs like “Strong Storm Rising” and “All Come To Reap The Goldrush” with honest lyrics accompanied by graceful guitar playing and you have one mighty fine album.

A mega rare album rediscovered in the autumn of 2007 by Acrobat Music after acquiring the catalogue of recorded works owned by The Kruger Organisation. Previously available only on vinyl and very hard to find this album consists of 18 tracks including bonus material not on the original release.

Its unsure how many copies of the original album were sold due to "an offensive hand signal" inside the cover many shops refused to stock it. As a result it was completely withdrawn from sale almost immediately after release, with only a tiny handful of First pressings ever sold.



To quote Acrobat Music "The music of Knocker Jungle is a fascinating snapshot of a strand of the pop and rock scene that was at the core of what was called “progressive” or “underground” music at the back end of the 60s and early 70s. "

Acrobat Music have done a great job re-releasing this classic album.

For more information visit: http://www.acrobatmusic.net/

"...Wow, we have here 16 great songs with diverse styles like country, Chicago blues, gospel, jazz, Dixieland honky-tonk and swing. On Heaven you can listen to very catchy numbers with quick changing music styles in which the witty worked out texts are sung through considerable vocal chords of this talented singer.

I believe that Zach Lupetin knows the blues deep down in his soul and that is why he is able to incorporate it in his songs in many diverse ways. When he still studied at the University of Michigan he played with the band “the Midnight Special” a school blues band from which he recruited some musicians from for his CD. His musical examples (idols) are clearly John Prine, Wayne Hancock, Ramblin’ Jack Elliot, Django Reinhardt, Muddy Waters, Leadbelly, Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family among others.

The first song on this CD is called “Maybe Baby” and is a blues number tinted with guitar, upright bass, and soft drum accompaniment as well as lively gospel singing and clapping. Some songs are reminiscent of the pre war 20’s to 40’s, which may seem funny for young twenty something guy. Songs like “Mama Said”, “End of the Road” and “”Get Out” illustrates what we mean by this. Textually there is also a portion (big portion) of humor in the songs, showing that they must have a had a great time recording the album, especially in songs like “I Wish That I never Had Met You” and in the seven minute long “Get Out”. “Say You Will” on the other hand is a more traditional ballad and the basic of blues words are held up in “Boo Hoo Blues”.

The title track “Heaven (I’ll Meet you There)” appeals on the beginnings of storytelling blues. Livelier (or happier) is “Another I Don’t Love You Song” and “Superkiller # 405””. If I can chose my favorite song I would go for “La Sangre Lake” that really is completely different from the other songs on this CD. This is a real different record that I would strongly recommend it to lovers of nostalgic blues and country who dig that timeless, happy sound. Zach Lupetin is currently touring throughout California with his new group “The Dustbowl Revival”, a "good old-time string group" as he calls them. Check them out here: www.myspace.com/znlupetin. Fantastic CD! Keep on doing what you do, Zach!

-Freddy Celis, ROOTSTIME MAGAZINE, BELGIUM

For more information visit http://www.myspace.com/znlupetin

Peter Berryman arrived on the acoustic music scene in the 60's with the Famous Jug Band which also featured Clive Palmer of the Incredible String Band. At this time he also recorded with Ralph McTell, Wizz Jones and Al Stewart and in 1971 his influential LP with John James , Sky In My Pie,was released. Since then he has collaborated with many notable musicians, worked in theatre and film, and played as far afield as Hokitika and Abidjan.

About The Return;

"Pete explores various moods and influences with equal respect for folk jazz and celtic roots with his delicate fingerstyle technique. His love for the acoustic guitar and it's ability for nuance and subtlety is showcased in this album of fresh and highly original compositions. Enjoy" Ralph McTell

"Pete Berryman, and his contemporary Bert Jansch, still have plenty to offer us in the 21st century. Perhaps it’s the simple acoustic style that he employs, free from the distractions of other instrumentation or vocals, but it’s hard to believe that a period of thirty years lies between some of these compositions when they all sound so vibrant and new. ." Acoustic Magazine

"Pete is one of the unsung heroes of the British acoustic guitar movement."
John Renbourn

For more information visit www.peteberryman.com

" A brilliant Band...I think this [EP] is absolutely amazing "
Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2

Celtic, Balkan, Gypsy, Latino, Cornish. All these influences and more are in evidence within 3 Daft Monkeys’ music. Far too diverse to be pigeonholed into 1 genre, and possessing a sound completely impossible to typecast into being a particular “style”, 3DM traverse Dance, Dub, Punk, Reggae and Traditional Folk with ease, creating a stunning blend of upbeat, danceable music which despite all its world influences remains undeniably British.

