An incalculable amount of new music passes through my headphones day in, day out; whether discovered on my own or found awaiting me in my inbox. With that in mind, it’s rare when a song comes along and genuinely blows me away. Such was my reaction when I first heard Ren’s sweeping folk single ‘The Coast’. The affecting melody, the sense of yearning and wanderlust; it’s the kind of song that speaks to a deep and tender part of our souls. His debut EP is just as moving as the track that first won my heart. The soulful little guitar solo that catches you off-guard at the end of ‘All That I Need’, the bittersweet, slow burning blues of ‘Late Night Drive’ and the rich imagery and loving nostalgia of ‘My Heart Belongs To Ireland’. All these achingly beautiful moments come together to create an unforgettable first release. Drawing inspiration from great singer/songwriters both classic and contemporary, Ren carves out his own little pedestal to make him stand out as a genuine artist. Ren is one of the most promising up-and-coming acts in the UK right now, with bigger and better things surely just over the horizon.
Ren’s debut EP A Calling from the Shore is out 24th February and is a must for fans of Foy Vance, The Staves, Seafret and Glen Hansard.
It has been announced today that Kasabian will be headlining the twin festivals of Reading and Leeds this year. The Leicester lads, who last topped the bill in 2012, will be joining fellow headliners Muse, with the third and final act yet to be announced. Other bands announced today include Two Door Cinema Club, Circa Waves and Rat Boy. The line-up has one again received heavy criticism for not containing enough women.
Combining gospel, folk and spoken word, Kara’s debut release is a diverse, yet persistently personal affair. Having founded indie label Orphan No More with her husband Joshua Luke Smith, she has at her disposal the perfect platform to share her honest and heartfelt songwriting. When not making music Kara is a certified counsellor, a fact that is reflected in her lyrics. She has the rare gift of finding just the right words to both perfectly sum up how you feel, and to say exactly what you need to hear. Whether sharing a positive message of self-worth in ‘I Like The Way’, or simply assuring you that you have the strength to weather the storm in the haunting spoken word of ‘Keeping On’, Kara always delivers a sincere and arresting performance. The soothing soul of ‘Walk Slow’ stands as her most powerful performance, it’s simple yet stunning arrangement and Kara’s vocals are simply captivating. Sometimes we all need someone to tell us that our troubles will pass and that happiness is just around the corner, and to that end Kara Ann Marie’s music is always there for whoever should need it.
Torgeir Waldemar – No Offending Borders
One of my greatest loves in the world of music is the storytelling at work in a well executed concept album. Considering that these days the EP is the format of choice for up-and-coming artists, it strikes me as odd that more of them don’t work towards a bigger picture in the same way. With his debut release this Australian troubadour has delivered a rare and exceptional example of a concept EP. Over the course of four tracks of wistful folk, Musketeer shares the story of a 19th century convict shipped off to Australia to work away his sentence. With the title track of the Seven Long Years EP, he perfectly captures the mood and creates a tale of lovers so cruelly parted that sounds like it could have been sung for generations. With the gentle orchestral swell of ‘Hollow’ and the mournful brass of ‘Johnny Red’ we are given a sense of the prisoner’s fading hopes of returning to his old life, and a growing acceptance of the world he knew being gone forever. A compelling tale, exquisitely executed, that leaves me longing for more.
Belwood Music 