reviews of singer-songwriters with acid folk reference

pre-release Marissa Nadler : The Saga of Mayflower May (US,2005)*****

A friend of mine, when visiting, was curious if I knew of another rich coloured voice like for instance, Sandy Denny. I couldn’t convince him with Mandy Morton, but Marissa Nadler blew him away. And indeed, each song of Marissa's shows its own worlds in poetry, in growth like a flower, shining gently, accompanied by the spiral-wards splendid acoustic guitarpicking. From her earlier demo with different, easier guitar, and with a beautiful transformed dark melancholic melody is “Yellow Lights”. “Old Love haunts me in the morning”, acoustic guitar, voice, and some piano, for me is almost like the voice of love itself, sadly unreachable, but therefore also beautiful and pure, as a spring-time condition. Somehow all inspirations on this album are as much related to nature, on various levels of inspiration. “Calico” might be something like her place into the picture. “Horses and their kin” is a perfect closer with 12-string guitar fingerpicking and various vocal chorus arrangements. Brilliant !

For me already one of my favourite releases of the last couple of years. A future classic !

It will be released by Eclipse records in America and Beautiful Happiness, a new label from England, is putting it out for european listeners.

More audio : "Under an old umbrella", "Lily, Henry, and the Willow Trees","Calico"(or here),

"Horses and their Kin", "Mr John Lee (Velveteen Rose)", "Old Love Haunts Me In The Morning"

Info : http://www.marissanadler.com/ E-mail : marissamoon6@hotmail.com

Marissa's favourites : http://www.dustedmagazine.com/features/365

Reviews : http://www.theunbrokencircle.co.uk/album_reviews_text_archive8.htm#Bookmark 2

& http://dustedmagazine.com/reviews/2210 & http://www.othermusic.com/2005may12update.html

& http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/n/nadler_marissa/saga-of-mayflower-may.shtml

& http://www.boomkat.com/item.cfm?id=17678

Greek review : http://www.tranzistor.gr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=244&Itemid=28

Interview : http://www.digitalisindustries.com/foxyd/feature_detail.php?id=149

Review of 2006 release : http://singersong.homestead.com/newsingers-12.html#anchor_500

PrivateAlicia Bay Laurel : Living on Earth (HI,2000)***°

In 1971, Alicia was in her twenties when she started to live in a hippie commune, and had published a kind of handbook for hippies wanting to live in nature and enjoy a child-like innocence and joy. The book, now in reprint- contains charming drawings and became a successful bestseller. Between 1968 and 1975 she wrote additional songs for it, which were all but one, recorded in 2000.

The music has an underlying similar kind of deliberate naivety to enjoy life with a certain practical minimalism, which is feminine, charming and lovely. The songs are short. The stylistic folk simplicities just here and there (like on "In the Morning") are completely forgivable or still suitable because of its strong inner sweetness, which works like a winking eye to inner wish for love, and which still works as a ode to life. There has been attention to some variety in guitar playing. There are also stylistic surprises, like original bluesy interpretations, or an open tuning track called "Vai raga" with Indian flavour, or a 40 voice choir interpretation of the opening track as a perfect closer.

This is a very nice and lovely album which is suitable for repeated listening experiences and which grows with each listen. (I discovered this album through a Japanese collector’s list of psychedelic folk). The album itself is like a resume of one life's experience in a certain world of existence.

Audio : "In The Morning", "Chard and Chives"( or here), "Hang out and Breathe" (or here), "Nineteen Sixty-Six", "Vai Raga"

Info : http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/ablaurel

Homepage : http://www.aliciabaylaurel.com/

Fan webpage : http://60sfurther.com/Tao-Guides-Alicia.htm

Old picture : http://www.vallejo.to/time/1970s_01.htm

Review of the book "Living on Earth" : http://www.januarymagazine.com/artcult/livingonearth.html

& http://www.hippy.com/php/article-5.html or http://www.hippy.com/alicia.htm

PrivateAlicia Bay Laurel : Living in Hawai'i Style (HI,2001)**°'

