Folk Music + Amish-esque Beards

What's the go with that? Is it some sort of conspiracy? Does having a dude with an Amish-style beard in your band make your sounds more pure? Perhaps.

Anyway... arriving back from a tough 6 weeks in Europe and catching up on a few reviews they were backed up and I've noticed this somewhat startling fact.

So here we go. Two Australian bands/artists. Both very folky. Both producing some of the best music to vacuum / go on a car trip to Dubbo with.

Sal Kimber is very much a soloist with a backing band. There's something about her that you can instantly tell that she's obviously:
1. grown up in the country (the Australian country - you can't get away from that unmistakable Aussie twang)
2. been playing music for quite a while

The debut album, Sounds Like Thunder, The songs are both beautiful and catchy. The overall sound is warm and rich in texture. Her band, the Good Ole Boys, defiiinitely compliment her voice perfectly.
Plus, i dont think you can go wrong with a banjo and a piano accordian (unless you leave me alone in a room with them, of course).

Standout track for me is MET Police. Asside for being completely true lyrically, it's probablyu the most catchy and and as i sit here listening to it now I feel a great urge to do a small jig.

You can look and listen to Sal Kimber at some of these places:
http://www.salkimber.com.au
http://www.myspace.com/salkimber

Lamplight on the other hand are a definte 5-piece. When i mentioned Sal Kimber and her Good Ole Men produce a texture rich sound.... that's nothing compared to Lamplight.

Lamplight, is their (self-titled) second LP release...two songs recorded in Old Castlemaine Gaol (Swallowing the Key and Image House)... quite fitting when you listen to the lyrics... but the acousitcs in that place must have been amazing.

Only 8 songs in total... but each feels more epic than the next.

A thick rich sound, a vast array of instruments, the sounds of which intricatly weaved together. Strings, woodwind, piano, vocals, drums, melodies, harmonies, girls, boys.... ooh!

Gotta love the clarinet... of course, i am biased.

Now, I can hear you saying "where can i see these guys?"... well all hope is not lost. Lamplight are venturing Northward to play the Popkomm festival in Berlin in October and then venturing around some of the rest of Europe. So keep your ears to the ground... the internet knows all!

Look at them and Lamplight related stuff here: http://www.lamplight.com.au/ (and spot the spelling mistake)

And look! It seems that Lamplight have just relased their debut album The Fish Will Walk... Brilliant!


One more little thing.... just a small mention. I was recently trudging around a field in wellies at Summer Sundae in Leicester. I was delighted to stumble across a band that I had not heard of (but feel free to abuse me if you have).... Reverend and the Makers. Check it for youself. Just three more words... dirty dirty accents.

That's it!

Sally
 

Vu wrote: Sat, Aug 30, 2008 at 10:08 PM

Reverend and the Makers - Heavyweight Champion of the World

Sally, I wanted to add that Reverend and the Makers are one of the earliest band that we covered. To bring you up to date: in March 2007, Mads wrote about them, stating

Reverend And The Makers is one of those UK bands that has been getting lots of attention through Internet music forums and extensive gigging

In January 2008, guess what's playing on my iPod non-stop?

I love this song, and lately it's been playing nonstop on my iPod since Reverend and the Makers' debut album The State of Things, released September 2007.

It would seem that they've made their round to you.