Go Tell The Bees EP showcases 3 tracks from band’s forthcoming album “Social Vertigo”, scheduled for released in early 2008. Also included is a remastered version of Astral Eyes from their previous album “Hubbadillia”. To date Hubbadillia has sold over 5,000 copies purely through word of mouth, and without any distribution or label deal.

3 Daft Monkeys have already played to tens of thousands of people across numerous venues and festivals around the world, both as headliners and support for a variety of major acts.
Recent festival highlights include Folkwoods, Holland; Glastonbury Festival 2007 (3 sets); Folk Segovia, Spain; Lorient Interceltic Festival, France; Kevelaer World Music Festival, Germany and Labadoux Festival, Belgium. Over 5000 people watched their main stage performance at Beautiful Days 2007 and the band will end their summer festival season with a performance at Bestival.

Whatever your taste in music, 3 Daft Monkeys offer something special and their unique blend of high octane, funked-up folk is guaranteed to even the greatest cynics dancing!

Folk, Blues, Funk and Jazz. Phil Kings got style. A very impressive album which leaves no style unturned. Music to lift you up, move you around, but not straying from the roots. From the laid back lazy blues of "Smiling Eyes" to the mournful cry of "Laughter" Phil King seems to know the recipe for success.

Born in 1978, Phil has been singing his whole life. At 12yrs old, his parents took him to see Eric Clapton at the Albert Hall. The next day, he picked up a guitar, and formed his first band with some school friends. He also began collecting records, buying old Robert Johnson, John Lee Hooker, B.B. King and Muddy Waters Albums.

For more information visit Phil Kings Official website here: http://www.phil-king.net/index.php

England-based singer/songwriter/guitarist James Hollingsworth has a unique, complex guitar style, reminiscent of Andalusian guitar as well as modern rock.

As well as being known as an inspired solo singer/songwriter/guitarist, James is also lead singer and frontman with the rock band JEBO.

There are hooks, harmonicas, harmonies, hush and heaviness aplenty, delivered with James' characteristic passion and aplomb. More unusual tracks include the palindromic 'Bounty of Id', (also a 'Mini-Saga', meaning it has exactly 50 words) of just under 2 minutes to the epic 12-minute 'Long Way Out'.

Track dates are included in all of James' releases as part of the biographical record of his catalogue. “This has always been a plan,” James says, “songs often shed light on the meaning of other songs written at that time.

Recently quoted from a gig:

“.... and then there was James Hollingsworth... well by the time he'd finished I had 2 pages of notes and adrenalin coming out of my pores. I was itching to get his album once he'd finished - and i'm listening to it as I write this. It's bloody brilliant.

“live he started quite subdued....did a couple of mellow songs , in a mellow stance, and a mellow tone to his voice... then he sang possible the sweetest version of "Happy Birthday" i've ever heard - for Rach.

“Then he hit the stratosphere. I'll throw some names out that I thought of while I listened - Cat Stevens, Ian Anderson, Roy Harper, Geddy Lee...there was loads going on....and he was just passing through. "You're not the only one" was the first song he did when he really went for it - and it was beautiful - fantastic song.

“Then he did a song which he introduced by saying "this is a song about living on the same planet..we've got a long way to go" - perfect introduction. The song starts with the line "if you look around the world its hard to imagine how things are gonna get better" - the song is "Sooner or Later" and the CD version is just as good as it was live. Powerful stuff.

“Then he completely blew me away. Not sure what the song is called....(if you're reading this James, i'd love to know) It was incredible - he got himself into it by playing this strident riff, staring at the audience and swaying to the song's rhythm - the song was being built up to this huge rock beast right from the start....then he started singing - in a way he hadn't up to this point - and it was amazing - huge delivery - fast, staccato,
biting lines punctuated with this fast, big, riffing guitar. It had a kind of "Ritchie Havens 'Freedom'" rhythm, if you know Woodstock - but it had a powerful sense of urgency. It was breathtaking. The last line (sang really quick) "thank you please just to leave me aloooooooone" - it was HUGE! lol - brilliant. “then he had to follow it!

“A beautiful song called "Walk the Earth" which had me singing along in my chair (I was disappointed it wasn't on the album... but it's a good excuse to buy his others) - a great song that reminded me of Steve Knightley. Nice percussive slapping on the
guitar on this one.

“He was a really nice bloke too - afterward me and Andy Brown were chatting to him - and Andy asked him to write something ridiculous on his inlay booklet (I won't say what it was but it's not something you'd expect someone to write) - and he did - great stuff.