Alicia started to live and breathe the essences of the island of Hawaii with its own special ‘heart’ energy. Like she expressed the hippie life book and album, this album expresses original and historic Hawaiian songs, accompanied by a slack key guitar with the help of Lei’ohu Ryder, singer and spiritualist with roots in Hawaiian culture, Sam Ahia, vocalist and jazz guitarist and Rick Asher Keefer, with some ukulele and percussion and vocals. Different from the previous album that seemed to have been an expression of immediate life energy, here a few song experiences have a kind of nostalgic souljazz in them even as if something is lost but still remembered. Elsewhere I feel sadness as if being an ode to the original Hawaiian joyful soul, while the historical songs are the immediate reference, while guitar instrumentals like "Sassy / Manuela Boy / Livin' On Easy" are performed with a blues feeling. Other tracks, like the titletrack have all the luck and sunshine of Hawaii most brightly in them.

Audio : "Kanikau O Hawai'i"(or here), "From Hawaii to you",

"Moonlight and Shadows/Blue Lei","Holua, Kapalaoa, and Paliku","Living in Hawai'i style"

Audio : http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/ablaurel2

Homepage : http://www.aliciabaylaurel.com/

Fan webpage : http://60sfurther.com/Tao-Guides-Alicia.htm

Camera Obscura Sharron Kraus : Beautiful Twisted (UK/US,2002)***'

L. Woolfe : "Singer-songwriters operating in the field of compositions using traditionalfolk influences as their basis, occupy a remote and marginal space in the overall musical firmanent. Since the late 60's/70's creative boom, the standard was very much set bywriters and interpreters such as Richard Thompson, Sandy Denny, bands like Steeleye Span, Fairport Convention, Trees (much revered now but a commercial failure then) and a few others (UK perspective wise) There are a number of other examples in Europe and beyond, but that is stoy for elsewhere. Much that I have heard in this genre since (apart from undiscovered exceptions) has generally been uninspired, hackened retreads of ieas, subjects, musical colourations that show a singgular lack of inspiration and creative ability (see D.Daltrey and D.Youth). Not so Sharron Kraus on 'Beautiful Twisted' who gives us 11 self written songs that have a character of their own. The opening song 'The Peacock's Wing' can be read as a metaphor for still prevailing attitudes in the sex war, telling us a tale of an unrealistic male obsession with a woman's beauty, a desire to own and preserve this object of fascination for only his eyes and admire and devour with a twisted ardour. (reminded me of a chilling film entitled "The butterfly Collector" or may be "this collector"). The unsettling sense of things not being as they first appear carries trough to a number of the other songs, namely "Twins" and "Death Jig". What makes many of these songs successful is that though their is reference to this past (age old concerns, -tradition, love, spirit, unfaithful hearts) the subjects are firmly rooted and relevant to the present. Lyrics e.g. from 'Godstow' : "not fit to be mother / and don't want to be a wife, they took me to a nunnery / at a place up-river from here" are rooted in a reality (rather than fantasy and over romantised evocations of this past) both pst and present that illustrates the emale predicament / struggle for identity. The warnings in "the wrong man" are modern yet ageless. The title track is one of my favourites texturally and musically. Vovally Sharron is interesting thankfully without any cloying oversweetness, and conveys in an understated manner the content of the songs. She accompanies herself throughout the album on guitar, and 5 string banjo. Ably supported by Amy Clay on violin, Tracy Farbstein on fiddle and Ron Guensche on bass. It is a CD that rewards the attentive listener as repeated listens reveal the songs contents. I see from the credits an interest in works by names as Emily Dickinson, Wittgenstein, Borges, Angela Carter as well as more obvious names as Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits, Anne Briggs. Always a plus to find an artist in music, folk or otherwise with an interest in poetry, hilosophy and literature (beats self obsession any day).

My own remarks :

Beautiful to hear one of those rare releases with that 70's UK styled magical folk lineage. Claiming to be under influence of Shirley Collins (here with a clear and straight voice), Martin Carthy and Anne Briggs (we can hear this very well in style), but also (this time not in style) Violent Femmes, Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Coil, and The Swans. The songs are very unpretentious. I like the often use of the banjo (giving it a poetic touch). The accompaniment makes it sound often better, like the second male voice on "The River's Daughter", the extra fiddle use (Amy Clay and Tracy Farbstein) on various songs. Having first completed a Doctorate in Philosophy at the Oxford University it is also clear that her choice/writing of songs/ is never another grip in the obvious. Hope that Sharron's talent will blossom further.

