Our folky Ways...

Hi, you know what it's like when you're aging. Not so easy to find new musical paths, new curiosity ways... It's so easy to keep the same good ole records and relisten and relisten it again. That's why I'm really glad to find some new bands, Twisted Wheel, Connett, Master Colony, the Bishops, etc. Here is my folk secret garden and the keeper of the keys and I insist, the one who shows me the direction i have to look, Mike Cobley, turned me into proper folk music. Here is his top 5 without special order. I've added links and Video, have a fancy stroll in our folky ways. ;)

The Decemberists: The Hazards Of Love - a brilliant masterpiece. a seventy minute concept album brimming with melody and wonderful lyrics. Not an album to second guess, but one that will have you snared from its first play.. Also, in Colin Meloy, the band's writer and frontman, is an artist that's worth tracing back to the beginning. he has an obsession with early folk and will happily pluck song charecters out of life that maybe a good couple of hundred years old. But, all his tales resonante with today.. Brilliant.

Bon Iver: For Emma, Forever Ago - I knew I loved this before I'd even heard it! I read a review in Mojo (June 2008 - page 100) written by Victoria Segal. The review wa one of the best I'd read. Her writing dripped with a love of every note and word of this album. I had to fucking hear it. I did .. and it's probably my number one best album ever. I then saw Bon Iver twice in one weekend. each time first on the bill. There was a buzz about them. And each time they performed lives were changed. Saw them again this summer. This time they were headlining .. their sound had hardened up and were better than ever. The album though, is peerless.

Graham Coxon: The Spinning Top - Wasn't a fan. This time I had the pleasure of interviewing Coxon. i'd heard he was difficult .. but boy he was a joy. Talked me through every track of an album he was about to master. Sent me an early copy. Blew me away. The guitar work - so Bert Jansch - is a joy without anything else. But there is plenty else. His voice holds up and the band he pulled together for the project are really tight and on the mark. Plus, the songs are the tops. (And he's been inspired by Davy Graham's technique or "how to make swing and rock and roll an acoustic guitar. Check his official website and you'll know everything about the fingerstyle. He was, for instance, tuned in.. DADGAD! He died in december 2008. Yann)

Iron And Wine: The Shepherd's Dog - I heard a World cafe broadcast on NPR. I was drawn to the session by the band's name. By the end of the session i'd tracked down their whole back catalogue. Then blagged a ticket as they were to play live just round the corner from me. they played a church. their singer looked like Jesus and their playing was heavenly. Lots of Americna folk flecked with African rhythms. The band's mainman was a professor of film .. and each song is a movie.

The Low Anthem: Oh My God Charlie Darwin - This one is new and still bedding in. Heard them on a New Orleans radio station. The presenter was so goddam taken with them he played the whole album. So much in there .. two guys and one girl playing a myriad of instuments. But again, the melodies float on high and the songs are to die for. Much more to learn from this one.

I've also dug... Seth Lakeman, Eliza Carthy, Monsters of folk, Davy Graham (great... Not to be missed.), John Martyn...

Folk roots, new route...