Kassi Valazza – Smile

From the new album ‘Knows Nothing’ released on Fluff And Gravy Records. The best country sounds always see a darkness and Kassi plugs into that mood with utter conviction. I am loving her latest release not merely for the ever present ache in the songs, but also for the way it has no time for barriers. If a song needs a guitar part that stamps on the distortion pedal and stretches out in a frenzy of fuzz then that’s what it gets, an approach resulting in an album that digs out everything these superb songs require sonically to brilliant effect…

Bella White – Break My Heart

Taken from the album ‘Among Other Things’ released on Rounder Records. About this track Bella confessed it is “probably the most explicitly about getting dumped. I wrote it with no intention of ever sharing it. I didn’t even feel any particular emotional attachment to it like I do with my other songs, because it was such an isolated experience, zooming in on one specific moment in time. That said, bringing it to life by turning a valley into a peak felt deeply cathartic. It’s a heartbreaker that I hope will at least get you moving.” That it does and much like this weeks opener, it offers further evidence that Country music in 2023 can still kick it…

The Natvral – A Glass Of Laughter

Taken from the forthcoming ‘Summer Of No Light’ album released on Dirty Bingo Records. The Natvral are the new music vehicle of Kip Berman who previously fronted The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. This is a great Folk-Rock style song wherein the lyric seems to force open the door leading to positive outcomes at that moment where a relationship loses the thrill of the new, when things that once seemed ragged and romantic now carry the weather worn sheen of the battered and perilously careless…

En Attendant Ana – Wonder

This is taken from the album ‘Principia’ which was released in February on Trouble In Mind Records. This exotic Parisian quintet are returning for a tour of the UK in October and they are taking their individualistic variant of classic French pop with tasteful nods to indie trailblazers like Stereolab in exciting, ever mature directions on their latest long player, as can be heard on this little wonder of a tune…

Katie von Schleicher – Overjoyed

Well the accompanying video may take the concept of low budget to new ‘that will do’ depths but the song itself is a joyous slice of rousing pop pulled from the pile of songs Katie has been building since 2020. She has given a direct nod to Kirsty MacColl’s ‘They Don’t Know’ as an inspiration, saying that she merely wanted ‘Overjoyed’ to recreate how that song used to make her feel. I say if you’re going to take a direct influence you might as well make it one of the best and this artist has certainly made new music that captures that essence of weathered elation. The song is out now on Sipsman…

Meshell Ndegeocello – Clear Water

This one is taken from the new album ‘The Omnichord Real Book’ released on the Blue Note label. Meshell is a ten times Grammy award nominated bass player and vocalist who has a happy knack, as heard on this song in particular, of making music that is at first instantly accessible but opens up many levels of subtle splendour with each repeated listen…