#electro-folk

Album release: 21 March 2025

DIY production Simon Guillaumeau : Vielle électro-acoustique, Chant Florent Guillot : Guimbardes, Beat-Box, Looper, Chant Benoit Guenoun : Saxophone Ténor, flûte, accordéon diatonique

A good archer should have many different arrows in his quiver.

I like Christmas music. As a small child, it really was a wondrous and magical time, and music sound-tracked that joy and excitement. It's stuck with me. Every Christmas over the years, and whilst making this album (over several months), I've listened to a lot of Christmas music. I don't like all of it, I'm pretty discerning, but I've taken on board everything from old carols up until recent times. I've researched the history of Christmas, including it's various pre-Christian roots, and the history of Christmas music. A lot of Christmas music is basically folk music (that more people listen to). Many of the melodies and some of the words have been sung for centuries, and like folk music, those melodies and words have evolved, been adopted and co-opted over the years – just like mid-winter pagan festivals, Norse Yule, Christian Christmas, and the mostly secular version we currently inhabit. There's probably the need for a good book about it all. But for now, suffice it to say, I've tried to encapsulate the spirit of Christmas (an umbrella term for all of it's permutations) within these 12 tracks. There is no snark here, it's a totally sincere album. My greatest wish would be for it to become part of your Christmas tradition - I hope you like it, and play it every year!creditsreleased December 2, 2022 Tracks 2, 5, 6, 8 written by Richard J Turner. Tracks 1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 trad/expired copyright. All tracks arranged and played by Richard J Turner. A Flood of Sound Production. For the gear nerds: Fender Mustang guitars, Fender Musicmaster Bass, Fender Twin Reverb Amp, Korg Volca Beats, Korg Volca Kick, Korg Monotribe, Korg Minilogue XD, Casio MT100, Casio MT45, Casio Rapman, Yamaha PS2, Yamaha MR10, Yamaha DD5, Rakit Metal Synth, Rakit Drum Synth, EHX Crash Pad, MPC Tymp, Akai MPK Mini Play, xylophone, glockenspiel, chime bars, jingles, tambourine, shakers, finger cymbals, bell, bike bell, shekere, samba whistle, party hooter, crackers, siren whistle, cuica, zither, bouzouki, Guild D4 acoustic guitar, music box, effects pedals.

Brighton-based Night House have released their latest single, Blackout, a track taken from their emotive debut album, Everyone Is Watching From Afar, out on 27th March 2020 via Back in The Woods Records.  Blending electronic beats, orchestral arrangements and lyric-driven song-writing, Night House has a sound that is almost spiritual; beautiful, uplifting ethereal harmonies meld with modern electronica to create a warm, intelligent sound that is reminiscent of Björk and Wild Beasts, with lead singer Nicholas Williams aptly described by Radio Reverb as a “falsetto Tom Waits”. The collective draw from a wide range of influences marrying the electronic work the likes of which James Blake and Radiohead are renowned for, with the folk harmonies of Sufjan Stevens, Joni Mitchell, and Bon Iver.  Co-produced and mixed by Dan Brown (Massive Attack, Jerry Williams, Luca), the record was written during a period of family bereavement with the personal lyrics drifting over warm strings and clarinets, where layered vocal harmonies meet icy synthesizers and electronic beats. As well as supporting the likes of Ben Howard, Willy Mason, Solomon Grey, Krystle Warren and The Magic Numbers, the band have gained recognition throughout the past 12 months having picked up support from tastemakers such as M-Magazine (PRS for Music), Clash Magazine, BBC Radio, The Vinyl District and Come Here Floyd, as well as videos premiering on Attitude Magazine and God is in the TV.     Read the full article

- electro-folk Dido - Take You Home