That’s All Folk
Words by Dan Jude
On the face of it, 2008 hasn’t been a vintage year for music. With the likes of Coldplay, Duffy, The Killers et al cashing in on the ever-popular formula that stadium-sized melodies + poncey pretentious lyrics that make little or no sense = big bucks, it’s hard not to be cynical about the current state of the music industry.
But away from the mainstream, something beautiful and exciting has been happening. Whilst Q critics work themselves into a sweaty frenzy over Chris Martin’s messianic pretentions and NME journalists toss each other off to the dreary sound of novelty Scot dross Glasvegas, the ‘nu-folk’ revolution has been building a head of steam across the UK.
Those who happen to inhabit Britain’s first city have been in for a particular treat, with a plethora of folk bands and artists cropping up from all corners of the capital. Encouraged by the surprise success of Noah And The Whale and the deserved Mercury nomination of the brilliant Laura Marling, there have been a whole host of exciting new folksters happy to ride in their wake, none more prominent or mention-worthy than the band of Laura’s current beau Marcus – the exceptional Mumford & Sons (http://www.myspace.com/mumfordandsons). Still unsigned (we have no idea how or why), they’ve been steadily amassing a dedicated fan-base, and with beautifully crafted melody-led songs that sound like a barbershop quartet covering Dylan, it’s bound to be only a matter of time before they receive the wider recognition they deserve. Let’s just hope it prompts them to shave off their Gary Neville quasi-moustaches and invest in some new threads.
Then there’s the magnificent Jay Jay Pistolet (http://www.myspace.com/jayjaypistolet), whose debut EP Happy Birthday has got us all in a tizzy. Produced by Noah and the Whale’s Charlie Fink, it’s a record infused with beautifully layered instrumental arrangements, heartfelt lovelorn lyrics and glowing Richard Hawley-inspired harmonies. Not to mention he’s got a voice that sounds like Conor Oberst when he’s not doing that whole whiny Emo thing (swoon ladies, swoon). With a debut album out early in the New Year, he’s definitely one to keep an eye on.
Of course, with all this underground talent and talk of unreleased albums, it would be all too easy to forget those who laid their eggs this past year. A Larum, the widely praised debut album from Sussex lad Johnny Flynn (http://www.myspace.com/johnnyflynn) is overflowing with Crosby, Stills and Nash inspired harmonies, stunning guitar solos and lyrics that hark back to a good ole England. With enough foot-tapping and finger picking thrown in to get Steven Hawking up on the table drinking Guinness, it’s well worth a listen. And we couldn’t talk about the year of folk without mentioning the wonderful Noah And The Whale (http://www.noahandthewhale.com), whose debut album Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down was the unexpected folk-pop hit of the summer.
But perhaps the biggest delight from the past 12 months has come not from the Big Smoke, but from the bucolic environs of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, courtesy of one Justin Vernon, aka Bon Iver. Building on the recent success of the likes of a-bit-quirky-but-poppy-enough-to-please-the-masses Devendra Banhart and Sufjan Stevens, one of the finest albums of the year has been the work of the 27 year-old Wisconsonian, whose self-produced debut LP For Emma, Forever Ago has had critics gushing into their handkerchiefs on both sides of the Atlantic. A 9-track mini-masterpiece patched together with some old guitars, simple drums and a single laptop, it is neither self-indulgent nor clichéd, instead brimming with beauty and majesty. Lyrically earnest and melodically breathtaking, Vernon has produced a finer record than anything else you’ll hear this year. Think Iron and Wine meets The Monkeys and you’re somewhere close. You can check him out at http://www.boniver.org/ and believe us when we say it’s well worth doing so.
What’s more, with a whole host of other folk troubadours including the likes of Cherbourg, Jamie Woon and Derek Meins ready to take residence inside your skull, it will only be a matter of time before you’re queer for folk. So next time you hear The Killers on the radio muttering some inane nonsense along the lines of ‘Are we human or are we dancer?’, don’t panic. Breathe. Remember: there is good music out there somewhere, you just have to look a little bit harder. The future’s bright. The future’s folk.
Posted Thu, December 11, 2008
Comments on That’s All Folk
Brilliant article, rating the comedy factor!
Just happend to be listining to Little Lion Man by Mumford and Sons at the time…
Posted by: amy | 24/12/2008 at 11:23
i hapen to be listening to noah a.t.w at the moment. (:
Posted by: rosie.(: | 21/01/2009 at 21:16