This edition of LITM Singer-Songwriter Picks taps into traditional roots with classic Americana and traditional Irish featuring artists Friend/Monell, Woodpig and Davie Furey ft Gerry Adams.
1. Friend/Monell – Route 19 A song with an endlessly endearing charm, ‘Route 19’ is one of those songs that plays in the back of your mind during your happy moments. The folk-rock song has a strong Americana influence, but uses an array of soft instrumental mixes to throw you into a feeling of nostalgia. The gentle guitar hook, which might be technically simple, adds a comforting presence in the background, while in the above layers, a soft synth sheen blends in all the different instrumental textures – the bouncy bass, the vocals and harmonies. All in all, a quietly brilliant song with honest lyricism and a sweet composition!
2. Woodpig – Wreckage ‘Wreckage’ feels like one of those songs that’ll help you pick up the pieces of a tattered spirit, or keep you company during tough times. It uses soft, folk tones and gentle drifts of instrumentation that feel soothing, and uses an uncomplicated palette in its arrangement, starting off with a soft, subdued guitar, until it becomes stronger and more raw along the way. The cosy overtones of vocals slipping into a beautiful duet of harmonies make a rare pairing with the hard, earthy undertones, leading to a blend of two powerful emotions coming together – bittersweet. The atmospheric swell towards the end heightens that feeling, where it lifts and soars, until the end, where it dissolves into the soundscape.
3. Davie Furey ft Gerry Adams – Donegal/The Swallow's Tail Davie Furey’s latest, ‘Donegal / The Swallow’s Tail’, is a blend of fond old memories and a vibrant creation of new ones, put together in a song form. It diverges from the standard song structure and uses the initial tone set at the start of the track as a jumping-off point, launching headfirst into the Swallow’s Tail with flutes and the fiddles. It creates a unique combination of tones, from soothing trad to a lively jig, where the guitars and vocals take centre stage in the first half, and the uilleann pipes in the second half. With its blend of pastel and vivid palettes, this track has something for everyone, especially if you love Irish trad music.
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