PS. After this release she toured with the Iditarod.

Webpage : http://www.sharronkraus.com/

Label entry with sound files at http://www.cameraobscura.com.au/Bios/cambios_kraus.htm

& http://www.cameraobscura.com.au/cam050.htm

Review : http://perso.wanadoo.fr/zoopaloop/sharronbeautiful.htm

Review of Sharron Kraus release with the Iditarod at http://psychedelicfolk.homestead.com/acidfolkreview.html

Review of her latest item at http://psychedelicfolk.homestead.com/acidfolkreview5.html

Girlhenge Records Pamela Wyn Shannon : Nature's Bride (US,2001)***°

A musician with clear interest for magical faeric worlds, Pamela WynShannon seems to forge her music and artistic sensibilities through her connection with Nature. Without seeing a direct link to pagan symbolism, this connection seems the strongest with trees, for the tree as a symbol is to be found several times in the beautiful aesthetic artwork and music. The photos in the booklet, include beautiful pictures of Pamela with hat and clothes made with green moss. There is a reminiscence of the magicfound in UK artefacts and acid folk music. However, her music is in fact not so fragile or etheric. There is a spontaneous, mature happiness underneath that is being expressed which seems mainly from the territory of a female singer-songwriter while the folk elements are mainly in the accompaniment. Pamela Wyn Shannon's acoustic guitar, whenever put to the foreground sounds great, as in her guitar playing in the intro on the beautiful "Orlando", (partially based upon a Virginia Wolfe novel) or on the more melancholically romantic sounding, "Once Again Too Soon", or on the pared down guitar/ double bass/vocal song "Twig". Shannon's voice is modern and strong yet very sensitive at the same time. The well-crafted arrangements on Nature's Bride vary from traditional Irish, modern folk, folk rock, world music and classical. Included is a nice string quartet arrangement by Lizz Knowles on "Tree Song" One of Pamela's inspirations, besides literature and nature, is Robin Williamson, (Incredible String Band) who is thanked in her liner notes. Legendary bassist, Danny Thompson would have sounded perfect here he almost succeeded in his scheduled plans to play along on this album. Another influence seems to be Sanghamitra Chatterjee, a Bengali woman called to be her guru, who sang some beautiful second vocals and translated Shannon's lullaby segment into her native tongue on "New Language". "As I Roved Out" is an up tempo song with more of a folk rock arrangement. All fantastic songs are written by Pamela Wyn Shannon herself, except for the last one, a Nick Drake song, "I Was Made To Love Magic". This song was arranged carefully by Mike Fitzgerald with a large ensemble which includes brass and woodwind instruments, piano, bass and drums.

A very successful, great version! A recommended release to bring warmth, peace and understanding.

Webpage with info, soundfragments : www.girlhenge.com

& http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/pwshannon

Dutch version of this review / Nederlandse versie :

Pamela heeft duidelijk interesse voor de magisch feëerieke met de natuur verbonden werelden, voor bomen (in de illustraties wordt de eik of het eikeblad meermaals gebruikt), zonder dat ik een direkte link met bijvoorbeeld paganisme zie. Het digipack is prachtig en esthetisch verzorgd, bevat ook mooi geslaagde foto's van haarzelf met een hoed en kleren gemaakt van mos. Het doet ook allemaal denken aan een verwijzing naar momenten van magie in Englese acid folk muziek. Maar haar muziek heeft geen fragiliteit of heeft niet dat etherische. Ik hoor ergens een onderliggende, maar wel spontaan gevormde expressie van een volwassen vorm van gelukkigheid, dat eerder van het terrein van een singer-songwriter komt, terwijl de folk elementen voornamelijk van de begeleiding komen. De acoestische gitaar klinkt mooi, wanneer ze ooit eens meer op de voorgrond treedt, (zoals in de intro van het mooi "Orlando", gebaseerd op Virginia Woolf's boek, of in het meer melancholisch romantische "Once Again too soon", of in de song met guitar / contrabas / stem, "Twig"). Haar stem klinkt modern, helder en tegelijkertijd gevoelig. De arrangementen (sommige met een klein kamerorkest) zijn passend (met mooie strijkarrangementen door Liz Knowles in "The Trees"). Meestal is het een mix van folk-en klassiek geïnspireerde arrangementen. Buiten literatuur en de natuur was ook Robin Williamson (Incredible Stringband) een inspiratie. Danny Thompson zou hier perfect bij geklonken hebben -en dat was bijna gebeurd, moest zijn schema het toegelaten hebben-. Ook Sanghamitra Chaterjee lijkt haar invloed te hebben, een Bengaalse vrouw die Pamela's guru wordt genoemd, en die een mooie tweede stem arrangeerde en een klein Bengali strofe inzong op "Another Language". "As I roved out" is de enige up tempo song, met folkrock arrangementen. Alle (fantastische) songs waren door Pamela zelf geschreven, behalve de laatste song, van Nick Drake. Dit werd zorgvuldig gearrangeerd door Mike Fitzgerald, met enkele hoorns ?, drums en piano. Een geslaagde versie.

