Jerry David DeCicca released his second solo album Time The Teacher on the 9th of February. The album is out here in Europe on the Impossible Ark Records. The former The Black Swans frontman has written a very lovely album that will bring a lot of light and color to these dark winter nights. Sure there are some dark subjects, but the overall feel of the album is very mellow, light and comfortable. Piano and horns carry the songs towards me and the soulful backup singers lift them into my heart. Even though the album feels like a gentle easy-flowing bright breeze and I thought about reviewing this by just posting the song Just Ah by The Blades of Grass as the review, the album is not in any way lazy or effortless. There’s quite a lot of depth and detail in the subtle arrangements and the contrast between sweet sounds and melancholic thoughts can also get immensely moving. Therefore even a teardrop might grace the smile of the listener, but these are the good kind of tears that will glue you back together.

Jerry David DeCicca Website

During the past weeks, I’ve been sharing a lot of singles from forthcoming albums, but here’s one monumental 2018 album that is already out and available and sets the bar pretty high for the new year. It’s the new H.C. McEntire solo Lionheart that came out on Merge Records on the 26th of January. Previously she has given us a lot of amazing music as the singer and songwriter of the great North Carolinian band Mount Moriah. This astonishing solo debut contains Southern country sounds, folk rock songs and soulful gospel hymns delivered with power, passion and clarity. The album is a personal, influential and eternally beautiful. Especially the hymns of the album A Lamb, A Dove and When You Come For Me leave such a giant mark on my heart. She was raised in a religious family where being gay was not an option and now she sings in a gospel-like hymn that “I have found heaven in a woman’s touch” and does it with such grace, empathy and dignity. It’s not an aggrieved attack, it’s a lesson of deep kindness. Highly needed in this world where lack of empathy often seems to be like a running theme. Lionheart is a powerful album that everyone should hear.

H.C. McEntire at Facebook

Hey there’s a new Caleb Caudle album available in a few weeks and I haven’t said a word. What is wrong with me? Ok, I did take a small head start by dropping the excellent first single Empty Arms on the songs of the year 2017 list, but that has been all. Better up my game, because I’m a long time fan of this North Carolina-based americana songwriter. The new album Crushed Coins is due out 23rd of February on Cornelius Chapel Records and I’m expecting it to be full of endearing songwriting and warm americana sounds. Latest song to surface from the forthcoming album is Lost Without You and there’s also a gorgeous music video for the song. Watch it below and pre-order the record at Bandcamp.

Caleb Caudle Website

What a lovely surprise. A new single from the great Portland-based singer-songwriter Anna Tivel. I’m actually still living under the influence of Anna Tivel’s tremendous 2017 album Small Believer. To be honest, I haven’t made any plans to move on, because I’m quite happy staying here with these misfortuned characters of her songs. The characters of her songs may not have luck on their side and their own misguided actions may even drive them further into darkness, but Anna always tells their stories with empathy, warmth and heart. The new song Dust and Magic is a rare love song in her captivating songbook. Sure there’s a bit of that dark too, but it’s overshadowed by the devoted love. It’s an incredible song and further proof that Anna Tivel is one of the finest songwriters and storytellers at the moment.

Anna Tivel Website