“Still listening to the album - i'm on track 11 now - it's brilliant. Powerful performances, distinctive songwriting, a prog rock sensibility paired down to the acoustic as Roy Harper would have it, and the perfect production. Brilliant. So pleased I have the CD.

- Gareth Howells - re. Gig in Portsmouth 15/03/07.

Release Date: 25th September 2007
José González - In Our Nature
(Peacefrog/Mute)

Track list:
   1. How Low
   2. Down The Line
   3. Killing For Love
   4. In Our Nature
   5. Teardrop
   6. Abram
   7. Time To Send Someone Away
   8. The Nest
   9. Fold
  10. Cycling Trivialities

'In Our Nature' gets busy with universal themes of the human condition, our place in the world and bypassing songs about love, opening by addressing the body-politik on 'How Low' - "...feeding a monster...invasion after invasion..." to a lilting guitar, gathering pace for the hypnotic 'Down the Line' with a riffing number about owning your problems, making mistakes and moving on - "...I see problems down the line/ I know that they're mine..." while the guitar shimmers. Our warring natures are addressed somewhat simplistically but with melody on 'Killing For Love' - "..you've got a heart filled with passion/ will you let it burn for hate or compassion..." to dexterous finger pickin' guitar work, whilst title track 'In Our Nature' has a world-weary tone with a Nick Drake-lean and minimalism, a touch of 60's idealism in the lyrics - "...put down your sword/ send home your dogs/ open up your doors...".

Ex-lead singer of alterna-girl pop group Luscious Jackson, Jill Cunniff releases her debut solo album ‘City Beach’ on the 3rd of September through Rykodisc.

The album is a breezy, earnest yet celebrators piece-aglow with motherly wisdom and metrical nods to the unassailable grit and colour of urban life.
With its laid back summer vibe and Jill's beautiful haunting voice, city Beach' brings a ray of sunshine to inner city surroundings and provides an apt soundtrack for, and an escape route from, the British 'Summer of Grey' that we seem to be experiencing this year.

The album is dedicated Coney Island, New York, a city beach known for its faded glory, revived through a ambient mix of melodic guitars and beats.

Jill was born and raised in NYC, and spent her days in Greenwich Village in an intense, bursting time of artists and individuals searching for like-minds to connect with. Her first musical milestone dates back to the 1980's when at the tender age of thirteen she had her birthday party at CBGB, parents in tow. With a liberating exposure to the raw, prismatic music found in the less-visible sectors of the city, junior high drool was only a day job. Traces of late night, teenage club hopping can be heard throughout Cunniff's musical choices and acute, inviting lyricism.

Jill grew up right in the heart of an ardent artistic community-where, as Jill described: 'you'd and the freshest kids breakfasting right down the street from St. Marks Sounds record shop and Rat Cage recorders, which is where Jill's friends the Beastie Boys first sold their records. Jill recalled ''we used to help our friends sell records on the street back then, and it was such a great place to learn about music- just hanging out and being a teenager. ln times to come, Jill would not only perform with, and warm up for the Beasties (and their various pre-incarnations), but would, as part of Lusclous Jackson, be the first act signed to their Grand Royale label.

In the wake of the amicable split of Luscious Jackson, Jill continued recording and collaborating with a varied, talented and brilliant group of artists. City Beach, with its strong melodies, lullaby-like tones and soothing qualities, are the fruit of this ongoing process of musical journey, Indeed, having been recently been involved a few more commercial, pop-oriented collaborations, Jill was anxious to get back into the music she loves: away from the strict formats that come with pop music and all the shoulders.
City Beach comes along with hints of what Jill listens to at home-Brazilian mirages, Bebel, alarum and Jao Gilberto and Prince Paul among many others. And it is fantastic. Enjoy

More information at www.jillcunniff.com

It’s been 4 years since we’ve seen a new Jansch album, during this time the passing of many re-issues and re-compilations have cluttered the shelves. The Black Swan is an album that shows that time truly ferments the adroitness that Jansch wields with his guitar and voice, both mature and elegiac.

The Black Swan with its soft rhythm and tightly arranged strings seems to hold a mystique, possibly mournful? When The Sun Comes Up featuring the voice of Beth Orton, soft but aromatic, holds a nice bluesy feel to it while Katie Cruel  is a true gem, with Devendra Banhart taking it one step further. From a possible political point Texas Cowboy Blues to uniquely arranged traditional songs like The Old Triangle the Black Swan radiates colour.

Other featured artists also include Kevin Barker and Paul Wassif.
The basic tracking was recorded at Jansch’s home studio in London while over dubbing and production was overseen by Noah Georgeson in LA.
Jansch seems to know what he wants, a clear picture and armed with the array of featured artists this album will stand the test of time.