Monthly Archive for December, 2008

Ireland – Winter Trip

Published by Trini on December 22, 2008 in Folk, Indie, Live Performance, Pop, Singer Songwriter, Unsigned and World Music. Closed

Why is it we always want what we don’t have? My latest adventure was hitting the road with The Guggengheim Grotto and Tadhg Cooke, both who I’ve talked about endlessly here on YCD. As you may all know I’m a huge fan of TGG, they are by far one of my favorite Irish bands and I was so excited to have had the opportunity to not only see parts of Ireland but also be a part of their little Irish tour. I met some wonderful artist along the way and am delighted to share some of their music with you.

This will be a long post so bare with me and keep on scrolling. Below you will find a video I shot of TGG, live at De Barra’s Folk Club in Clonakilty, Ireland. The song is Fee Da Da Dee. You can stream the original version off previous link. They’ve made some changes to fit the live performance.

The Guggenheim are finishing up their Irish tour and coming to the States at the start of 2009. So for everyone who has eagerly been waiting their return this is your chance to see them live. Keep checking back to their tour page for more updates.  The album will be released in the States in 2009.  If you live in Ireland you can purchase their album directly from their website.  Shop here, for US customers you can buy the digital album here.

The wonderful Tadhg Cooke is currently working on a new album *crossing fingers* it get’s released in 2009. Follow him on his spiffy new official website for updates. Tadhg was the supporting the TGG on tour and I’m so happy I had the chance to see him perform live. I can’t wait for him to make his way out to the States.

I also had the pleasure of meeting Gavin Moore, a local singer song writer from Clonakilty, Ireland. We had an amazing late night session and we had the pleasure of listening to him sing a few songs. For more information on Gavin you can check out his official website or his MySpace page.

On the night before last that I flew out we were back in Dublin for the famous Ruby Sessions. If you’re ever visiting Dublin this definitely is a must do. Duke Special was performing last, don’t let the hair and make-up fool you, this guy is something special. Visit his MySpace page or official website for more information.

I’ll leave you with these few for tonight.  Enjoy!

 
 Duke Special - Sweet Sweet Kisses: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
 
 Gavin Moore - Talking to the Birds [3:54m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
 
 Tadhg Cooke - Sparks [3:51m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

If You Haven’t Heard – Finn Daniel

Published by smansmith on December 22, 2008 in Acoustic, Folk, Indie, On Youtube and Singer Songwriter. 0 Comments

Here we go back on board with the “If You Haven’t Heard” posts and the newest installment of great finds – Finn Daniel.

Finn Daniel is a singer songwriter who hails from the UK and has some impressive tracks and a new EP entitled “Settle”.  His sound is pretty classic singer songwriter that leans towards the finger picking guitar variety – with some good ol’ strumming and harmonizing.  I find at times he reminds me almost of a young John Darnielle crossed with someone like Damien Rice….if that is possible.

There is one more aspect of what I have heard from Finn Daniel at this point – strings.  He incorporates cello, violin and other instruments in an orchestral flair.  I can be a sucker for folk music or singer songwriter music that brings this element to the table (hello, Horse Feathers).  If for nothing else, the perfect use of the sound of the cello for the backing to his accapella versions of two tracks from the EP – “Not All There” and “If I Got Good”.  You can hear for yourself on the latter track below, with a couple separate versions from what I think is the single from the EP – “If I Got Good” – if there is a single…

I must say he pulls it off quite well and I look forward to more from this young brit in the near future.

Visit Finn on his WEBSITE or his MYSPACE page and pick up “Settle” at Arkade Music.

~ Smansmith

P.S. Enjoy a live video for the below track “If I Got Good” as well you should swing by the sister post over on Slowcoustic for a couple of alternate tracks.

 
 Finn Daniel - "If I Got Good" from 2008's "Settle" EP [2:33m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
 
 Finn Daniel - "Repeat" [3:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
 
 Finn Daniel - "Untitled" [2:42m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

Doug Burr – The Shawl

Published by Olivier on December 21, 2008 in Acoustic, Folk, Gospel, Singer Songwriter and Soul. 5 Comments Tags: , .

Since a fortnight from today this album has found itself a comfortable place in my library. After winning high praise with the release of his second full length ‘On Promenade’, the Texan songwriter buckled down to one of his side-projects, namely the scoring of 9 texts excerpt from the Psalms of King David!

