No price rises here: The MOnday (9.3.26)
Tardy, but nevertheless... New music from Amble, Fold, Katherine Priddy, Hana Lili and more.
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Amble - Live in Dublin 2 (Album)
I’ve absolutely rinsed this one to kingdom come since it was released on Friday. It’s a beautiful record of what sounds like an incredible live show, with an audience that really outdid themselves singing along and a great mix balancing that crowd sound with the band’s cracking performance. Opener ‘Schoolyard Days’ sets the scene and energy level perfectly and the final track, ‘Mary’s Pub’, is so emotionally delivered that it brings a genuine tear to my eye every time.
Fire Blanket - Brother
A blast of desperate vehemence expressed through perfectly-judged rock chords, heavy drumming (open hi-hats FTW) and shouty-yet-attractively raw vocals. Fire Blanket are still getting going as a band but each track carries a weight of care and seems to hit the spot.
Fold - Shut Down
The Fold collective (subject of this very in-depth interview I did last year) say they’ve had to “take a step back from making records & playing shows due to many factors, not least of which the cost of living crisis”, but nevertheless felt compelled to release this track in response to “the darkness, dread and sense of doom that pervades us all at present.” It’s a great example of the curious comfort and sense of togetherness that can result from music which — at face value — is ominous and dark. Rich with front-foot beats and reverberating chimes, and featuring prescient spoken words from the late Mike Ruppert, this is vital listening.
[Listen on Soundcloud or Bandcamp]
Francis of Delirium - It’s a Beautiful Life
Oh it’s great to have FoD back. She’s hugely on form here with a pacey track rich with hazy vocals, characteristic grungy power chords, but also more acoustic guitar than usual. If you don’t know this artist yet, you’re in for a treat. Check out her last album ‘Lighthouse’ as she prepares to release a new one on 29th May.
Hana Lili - Complicated
A wonderfully paced song, setting thick guitars against shining vocals and reflecting Hana’s heavy ’90s influences. But she sounds refreshed as well as completely honest here — there’s a sense of revitalisation even as Hana grapples with the reality of complex human relationships.
Hunter As a Horse - Here’s To All the Ones
A swirling, vibey, resonant track, shining in a galaxy of reverb. Breathy vocals seem to glide overhead a landscape growing hazy in the gloaming. It’s another on-point track from HAaH.
Katherine Priddy - These Frightening Machines (Album)
What an outstanding album this is. KP has showed, again, the ability to grow, explore and excel along a new path while keeping firmly in view of her roots. Her songwriting skill is unparalleled in the modern folk genre, allowing her to introduce new and very relevant themes.
Her third album opens with the vehement and intense ‘Matches’ and then wends through multiple styles while following a careful, bright thread of consistency. ‘Sirius’ is one of my favourites, featuring an intriguing mix of sounds (guitars, organ, drums, bongos, and I think a sitar), apt lyrics and a lush, descending chord sequence. Later, ‘I’m Always Willing’ sees KP sing a lilting duet with Richard Walters — a great combination of voices.
I also highly recommend War Child’s ‘HELP(2)’ featuring amazing contributions from artists including Olivia Rodrigo, Big Thief and Beth Gibbons (my favourite may be ‘Parasite’ by English Teacher and Graham Coxon).
Other recently released recommendations include ‘REGRETS’ by Blu Syrup, and ‘Crumbs’ by Girl Scout (their final single to be released ahead of their debut album schedule for 20th March).
Watch this
I couldn’t resist featuring this song again - the official video sees Hana Lili having tons of fun as she re-creates the analogue video vibes that match those 90s influences so well.
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Don’t miss this week
As always, check the Release Tracker! And don’t miss the new album from YONAKA on Friday (‘Until You’re Satisfied’)
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