Slowtown Now
Holly Golightly
It鈥檚 been over 10 years since British singer/songwriter Holly Golightly has released a solo album. On August 28th Holly reunites with her old band to release a 12 song, 60鈥檚 garage band influenced groove fest titled 鈥淪lowtown Now.鈥� (Damaged Goods records)
The album opens up with the song 鈥淪even Wonders鈥� and from that moment on you are swept away on a musical journey back to the 1960鈥檚, where you can almost feel the sand from the beach between your toes while Holly鈥檚 smooth vocals wash over you like the ocean waves.
There is no filler on this record, making this album a joy to listen to from start to finish.
Highlights include 鈥淎s You Go Down鈥�, with the twangy guitar riff and sassy lyrics, 鈥淔rozen in Time鈥� a jazzy little ditty that will almost make you smell the dank smoke filled night club of the 鈥�60鈥檚.
鈥淔ool Fool Fool鈥� has the fuzzy guitar sound that will stick with you and will annoy your coworkers, as they have to listen to you singing the chorus, Fool Fool Fool all day.
The album ends with 鈥淲hen I Wake鈥� a dreaming little number that after it fades out, will make you want to listen to the album again at track one.
Guitarists Ed Deegan and Bradley Burgess, bassist Matt Radford and the steady drumming of Bruce Brand, helped Holly Golightly produce one of my favourite albums of 2015. It was well worth the 10-year wait. Brilliant!
鈥擠oug Kerr
Short Movie
Laura Marling
Laura Marling鈥檚 new album 鈥淪hort Movie鈥� is a departure from her previous four albums. With the addition of electric guitars, the UK folk singer has created a 13 song masterpiece.
At the young age of 25, Marling is a veteran on the folk music scene, having released five studio albums. Her previous effort, the beautiful 鈥淥nce I was an Eagle鈥�, achieved critical praise as one of the best folk albums of 2013.
鈥淪hort Movie鈥�, is a musical departure of sorts. Still possessing the folky feel of albums past, Marling鈥檚 sparse electric guitar adds a new dimension to her music.
The song 鈥淔alse Hope鈥�, illustrates this electric folk fusion in a way that will grab you and not let go until Bob Dylan says鈥� Why did I go electric at Newport鈥�.
鈥淲alk Alone鈥�, my favourite song on the album, highlights Marling鈥檚 vast vocal range and a smooth guitar riff that will soothe your evil soul.
By the time you get to the sixth song 鈥淒on鈥檛 Let Me Bring You Down鈥�, you will reach the point of no return, and will need to hear more.
Many of the songs on 鈥淪hort Movie鈥� were influenced by Marling鈥檚 one-year sabbatical in Los Angeles and the California desert. 鈥淓asy鈥� is a retrospective vision of the past via the Joshua trees of the high California desert.
鈥淕urdjieffs鈥檚 Daughter鈥� based on a story by Alejandro Jodorowsky, is the kind of song that will stay with you bouncing in your brain trying to decipher it鈥檚 deeper meaning .
Short Movie is pure magic and definitely proves that Laura Marling is an artist that will be around for a long time. Check it out at www.lauramarling.com
鈥擠oug Kerr