Ik geloof dat deze aan te raden uitgave warmte en wederzijds begrip in de omgeving zou kunnen stimuleren.

Also singer-songwriter radioshow producer Lawrence Woolfe reviewed this album :

L.Woolfe : "At a time when pesimism for the future is almost all persuasive along comes Pamela Wyn Shannon, an American with Irish roots, singing "I've got the world in my arms", on the opening track of her CD "Nature's Bride" If only ..? Well, the world would certainly know much more hope and optimism and a sense of harmony with nature. World in my arms opens with a fine chordal acoustic guitar rif. Rhythmically upbeat, it has an assured confident uplifting lyric and a fine musical accompaniment.

Evidence of Shannon's strong guitar work at the core of her songs is more than evident throughout the CD. "Song of Slow emerging", "Tree Song", and "Orlando" have an intense weave of guitar and violins. Shannon's voice reflects a sense of wonder and is indeed passionately intense. The Celtic folk element / roots are evident on the intro to "Just Shy of Rising Tide" but in the main such textures, incorporated into such songs musically, somehow transcends such a rigid description. There is sense of ensemble arrangements that transport the listener to another realm as on "Child's Eyes" with a weave of guitar, violins and flutes that even has a jazzy element to it. I love Shannon's vocals on this song as well as on "Once again to soon" and "New Language" where she is joined by Bengali vocalist Shanghamita Chatterjee to wonderful effect. "Twig" is a beautiful love song whilst "As I roved out" is the rockiest track on the album -excitingly energetic.

There we are, all originals that are still growing on me. Great arrangements and playing from all the musicians, and Pamela Wyn Shannon's guitar playing is inventive and melodic and her singing and songs are infused with spirit, earthiness and magic. Talking of magic.. the final song on this CD is a cover of Nick Drake's "I was made to love magic" and a fitting CD closer it is, too -a fine interpretation-. Nature's Bride is a CD that will reward repeated attentive listens, the music and excellent vibrant arrangements revealing themselves and enhancing the songs perfectly. " L.W.

Private / Eclipse Rec.Marissa Nadler : Ballads of Living and Dying (US,2004)****°/*****

Review made beforethe final release by Eclipse Records :

"So where are the labels now to release this ? Marissa’s voice reminded me at first a bit of Elizabeth Rapp, who didn’t appear on many songs of Tom Rapp's group Pearls Before Swine (back at the end of the 60’s, early 70’s), but what Marissa has created in mood is vivid here as well, be it in a more melancholic way.

The arrangements are sparse and to the essence completely interwoven with the songs (guitar, accordion, amplified guitar, organ, banjo,…). Each of these songs have a variety of very dark thoughts combined with gentle pure loveliness and absolute care. It is hard for me to go deeper into the songtexts, because who knows I can hardly experience the total depth of it. And it shows deeper waters of experiences. Her interpretation of “Annabelle Lee” on words of Edgar Allan Poe is simply brilliant. Other favourites are “Fifty Five falls”, (I’ll be your..)“Undertaker”, and “Days of Rum” with banjo. The bonus track, simply humming and guitar I like a lot as well : pure melancholic romance!!

I lack the words. A release I simply can not help but listen to again and again."