“This will be a collection of mellow, melancholy, but beatiful tunes, ones that I feel have a universal power to move people…because there’s just something about the Psalms. They’re unflinching in their honesty and ache. “

Obviously The Shawl won’t be to everybody’s liking. So, as to give you an objective point of view, reminding you of my atheism: I stand in awe as well as I am perplexed ! Sure I’m a fan of M. Burr and I have been secretly watching the release of this collection since the publication of it on his MySpace and I already granted you with an announcing post including the single – I Am Weary With My Sighing.

So why embark on a collection seemingly biblical, even mystical, when one doesn’t believe in God? That’s where the shoe pinches of course. But how resist composer talents at one time anchored in the purest folk, at other times sliding into gospel. That’s the dilemma!

Believers, rise now and buy yourself this magnificent collection without the slightest hesitation. If you’re addicted to the music of Doug Burr and you find it impossible to separate music from lyrics, allow yourself to be tempted out of curiosity. As for me, this album is already on my cdbaby wishlist; an offertory for some of my best catholic friends.

 
 In the Lord I Take Refuge - Doug Burr [4:10m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Artist : Doug Burr
Label : Velvet Blue Music
Where to buy : Velvet Blue Music / cdbaby.com / itunes

 

Sean Hayes’ not so hidden tracks

Published by smansmith on December 20, 2008 in Folk, Indie and Singer Songwriter. 4 Comments

So I recently picked up another album from Sean Hayes and realized that I have never really posted anything on him.  I mean he is a great singer songwriter and I always seem to enjoy his music – so what’s going on, let’s rectify this situation.

Sean Hayes – resident of San Francisco by way of New York – is described on his own website as having “free spirited charm” and even “loose & dusty” which I am not sure actually describes his music – I may be missing something though….

There are soo many descriptions of folk music these days that one doesn’t really know from a few words alone, so I thought I would head back a few years and provide some almost “classic” Sean Hayes tracks.  You all may be familiar with his newer albums, most notably “Flowering Spade” and “Big Black Hole and the Little Baby Star” which are both pretty damn good albums.  These are the albums that actually welcomed me into the same world as Mr. Hayes and of which I am quite fond of.

But I digress.  As if you are a fan of (or are about to be a fan of) Sean Hayes, you need to hit the earlier stuff as it is full of his great singer songwriter chops, mixed in with what can be said is his warm and unique vocals.  I am partial to Hayes vocals and I don’t know why.  I am the first to say that I truly prefer a musician that has a trademark sound or something that might stylistically separate them from the sea of others.  For Hayes has that in his great voice, and his music very easily follows suit.  You can almost see it in the photo at the top of this post – while a great photo, there seems something inviting and unique within it.  I just think you all should enjoy it along with me.

Hope you like some tracks from a few years back, but make sure you swing by his Website and his MySpace page to say hi, and even pick up an album if you so desire (you do).

~Smansmith

Lunar LustSean Hayes
 “Mind Looping” (mp3)
from “Lunar Lust”
“Kharma Moon” (mp3)
from “Lunar Lust”
(Sean Hayes – No Label)

More On This Album

A Thousand Tiny PiecesSean Hayes

“A Thousand Tiny Pieces” (mp3)
from “A Thousand Tiny Pieces”
“Touch” (mp3)
from “A Thousand Tiny Pieces”
(snail blue)

More On This Album

Big Black Hole And The Little Baby StarSean Hayes
“Same God” (mp3)
from “Big Black Hole And The Little Baby Star”
(Sean Hayes)

Buy at SeanHayesMusic Store
More On This Album

 
 Sean Hayes - "Kharma Moon" - from 2002's "Lunar Lust" [2:51m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
 
 Sean Hayes - "Mind Looping" - from 2002's "Lunar Lust" [3:54m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
 
 Sean Hayes - "A Thousand Tiny Pieces" - from 2000's "A Thousand Tiny Pieces" [3:12m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
 
 Sean Hayes - "Touch" - from 2000's "A Thousand Tiny Pieces" [3:33m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
 
 *BONUS* Sean Hayes - "Same God" - from 2006's "Big Black Hole and the Little Baby Star" [4:30m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

Cherbourg – Last Chapter Of Dreaming

Published by Olivier on December 13, 2008 in Alternative, Folk, Indie, Pop and Rock. 2 Comments Tags: .

Rings a bell ? Cherbourg could remind the ardent lover of music of a song on Zach Condon’s latest album. For the movie addicted, the city in Normandy could evoke memories of ‘Les Parapluies de Cherbourg’, the famous 60s musical comedy by Jacques Demy, for which Michel Legrand composed the score… High time for some revisions, for the benefit of your general knowledge as well as your musical one.

