UK folk duo Nobodaddy prove solid in their story-telling skills on Butterfly from their latest (February 2014) long-player, Longing For Flight. The duo (Adam Clark and Mike Wordingham), both accomplished songwriters and musicians in their own right, write wonderful introspective, sometimes dark folk songs. Vocally, the lead is always in front, but there are some great harmonies here too. It’s just that the stories are always in the forefront as they should be in any folk song. With eight years between their debut long-player, There Must…
Read MoreDublin, Ireland two-piece pop rockers, Darling, know how to create an infectious melody, a raucous beat and great vocal harmonies with youthful energy. Here, from what is billed as a debut self-titled EP (October 2013), but is more akin to an extended single, Darling gives glimpses of what is to come. Sounding at times like a band much larger and even “echoing” (pun intended) their kinsman U2 at times, Echoes which appears twice on the EP, once in this form and again as a remix,…
Read MoreTom Fletcher is one of four members of the English pop-rock troupe McFly. In the 9 months before his baby was born, Tom decided to write a song about it and to document it. The wonderful result is From Bump To Buzz, which is simply delightful. Tom sings “I think I’m ready for something new” in the bridge and refrain between verses, each of which describes everyday life occurrences. It’s a future look from a young man with positive thoughts about…
Read Morehttps://youtu.be/7IvrYqgazHI Auckland, NZ indie-folk band Paper Cranes has a magnificent sound; warm, inviting, and full. Formed in 2011, the group released their first 7-song EP in September 2012 (Oh Love!) following that up with the single, Little Darling (see video) in September 2013. Little Darling is the precursor to the long-player, Be My Home, due out this Summer. Filled with diverse instrumentation, provided for the most part by the five permanent members, and vocals that are polished with wonderful harmonies, Paper Cranes stands out in a field that can be more than a bit maudlin and same-sounding. Little Darling’s haunting minor keys are hard…
Read MoreSwedish folk singer Sofia Talvik has a bell-like voice that demands your ears. The Garden is from Sofia’s January 2012 long-player, The Owls Are Not What They Seem. The deep upright bass adds a striking undertone to this folk-pop gem, with Sofia’s voice striking forward to reveal the message. Throughout The Owls Are Not What They Seem there is a decidedly different feel to these 12 tracks, from the pop flavored (Garden) to the country tinged (If I Had A Man) to…
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