Folk
Classic Album: Bob Dylan – Oh Mercy
As the 80s drew to a close it was difficult to escape the conclusion that Bob Dylan‘s muse had been largely AWOL since 1976’s Desire. Since that album’s release there had certainly been allusions to greatness but it was usually by way of songs that Dylan chose to omit from shoddy albums. As a result, despite …
Not Forgotten: Jethro Tull – Stormwatch
If Jethro Tull’s ‘folk trilogy’ was not a reaction to Punk, then it was a stupendously well timed circumstance that saw the old rockers pull in the musical opposed direction to the fashionable youth rock movement of the time. While folk had always been an element of the Jethro Tull sound, 1977’s Songs From the …
Not Forgotten: Jethro Tull – Under Wraps
The mid 80s were a fascinating and fractious time for what would become known as classic rock. The two giant super bands of the 70s were no longer with us, with Pink Floyd having imploded in acrimony around Roger Waters’ ever more despotic tendencies, and Led Zeppelin coming to an end following the sad death …
Not Forgotten: Jethro Tull – Rock Island
1987’s Crest of a Knave went some way to re-establishing Jethro Tull as elder-statesmen of rock if not actual contenders. That album had even won a Grammy (and in doing so, annoyed a lot of Metallica fans), but other than that, it didn’t really break any new ground, other than being the sound of one of the …
Premiere: Broken Forest – Ghosts in the dark
Taken from Broken Forest’s forthcoming ‘Live at the old church’ EP, out on August 30th via Luise London Records, were delighted to premiere the new video for an live acoustic version of recent single ‘Ghosts in the Dark’ right here on Backseat Mafia. Essentially the project of Luise London, Broken Forest takes their folk stylings …
Premiere: Tony Harrah – Unicorns album stream
Everything changed for singer-songwriter Tony Harrah about year ago when his wife, and mother of his three children, suddenly passed away. The result of that is a new record, titled Unicorns – the name of the eulogy he gave at her funeral, and we’re delighted to premiere it here on Backseat Mafia. Although written partly …
Track: Jesca Hoop – Outside of Eden
Jesca Hoop has released new single ‘Outside Of Eden’.Taken from her new album ‘Stonechild’, ‘Outside Of Eden’ is as delicate an offering as you could hood for from Jesca Hoop. Atmospheric folk, shrouded in harmonies and close production, but with the sort of yearning melody that lives long in the memory “true to folk as …
Album Review: House and Land – Across the Field
It’s always this way for me, with music like this. Everything about it evokes the country; but not the country seen from far away of slow rolling slopes, soft meadows, trees whose green is bright and joyful seen from above and outside. Not this country. This is the country up close. The grass is stone-ridden …
Premiere: Firefly Burning – Breathe Shallow album stream
Breathe Shallow is the third full length album from art/alt-folk band Forefly Burning, and is out this Friday (May 31st) via Fathom Records. The band, Bea Hankey (vocals) Jack Ross (guitar, percussion, vocals) James Redwood (violin/mandolin, vocals), Sam Glazer (cello, vocals) and John Barber (piano, bass synth, gendér barung, percussion and vocals), mould together traditional …
Album Review: Tall Tree 6Ft Man – Boundaries
It’s amazing what potluck it can be picking up a reviewing assignment. Sometimes it’s an artist you know, sometimes someone you’ve asked for or hunted down desperately over the years. Other times it’s a leap in the dark: you open the email, click on the soundcloud link, start listening and pick through the bio and …