Discovered In May 2023 Mixed Tape
Music Released in 2023....Discovered This Month
Greetings from the chilly environs of Cockatoo, Victoria.
My housesitting here is coming to an end soon. It’s been nice to be out of the urban sprawl but it has been chilly up here. Mimi and Ceasar, the cats I am looking after, don’t really keep me warm even though they are both very, very furry.
Although I have been catching up on some Grateful Dead/Jerry Garcia live releases over the last two months, I still had some time to check out some new releases.
Hope you find something you like. Let me know in the comments as the discussion is always fun!
Jeb Loy Nichols/Clovis Phillips-Three Fools- This is my record of the month. It’s warm and simple and touching. The self-described writer, musician, artist, worrier, reader, sleeper, tree planter, and squirrel watcher, Nichols resides in Wales and makes music that is timeless, deeply moving, and has that human touch.
The most organic, wholesome record you'll hear this year.
Made by friends because they wanted to.
I love the title track a whole bunch. I even sent Jeb an email letting him know how much I enjoyed this record and lo and behold he even wrote back.
Here is a short film to give you an insight into Jeb. Check it out.
First Two Pages Of Frankenstein-The National-Their 9th record and one that was beset with the writers’ block of Matt Berninger.
As Matt said about one of his possible ‘cures’ for his inability to write, “I quit antidepressants and went back to weed and wine, and that actually helped a little bit”
It appears help came from nearby as his bandmates supported him and he pushed through. I would say there is not much new here, but if you dig this band, you will be rewarded. The track “New Order T-Shirt” reminds me of memories that are not even mine.
“Most of us just have these little jewels in our pocket,” he says, “these little moments that we hang, this little candy necklace of our favorite memories. I wanted to put some of those together, those bits and pieces. It’s not a narrative, it’s just these little Polaroids of scattered memories.”-Matt Berninger
Phoebe Bridger, Sufjan Stevens, Taylor Swift and the London Contemporary Orchestra make appearances within the grooves.
Stephen Stills-Live At Berkeley-1971-Capturing Stills at the top of his game, this is a fabulous artifact and an excellent recording for that era. Joined by his regular touring band of drummer Dallas Taylor and bassist Calvin “Fuzzy” Samuels—along with keyboardist Paul Harris, guitarist Steve Fromholz, and percussionist Joe Lala you can feel the energy in the room and on the stage.
David Crosby joins in for a couple of numbers and the horn section includes Wayne Shorter and Sidney George amongst others. Their version of “Cherokee” this evening is worth your time.
Joy Oladokun-Proof Of Life-Beautiful and engaging song-writing from Oladokun.
“My only intention,” Oladokun said, “is to make music to help myself process everyday life, and to help other people process everyday life.”
Music for everyone. Get your ears around this rising star.
Here is what she has to say about being pigeonholed.
“I get scared of becoming pointed at one audience,” she added. “That’s why I push against country or Americana. I’m just a Black person who plays the guitar and grew up with a dad who listens to Kenny Rogers.”
Charlotte Le Lievre-Songs From The Barrier Line-Le Lievre’s debut record straddles the folk/country border (wherever that is!). Her voice captures you and the simple, clearly recorded live-to-tape arrangements make you feel like you are in the room or the back porch with these musicians. And she is Australian to boot!
Charlotte on the recording of this little gem:
“I really didn’t want something that was heavily produced, so I made the decision to record live to tape. I wanted an old country sound, so that’s why I chose tape. And also a live sound because a lot of the songs are really about the feeling and the emotion and I just felt like only a live take could capture that, even though that was king of terrifying. But they were really intentional choices ‘cause I wanted a really raw, live, authentic sound and I think we did a really good job of meeting that.”
Eilen Jewell-Get Behind The Wheel-Life during Covid was not the easiest ride for Jewell. Her husband, who is her drummer/manager, had a falling out and split and there was death and uneasiness being off the road.
But she has kept it together and is back on the road and has recently released this excellent gathering of songs. Her ex-husband is still her drummer and her manager and the father and caring Dad of their daughter Mavis.
Crooked River and Winnemucca are stand-out tracks. Jerry Glenn Miller is still holding down guitar duties like no one else can.
Don’t forget to catch her live. She was just in Melbourne recently and her gig at The Espy was powerful and clear and happy making. What else do you need?
Cian Nugent-She Brings Me Back To The Land Of The Living-I found calm and serenity within these tracks. You should definitely go there.
Nugent hails from Ireland and until I came across this record he was unknown to me.
Not anymore.
“Meaning can come from surprising places. In 2019, while rehabilitating from a stroke and experiencing aphasia (difficulty with speech and in her case a complete inability to speak), my mother began saying: “she brings me back to the land of the living” seemingly out of nowhere and with little knowledge of its origin or meaning. The phrase seemed fortuitous and mysteriously meaningful. It stuck with me, while I was working on the songs that became this album and it gained further meaning when in 2020 I moved back to my family home in the Dublin suburbs to become a caretaker for her. This lifestyle change and the new role provided purpose and it also helped conceptually form this album. And in a sense provided a return for me to the land of the living. The songs here act as a way of processing change and accepting new futures. The album cover is a painting made by my mother Kathy Nugent in 2019 while in the hospital. It served as inspiration and guidance during the album’s production.”- Cian Nugent, January 2023
Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives-Altitude-Stuart is 8 miles high on his latest release. If you dig the Byrds, I think you might want to give this one a spin. The Superlatives are Kenny Vaughan on guitar, Harry Stinson on drums, and Chris Scruggs on guitar and bass and steel.
Tinariwen- Amatssou-If you dig these dudes from North Africa, then you will love this release. Throw in a little banjo from Wes Corbett and pedal steel from Daniel Lanois and you have a country and African record. It’s light on the country. I just love the sound of the vocals in the Tamashek language.
Catch you with some new stuff next month….and of course my regular meanderings through life, the hard drive of photos and whatever tickles my fancy.