Danny & The Champions of the World, A Grave With No Name & John Calvin Abney
I’ve never been a dedicated follower of fashion, but I’ve always been a dedicated follower of Danny Wilson. New Danny & The Champions of the World album What Kind Of Love drops into our arms on the 1st of June and based on this first outtake below, it’s going to bring a lot warmness and tenderness into our souls. The album will be released by the ever lovely and constantly brilliant UK label Loose Music. This is the soulful title track What Kind Of Love.
Danny & The Champions of the World Website
I already posted the single Orion before this new A Grave With No Name album was out, but a reminder is in order because the album is now out and available. I still love Orion so much. It sounds a lot like Sparklehorse to me and well I’m a huge Sparklehorse fan. However, the album has other treasures as well. Like this beauty below called I Will Ride a Horse. The album Feathers Wet, Under the Moon is now out on Lefse Records.
A Grave With No Name at Facebook
And here’s one that I listened to quite a lot a couple of months ago, but don’t think I ever said a word. John Calvin Abney is a gifted songwriter from Oklahoma and his latest album Better Luck is mighty good. I especially have a fond memory of listening this song Dallas City Lights on my way back home after an evening/night of playing records in a bar and watching some great bands play. It wasn’t Dallas, but it sure felt good to listen to this on repeat at 3 am while walking under the Turku city lights. You can buy/listen to the whole record on his Bandcamp.
Barna Howard – Quite A Feelin’
The most important music news that I can think of. New Barna Howard album Quite A Feelin’ is now out, available and ready to create a lifelong companionship with your heart. The self-titled debut was #2 on my albums of the year list back in 2012 and this new one is at least equally brilliant. The album was released by Mama Bird Recording Co in the US and by Loose Music in Europe. Album of the month post about this coming up within a week or two. I just had to make an early shout-out and make a little news entry about the release of this future classic. This is Bitter Side Of Blue from Quite A Feelin’.
Robert Chaney – Cracked Picture Frames
The blog has been pretty much on hold during the spring and therefore I still haven’t written about some real treasures that have been released during the first half of 2015. Robert Chaney’s new album Cracked Picture Frames is one of those treasures. This London-based folk troubadour has written extremely convincing album. It’s not really an album that I listen to on a daily basis, because it doesn’t work as just background music. You really need to pay attention, but that’s only a good thing. We already have more than enough of that zip-a-dee-do-dah filling the airwaves. So every now and then it’s good to just focus on the song and listen when a gifted folk musician tells you a dark story. Robert Chaney is a brilliant songwriter and storyteller. The whole album is gorgeous, but these two below really take my breath away. This is songwriting of the highest order. The Cyclist and The Ballad of Edward and Lisa.
Great Peacock – Making Ghosts, Hip Hatchet – Hold You Like A Harness
A big favourite during the week has been the debut album by Great Peacock. I wrote about the earlier EP a year or two ago. It has taken them a while to finish the debut full-length, but now the wait is over and Great Peacock from Nashville, Tennessee are ready to create a beautiful harmony-filled havoc in your heart. Making Ghosts is an excellent album and something that will stay on my playlist for a long time. They say it’s pop music with folk tendencies. So it’s kind of like made for me, because I’m a fan of melodic pop, who has drifted more and more towards folk/country/americana during the years (therefore the word pop still stands proudly on the subtitle of the blog). Making Ghosts was released by the forever lovely label called This Is American Music. They know their stuff and I can highly recommend pretty much everything they’ve released during the last few years. This is Church Bells from Making Ghosts. Listen to/buy the whole thing on that Bandcamp page.
I wrote a little about this one a few months back, but the whole beautiful thing wasn’t out then and therefore a reminder is in order. Portland-based singer-songwriter Hip Hatchet aka Philippe Bronchtein has a new album out and available. It’s called Hold You Like A Harness and it’s mighty good. This one is Tacoma Bound, one of my own favourites from the new album. Check out and buy the whole thing on his Bandcamp page.