Go Folk

Emily A. Sprague’s "Cloud Time" is one of the most stunning ambient records in recent memory. Recorded live in Japan, it draws from the "naturalist" school of modular synthesis, engaging with the Japanese tradition of environmental music. Sprague whittled hours of recordings into a suite that is both deeply contemplative and refreshingly human, a "sonic wonderment" of texture and off-the-cuff creativity. Source

Acclaimed pedal steel guitarist Barry Walker Jr. has announced his debut album for Thrill Jockey, Paleo Sol. He unearths new dimensions, fusing cosmic country and ambient minimalism with the profound patience of geology and the intimacy of new fatherhood. Listen to three tracks from the album today. Source

On Merlyn Driver's debut album, "It Was Also Sometimes Daylight," there is an ease to his singing and playing that belies the nuance and complexity of his songwriting, which at times approaches genuine poetry. He takes highly personal, confessional songwriting and elevates it with unconventional language. It's also a timely reminder of the small amount of time and space we all take up on this world. Source

The Little Unsaid unveil their video for "Surfacing", taken from their new album, "Stay Fragile All Across This Cold Frontier", which is available now on all platforms via Carbon Moon Records. "It’s a snapshot of every gig we did and captures something about that tour that really carried a lot of energy and emotional weight for us as we celebrated our tenth year as a band." Source

Iona Zajac shares "Murder Mystery," a surreal new single and video from her forthcoming debut album Bang (Nov 21). The track, accompanied by a striking visual featuring Zajac's alter ego, is a "fearless dive into the scary everyday fears women live with." A seasoned artist, Zajac's debut promises raw, defiant storytelling. Source

With John Smith’s now much higher profile, these revisited and, at times, transformative reimagined songs should, deservedly, find a far wider acclaim and audience than the originals. At the same time, 'Gatherings' serves to remind us that he is one of the true elite on the UK contemporary folk scene. Source