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JACKIE OATES Lullabies
Jackie Oates is a traditional folk singer songwriter who’s won countless awards since emerging on the scene in 2003. She’s also toured with Seth Lakeman and is a member of the folk ‘super group’ Imagined Village alongside Eliza Carthy, Chris Wood, Martin Carthy and other luminaries of the genre.
For her 5th studio album she’s decided to explore the very niche avenue (some may call it a cul de sac) of children’s lullabies, sleep songs and associated material designed to relax and sooth. But that’s a broader palette than you might imagine covering everything from a 12th century Wexford carol to Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and from McCartney’s Junk (written in 1968, but appearing on his first post Beatles release) to AA Milne (Alexander Beetle).
A sparsely instrumented and mostly acoustic set, it’s exquisitely delivered and recorded. Whether you’d manage to fully absorb all 15 tracks without drifting into the land of nod is open to debate. What isn’t, is that Lullabies is a dreamy collection that will surely cement Jackie Oates position as a leading light in the growing folk scene. ***1/2
Review by Pete Whalley
JOSH ROUSE The Happiness Waltz
A singer / songwriter who combines folk and pop, Josh Rouse is probably a name that, in this country, few beyond our buzzing metropolitan capital will know. But he’s had nine previous album releases so is by no means a new kid on the block.
That said, with a huge interest in the male singer/ songwriter genre, the timing could just be right for his latest release. Canadian by birth, brought up in the American mid-west and now resident in Spain, on The Happiness Waltz, Rouse manages to capture the ambiance of the 1970s (Paul Simon, and CS&N in particular) and successfully marry it to the laid back pop sensibilities of Jack Johnson.
The result is a rather enjoyable road trip that brings a joyful feeling of sunny days and summer breezes. One for top down days. ***
JOHN SMITH Great Lakes
Not the no stranger to a fish supper ‘two Jags’ politician, or any relation to a Tetley’s Cream Flow, this John Smith is a West Country singer songwriter who supported Richard Hawley on his December 2012 tour, and who is often found as the guitarist in Lisa Hannigan’s band.
Listening to Great Lakes – his 3rd studio album, the Lisa Hannigan connection makes perfect sense, there’s the same gentle and thoughtful approach. Restrained finger picking and warm smoky vocals are the order of the day. Hard to believe he honed his skills unpicking the likes of Zeppelin’s Kashmir.
The male acoustic guitar wielding genre Is in vogue like no time since the sixties at present, but John Smith bears greater comparison with the more ‘thoughtful’ artists of the genre – like, Ray La Montagne, than he does with the likes of Ed Sheeran. Intricate and soulful. ***
THE LEISURE SOCIETY Alone Aboard The Ark
Recorded at Ray Davies’ Konk Studios, double Ivor Novello nominees The Leisure Society have been dubbed Britain’s answer to the likes of Fleet Foxes.
For those unfamiliar with band’s previous two home studio recorded albums – The Sleeper (2009) and Into The Murky Water (2011) they deliver an intelligent blend of indie folk / pop / rock. Alone Aboard The Ark see the band expand their Arcadian, Baroque pop sound with an ambitious array of sounds and inventive orchestration.
Recorded on 2 inch tape and a 1970s mixing desk, Alone Aboard The Ark is both eclectic and ebullient, and a natural progression. Dedicated followers will be more than impressed. ***
Reviews by Pete Whalley
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024
In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections
Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)
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