-PS. Marissa makes beautiful artwork too. Check her website to see some examples.-

Info : http://www.marissanadler.com/ E-mail : marissamoon6@hotmail.com

It's available from here : http://cdbaby.com/cd/marissanadler

Soundfiles : "Fifty Five Falls"(or here) & "Virginia", "Stallions", "Annabelle Lee",

"Hay Tantos Muertos", "Box Of Cedar" & http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/marissanadler

The album now is released on LP and CD by Eclipse Records :

http://www.eclipse-records.com/index.shtml

Her second album is finished too. She still looks for a label to release it !!

Another review :

"Hailed as a smoky chanteuse both sultry and captivating, Marissa's songs are mostly mournful dirges and melancholic ballads. Delving into influences of old-timey americana folk, portuguese fado, psychedelia, and country, the songwriting is gripping and unique. Pursuing the persona poem, most of the songs are stories of tragic deaths, forbidden fates, and jilted love affairs, and stormy suicides, as well as some introspective first person songs. In concert, the melodrama is obvious, and each performance is dripping in vaudevillian nostalgia. Marissa's intiricate fingerstyle guitar comes through on six string, twelve string, banjo, ukelele, and autopharp. Her voice is velvety and resonant and soaring with ethereal reverberations. "I first heard the beautiful voice of Marissa Nadler performing on the second Tom Rapp tribute collection. Her dreamy mezzo-soprano is one of the most striking I’ve heard in years. Her Ballads of Living and Dying is simply a knockout in the current folk revival, not to mention a stunning collection of original music and lyrics. Though she borrows a few words from Edgar Allen Poe ('Annabelle Lee') and Pablo Neruda ('Hay Tantos Muertos'), her songs are definitely her own, with that astonishing, smoky soprano gliding over fingerpicked and strummed acoustic guitars, occasional banjo, organ, effects or harmony vocals, all impeccably recorded, but you’d probably rather just be alone in the dark with nothing more than her voice, holding your hand and keeping you through the night, leaving you quietly content as the morning sun breaks through the trees for the first time. Haunting, somber song-based folk bliss for fans of later Current 93, Leonard Cohen and Pearls Before Swine, albeit from the fem perspective. See www.marissanadler.com for more info."

Lee Jackson, Foxy Digitalis

Other reviews : http://www.fe.org/artists/nadler.marissa.html &

http://www.digitalisindustries.com/foxyd/shortshome.html &

http://www.theunbrokencircle.co.uk/album_reviews_text_archive6.htm#Bookmark%201

& http://www.fakejazz.com/fake/archives/2005/04/marissa_nadler.php

& http://www.storing-zine.net/review.php?id=106

& http://www.ab-cd.com/icbin/media/NADLEB.html

& http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/collective/A3831257

& http://www.brainwashed.com/brain/brainv08i26.html

& http://www.collectedsounds.com/cdreviews/balladsofliving.html

chats on this album : http://www.murmurs.com/talk/archive/index.php/t-84554.html

Dutch review : http://www.kindamuzik.net/reviews/article.shtml?id=9580

& http://www.storing-zine.net/review.php?id=106

& http://www.subjectivisten.org/caleidoscoop/archief/001719.php

Locust MusicJosephine Foster : Hazel Eyes I will lead you (US,2005)****°

For me Josephine has this unique emotionally gifted voice which on this release holds the middle between a melancholic folk style, and at least some flavour of an early 20th century cabaret sphere or something. This recording is well recorded. She accompanies herself on guitar, harp, bells, cittarina, castanets, kazoo, sandblocks, tin whistle, tambourine, ukulele, wooden spoons, melody flute, black cat (?) and a box of wire ties (?), and second voice. Brilliant !!

(-real review might be added soon, I'm a bit speachless now-).