It was impossible to get acquainted with Geordie’s latest suggestion… and to not delve into that English alternative folk scene a bit deeper. After letting their music mature under the name of David Fiddle and The Lucky Egg, this four-piece band consisting of Andrew Davie (Guitar, Vocals), Phil Fiddle (Fiddle, Mandolin, Lead Guitar, Vocals), Kevin Jones (Bass Guitar, Vocals), Chris Maas (Drums, Vocals), now go by the name of Cherbourg. So, here’s for your musical culture!

“Last Chapter of Dreaming” is the title of their first EP which will be released on Feb 2nd next year. It will be a limited run of 500 vinyl as well as digital. For once, as you notice, I’m not stuck on past releases here. Actually, I’ve been rejoicing at this too short collection for the past days now.

It’s rare to find a band that give you the feel they really dig eachother’s backgrounds, resulting in wonderful vocal harmonies, mindblowing climaxes and melodic grandeur. Even if the lyrics deal with love and inevitable heartbreak, it’s amazing how this music lifts you out of your chair and you sing along as loud as you can. Go ahead, try!

Wish we had the opportunity to stream this full ep – thanks Chuck for granting us this early preview !
As usual when a release is so good from start to end, Enjoy Horses, the intro track.

 
 Horses - Cherbourg [3:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Band : Cherbourg
Label : Chess Club Records / All On Red Management
Where to pre-Order : Roughtrade
Who else to enjoy : Band of Horses, Mumford & Sons, Jonquil
More Appetizers : @myspace

 

TOM McKEAN & THE EMPERORS

Published by Geordie on December 10, 2008 in Acoustic, Alternative, Free Download, Indie and Rock. 3 Comments Tags: , .

Here is a quickie for a band that I think will breakthrough in 2009, Tom McKean and the Emperors. Not yet even recorded their debut album I just have a hunch it’s going to be an album many people will be talking about come the end of 2009. Why?  Well because they are off to Dallas to record it with grammy nominated producer and also member of The Paper Chase, John Congleton. Having in the past worked his magic on the likes of Modest Mouse,  Antony and the Johnsons,  Marilyn Manson and one of 2008′s best albums,  Micah P Hinson and the red empire orchestra, what can go wrong? Fans of the latter will certainly like this band as well as the likes of The Tindersticks, Leonard Cohen and Nick Cave. In their own words Wer’e a bunch of miserable buggers but theres a bit of dark humour in our music that might appeal to those who care to listen out for it.

Sign up to their website and they will let you have the track I’m offering you now for free but also they will let you know further details of album releases, gigs et cetera. They have a  fantastic debut single out called This is the year and if you go here you can scroll down and choose from many options on where you want to buy it

Watch this space.

 
 Tom McKean & The Emperors [3:37m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

Neil Halstead – MySpace Transmissions!

Published by smansmith on December 9, 2008 in Folk, Free Download, Live Performance and Singer Songwriter. 2 Comments

So I love the new Neil Halstead album “Oh! Mighty Engine” and have even put it on my best of 2008 post over on Slowcoustic.com.  The album just has it all, it isn’t over produced, it is real and it simply is a cohesive piece of amazing singer-songwriter folk.  Whether you started listening while he was integral to what was Slowdive or even Mojave 3 or just since he has recorded under his own name – it has been good all along, but has moved to great in the last couple of releases.

I very much enjoyed his 2002 album “Sleeping on Roads”, but really absorbed 2008′s “Oh! Mighty Engine” into my listening life.  Not just for the shameless praise of Halstead is this post.  I, considering myself a music connoisseur, only recently discovered the MySpace Transmissions EP (if that is what they are) and you must get it as well.

If you are a fan, it is a must, if you are new to Halstead, it is definitely a great start.  Highlights abound on the recordings (and interviews as well), but it is the moments like where he “forgets” the name of the song he is about to play and almost stops to try and remember (the first 10 seconds of “Two Stones in My Pocket” from Sleeping on Roads, included below).  So, now what do you do?  Head over to the MySpace Transmissions page and download the free 6 track live performance EP by clicking the below:

Well there you go, Halstead for the holidays.

Visit Neil on his website or his MySpace page.

~Smansmith

p.s.  Speaking of “Halstead for the holidays” – make sure to look into his contribution to “This Warm December – Vol. 1″ from Brushfire Records.

 
 Neil Halstead - "Two Stones in my Pocket" [3:36m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
 
 Neil Halstead - "Oh! Mighty Engine" [4:58m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

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