Discovered In April 2023 Mixed Tape
Released in 2023 And Discovered This Month
April has showered my ears with some music that I am certain I will be listening to well into the future.
Some artists that I have loved for some time and some brand-new ones.
Soul, country, ambient stuff, and rock and roll.
I am certain you will find a record here that will feature in your Spotify for more than one listen.
Very hard for me to choose the top record of the month, but hell, here it is.
Record Of The Month
Bella White-Among Other Things-Calgary born and brought up on bluegrass, Bella White is another youngster with a special voice. You either dig her delivery or not. You can hear the inner yodeller trying to escape.
White has now been signed to Rounder Records and they don’t just sign anyone.
Jonathan Wilson has really produced this perfectly. Each instrument comes shining through and Bella sounds like she is in the room singing with me.
All songs were written by the singer, Isobel Farley White.
File next to Sierra Ferrell and my thoughts are that they should get in the studio together sometime soon.
The Hold Steady-The Price Of Progress-More tales from the pen of Craig Finn and the sound is what you would expect.
The characters are always so well described you can smell them. What sort of people inhabit these songs?
“Desperate characters make sudden moves, which makes them useful in storytelling. A lot of the people on this record are being squeezed by the late-stage capitalism. They’re people that are interfacing with the way we survive in a capitalist world, and they’re being squeezed by things like inflation or income inequality.” -Craig Finn
20 years on and steady as ever.
Upstate-You Only Get A Few-New Yorkers call anything North of the City, upstate. This band hails from that region of the country and they are a pleasant find.
This is their 3rd album of folk/pop and their first self-funded and produced release. You will get some sweet harmonies and some well-written tunes.
“The biggest thing about this record, in comparison to the others, was that we made it at a time in the pandemic when we had no sense of what the future of the band would be. We weren’t sure if we’d ever really tour again in a big way, so we didn’t make the record with its “commercial” appeal in mind. We made it because we loved the songs, and tried to make a record we would love to listen to, so it has a more personal and authentic stamp in some respects than our previous albums.”-Upstate
The way records should be made.
North Americans-Long Cool World-Put this one on and sit back and relax with guitarist Patrick McDermott and pedal steel ace Barry Walker. It’s like taking a walk in a beautiful forest without leaving the house.
It has been described online as ‘ambient Americana’. Now there is a new sub-genre for you!
The Wood Brothers-Heart Is The Hero-This is a favourite little trio of mine and their music just gives me grins. If you are just finding out about these guys, well this is as good a place as any to start. It has been 17 years since their first studio record, so you have some great records to visit if you dig this one.
This album is full of heart, love, and compassion. This is something we all need after the ride we have been on over the last few years.
Will Van Horn-San Luis Pass-More ambient Americana from Texas. You can listen to this right after or before the North Americans record. If you love pedal steel used outside of a honky tonk fashion, you may love this dreamy little release.
St. Paul And The Broken Bones-Angels In Science Fiction-Lead singer Paul Janeway wrote letters to his future daughter and now they are here for you to digest in song. Janeway has such an incredible voice and The Broken Bones on this their 5th record sound simply heavenly.
With 2 records released in the last year, where does this band go next?
Let’s hope fatherhood is a fabulous gig for Janeway and more music organically flows from the steps he takes.
Having seen this band recently in Melbourne they are truly at the zenith of their powers.
Rose City Band-Garden Party-Ripley Johnson has many fires burning. He collaborates with others in Wooden Shjips and Moon Duo.
Barry Walker is here on pedal steel again and you may think these are Grateful Dead riffs or maybe even The Flying Burrito Brothers. Check out “Porch Boogie” and you are in jam band heaven.
Hope you have enjoyed this month’s music and really do hope you give the music a listen.
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