Back catalogue: Folk/Americana

Review: Mumford & Sons drop a surprise single release alongside Pharrell Williams, 'Good People', delivering on a long-awaited promise to hop in the studio together after years of knowing each other. Finally falling back on their immediate instincts, 'Good People' hears the band and the solo wunderkind sing of tiredness and revelation, making adept use of a dry, driving, sportsmanlike instrumental palette (think hand claps, stomps, gospel harmonies). Though cryptic in theme, the mood on this one-off is one of triumph and impending miracle works to come.

Review: Where do you start with someone like Dolly Parton. Singer, songwriter, actress, philanthropist, entrepreneur, she's been there, done that, got a stack of t-shirts and survived to tell the tale. Fiercely determined and staunchly independent, the fact she's one of the best-selling female artists of all time, with more than 100million units shifted, speaks volumes about her ability to capture a lived experience on record. The fact she managed to navigate a notoriously ruthless industry during its most notorious decades proves her grit.
The Monument Singles Collection presents a convincing case for all this. Comprising early work for the eponymous Monument label, this was Parton emerging from a successful but largely unsung period as songwriter for others, and becoming a veritable star in the making. Songs about overcoming adversities from poverty to patriarchy, which would go on to become anthems in their own right.

Review: Who doesn't love a bit of Dolly Parton? The globally renown queen of country - and the unlikely cult hero who invested heavily in the quest for a Covid-19 vaccine once the pandemic hit - is still turning out plenty of new music. Rockstar is her latest full length and it comes via Butterfly Records and Big Machine Records. It is a collaboration with a variety of rockstars which marks her first moves in the world of rock. Legends like Simon Le Bon and Rob Halford, Pink, Brandi Carlile and Sheryl Crow all feature across eight sides of vinyl and an adventurous and accomplished long player.

Review: The whopping forty-ninth album by country-pop superstar Dolly Parton, Rockstar hears the titanic musician don the vaunted mantle, picking apart what it means to be dubbed a "rockstar" after having been nominated for inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, despite not personally considering herself to hail from a rock & roll background. Leveraging her power to channel the spirit of rock despite not resonating with the sound at its origin, Rockstar harnesses the power of collaboration and association - with titanic cameos from Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, Linda Perry and Miley Cyrus in tow - to posit an album-length critique of the loudest music genre of the 20th Century.

Review: Portuguese multi-instrumentalist, producer and DJ Pedro Ricardo serves up his debut album here and it is a thrilling fusions of sounds. He draws on his many different skills and loves and collides jazz, traditional Portuguese folk and fresh electronica into a journey that is bold, adventurous and draws on themes of love, longing and nostalgia. The percussion throughout is truly vibrant, the vocals are whispered and subtle and the keys soar next to delicate guitars. You won't have heard an album as free in expression as this for a while.

Review: Build Something Better by Grace Petrie, produced by Frank Turner, is a powerful statement on contemporary societal inequalities and injustices. With a blend of punk-folk elements, Grace's acoustic guitar and vocals shine, supported by Ben Moss' captivating fiddle playing and Stuart Proven's excellent drumming. The album tackles themes of alienation, political disillusionment, and the struggle for truth in a post-truth world. Tracks like 'The House Always Wins' and 'Meanwhile In Texas' confront hard-hitting issues with poignant lyrics and infectious musical patterns. Grace's songwriting ability shines through in tracks like 'King And Country' and 'Earthwire,' where personal relationships intertwine with broader social commentary. The album culminates in the title track, 'Fixer Upper,' offering hope amidst the existential threat of global crises. Overall, Build Something Better is a musically rich and lyrically profound album.

Review: Phosphorescent is recognised as something of a key player in the current indie scene. Based right now in Nashville, Tennessee, he has been away for the best part of half a decade but now makes a sweet return much to the delight of fans and critics alike. Back in 2022 his covers album Full Moon Project showcased all of his most prominent inspirations and influences with versions of music by the likes of Bee Gees, Bob Dylan and Nina Simone. The self-taught producer and a constantly inquisitive creative now goes deep on new record Revelator which is "a meditation on all that he's learned about life and all that is still unknown".