Lily Henley, a singer-songwriter, composer and fiddler, tapped into the ancient traditions of Ladino-speaking Sephardic Jews to create her latest work, the soul-stirring Oras Dezaoradas. Already known for finding the similarities between Sephardic and American folk music and fusing them together, Henley went even deeper for this release. She fully immersed herself into the oldContinue reading “Lily Henley – Oras Dezaoradas”
Category Archives: folk
Joseph Allred Announces New Album with a New Video, “Sweetcorn Ramble”
Joseph Allred continues to prove themselves as being one of the most imaginative and skilled artists in folk-inspired music today with their new song, “Sweetcorn Ramble,” from their upcoming LP, The Rambles & Rags of Shiloh. The record, which comes out July 1 on Worried Songs and is available for preorder today, is a trulyContinue reading “Joseph Allred Announces New Album with a New Video, “Sweetcorn Ramble””
Single Premiere: “Wednesday” by J.M. Hart
J.M. Hart sings of the woes and wares of the working man on “Wednesday,” the lead single from his upcoming record, Slips, Trips, & Falls. If you’re new to RCU, Hart is an exceptionally personal and genuine singer-songwriter and podcaster based in Virginia. His music is often a blend of different aspects of the folkContinue reading “Single Premiere: “Wednesday” by J.M. Hart”
Single Premiere: “Lead Man,” by Ralph E. White
With the help of Jerry David DeCicca in the producer’s chair, Ralph E. White has returned with a new record of surreal folk-inspired music on Worried Songs called It’s More in My Body Than in My Mind. White is a wonderfully eccentric and sadly underestimated southwestern American artist that has been operating within the tangledContinue reading “Single Premiere: “Lead Man,” by Ralph E. White”
Joseph Allred – Branches & Leaves
Joseph Allred’s stirring new record, Branches & Leaves, is a masterpiece amalgamation of folk traditions and stylings. Available on vinyl through Feeding Tube Records and digitally from Allred’s Bandcamp page, Branches & Leaves features everything from spiritual choral singing to banjo fantasias and chamber string music. Allred breathes new life into these traditions of old,Continue reading “Joseph Allred – Branches & Leaves”
Devin Hoff – Voices From the Empty Moor (Songs of Anne Briggs)
Bassist Devin Hoff’s loving tribute to Anne Briggs explores the depth and the versatility of the British folk legend’s classic songbook. Most readers here would agree that Anne Briggs, along with Shirley Collins, is one of the foundational pillars of the English folk music revival of the 1960s and 1970s. She unquestionably inspired an entireContinue reading “Devin Hoff – Voices From the Empty Moor (Songs of Anne Briggs)”
Doran – s/t
Doran’s self-titled debut album is an absolute blessing for any fan of folk and freak folk music. Elizabeth LaPrelle (of Anna & Elizabeth) joined forces with musicians Channing Showalter and Annie Schermer (of West of Roan), and songwriter and producer Brian Dolphin to create this collection of beautifully rustic folk tunes. The Washington-centered group honedContinue reading “Doran – s/t”
Ruthann Friedman – Hurried Life: Lost Recordings, 1965-1971
For Record Store Day’s “Drop 2” this Saturday, keep an eye out for the first ever vinyl issue of Hurried Life: Lost Recordings, 1965-1971, by astral folk cult favorite, Ruthann Friedman. Originally released in 2006 on CD and finally pressed onto black plastic this year by Tompkins Square Records, Hurried Life features 15 demos, homeContinue reading “Ruthann Friedman – Hurried Life: Lost Recordings, 1965-1971”
Maybel – Gathering
Airy folk instrumentation, gentle harmonies and wistful atmospheres await you on Maybel’s Gathering. Released on Idée Fixe records in late May, the Montreal group’s debut full-length intermingles rustic traditional folk sounds and stylings with some hints of ambient music. In the background of many of these songs, you often hear layers of spacey lap steelContinue reading “Maybel – Gathering”
Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Nathan Salsburg, Max Porter – Three Feral Pieces
If you talk to any songwriter, they’d be sure to tell you that it’s always harder to write tunes to prewritten words. Yet, Nathan Salsburg and Bonnie “Prince” Billy adapted the stream of consciousness-like writing of Max Porter into songs so perfectly, you’d swear that the lyrics and the music were born from just aContinue reading “Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Nathan Salsburg, Max Porter – Three Feral Pieces”
Record Crates United 