Today I’m proud to premiere something timeless and almost otherwordly. French Life is A Minestrone has been responsible of creating excellent various artist compilations during the last few years, but the proper birth of Life Is A Minestrone Records happens on the 24th of August when they release a remarkable album from Joel Henry Little.

Joel Henry Little is a young singer-songwriter from New York City and his moving and incredibly beautiful album Spuyten Duyvil is a work of art. His music has echoes of the work of classic pop composers like Harry Nilsson, Emitt Rhodes, Jimmy Webb and Jimmy Campbell. Another main ingredient is his love of Broadway musicals and these influences effortlessly blend together to form a glorious and timeless combination of classic 70s pop/folk songwriting, baroque pop and Broadway musicals. Spuyten Duyvil is an exceptional album that takes you on a imaginative musical journey that leaves a lasting impression.

Spuyten Duyvil is out this Friday on Life Is A Minestrone Records. Listen to the beautiful album below and pre-order it from Life Is a Minestrone’s Bandcamp.

Joel Henry Little Website
Joel Henry Little at Facebook
Life is a Minestrone at Bandcamp
Life is a Minestrone at Facebook

Things are looking bright on the release front and lots of great albums will be coming out this fall. Away Together by Adeline Hotel is definitely in that group, because Dan Knishkowy, the man behind the moniker, has created something really special that will leave a lasting impression. The lead single Habits surfaced a couple of weeks ago and it’s full of delicate warmth that radiates into my heart. The album Away Together will be out on Ruination Record Co. on the 26th of October. You can pre-order vinyl/digital, if you hit the links on that bandcamp player below.

Adeline Hotel at Facebook

The latest addition to the Mama Bird family is the Montana mountain man Izaak Opatz. His album Mariachi Static first saw the light of the day in 2017, but Mama Bird Recording Co reissued it on vinyl on the 27th of July. Rightfully so, because it’s one hell of a record that deserves way more recognition than what it got the first time around. Mariachi Static is an extremely enjoyable collection of lighthearted storytelling from a heavyweight songwriter. Sure there’s heartbreak, actually a whole lot of heartbreak in there too, but it’s delivered with a charming smile. Maybe if Jonathan goes americana instead of country next time around, he would be hiking on the same mountains as Izaak on this lovely debut full-length. Here’s a couple of personal favorites from this lovely album. Hit the bandcamp link on the player to buy/hear the whole thing.

Izaak Opatz Website

John Cathal O’Brien is a Dublin-born and NY-based folk songwriter. His latest album These Borders came out on the 10th of August and it’s a mesmerizing collection of quietly haunting folk songs. It can get quite melancholic, but even then, the brokenness and the confusion always dwells on soothing and comforting beauty. I’m not sure should anyone ever be compared to Leonard Cohen, because well, how could anyone live up to that comparison. Nevertheless, there’s definitely something here that reminds me of him. Maybe it’s the mood, maybe it’s the way the deceptively simple songs lure me in and slowly begin to reveal more layers about the song and the listener. In any case, These Borders is a great album full of beautifully melancholic and contemplative folk songs and it’s a treasure to behold.

John Cathal O’Brien Website