Audio : "Crackerjack Fool", "The Golden Wooden Tone","The Pruners Pair", "Good News",

"Hazel Eyes, I Will Lead You", "The Siren's Admonition", "Stones Throw From Heaven"

Info : http://www.locustmusic.com/josephinefoster.html & homepage : www.100songsising.com

Other review : (in middle of page) http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/tracks/05-03-18.shtml

& http://www.theunbrokencircle.co.uk/album_reviews_text_archive8.htm#Bookmark 1

Review of Josephine's earlier, official item, under the name of Josephine Foster & The Supposed is reviewed at http://psychedelicfolk.homestead.com/acidfolkreview6.html

Review (with links) of (her other duo project) Born Heller :

http://psychedelicfolk.homestead.com/acidfolkreview5.html

Earliest band of Joesephine Foster is called The Children's Hour

Info : http://josephinefoster.proboards30.com/... (on Fan Forum)

PrivateAlicia Bay Laurel : What's living's all about (HI,2006)***°

Like one of my favourite heartfelt singer-songwriter singers (Heather McLeod with 'Funny Thing',1997), also Alicia went to more towards (slightly standard) jazz territories, but as a former hippie, it is clear this is not done as a compromise to please/tease a public. Her interpretations (-most songs are self penned-) are with great feelings, and a certain light happiness beyond each other idea or emotion. She describes the style mix well on the cover as "jazz, blues and other moist situations". With additionally a a bit of New Orleans influence on "Loozy Tune", and a bit of gospel on "Doctor Sun and Nurse Water" (about what the environment of Hawaii did to her), she wrote inspired something between jazz and jazz-blues and something else soulful. I like the idea on "America the blues" in a text by Katherine Lee Bates saying "America, don't wave that flag to con us with your jive...".."we're all family on this planet".. (Just imagine how America is built upon so many nationalities and bought talents from everywhere, -unfortunately mostly still chosen from what are seen as the trustworthy countries and areas (so practically still excluding preferably the French, Spanish, and several Arab-speaking countries and native Indians for economic concurrence, racist, nowadays partly religious, and a few other reasons).. Potentionally I realize America still has all opportunities and a certain openness to experiment for those who succeed to start to participate in the system. This track, like a few tunes elsewhere has some, for me, rather amusing freaky electric avant-garde guitar by Nels Cline (Wilco,..). Alicia, for having experienced a certain earthbound process, matured, she still has the happiest aspects of the hippie ; this sum must having benefited the soul and music of the singer, who on her recent photograph on the back cover still looks 25 or so, so I guess the message of this lies somewhere as a benefit hidden in the music. Rather brilliant as an interpretation I think is "Nature Boy" (originally by Nat King Cole, but also covered by Grace Slick), in an emotionally calm contrapoint-driven moody jazz style, with the help of Enzo Tedesco on upright bass and other instruments. A really fine and enjoyable album.

Audio : http://cdbaby.com/cd/ablaurel3

Homepage : http://www.aliciabaylaurel.com/

Other reviews : http://www.aliciabaylaurel.com/tags/342

& http://www.aliciabaylaurel.com/tags/43

preview-releaseLisa Knapp : Wild and Undaunted (UK,2006)****'

“Blacksmith”, has a convincing and very nice singing technique and interpretation with beautiful vibrations (based upon English folk traditions) in her voice. The group arranged here more or less minimal-oscillating chamber arrangements. On “There u r” Here Lisa Knapp reveals a different and even more personal way of singing, with once more nice vibrations in the voice and a personal emotional strength. Also when crying out loud this isn’t the cry of a spoiled or materialistic child or fashion pop singer, but there is a deliberate focus that penetrates in different directions. “Beggar Beggar” is sweeter and soulful. All other tracks keep the strong middle between these personal soulful expressions and skills matured in folk music. Melodically folk can come to mind, always with its own soul. I cannot always tell whether some songs are interpreted traditionals or self-penned inspirations. This happened also with the last track, “Salisbury Plain” which is sung a-capella, with elves-like voices mumbling and singing like unconscious entities on background.*

A strong debut and a skilful young voice with its own personal uniqueness, beauty and variety. I hope Lisa will never lose the characteristic of what she’s doing here and proves to be vividly soulful with it, on this album. She has all the qualities that could make her recognised by a wider public.

-Will be published by 'Ear To The Ground Records' in March 2007-

Info and audio : http://www.myspace.com/lisaknappmusic

* Bob Theil remembered how Saffron Summerfield recorded an album called "Salisbury Plain", which was named after a song with the same title. Saffron told me that in this case this was her own song, not the traditional. Bob wished this album should be reissued, and it seems it has been, on Saffron's own label www.motherearthmusic.co.uk. Review will be linked soon!