Back catalogue: Folk/Americana

Review: Searows is the moniker of Alec Duckart, a Portland-based indie folk star who is signed to Matt Maltese's label Last Recordings On Earth. Searows is influenced by the likes of Sufjan Stevens, Bon Iver and Iron & Wine and his falsetto has a similar power and timbre to that of his formative influences. Opening track 'Martingale' is beautifully stripped down and pulls you as a listener close to his soul. Meanwhile, on 'To Be Seen' Searows comes across like he's lamenting the death of something and it is a proper tear-jerker. Contrastingly, 'Toothache' is brighter with percussion and delay-laden electric guitar showing his talent for rich, lush arrangements. Matt Maltese has struck gold here by signing Searows. Plus, they're well-suited as they each appear to enjoy delving into post-apocalyptic work. Searows' previous release (on the Last Recordings On Earth label) is called End Of The World and before starting this label, Maltese released his hit single as a solo artist: 'As The World Caves In'. They suit it all so well.

Review: American indie folk artist Joan Shelley returns with Mood Ring, an emo-chromic new record. Celebrated for her soft and folky sound, Shelley's latest follows 2020's The Spur, which did develop one of her many MOs: to orchestrally augment Americana music. Yet it lacked much of the stylistic variation on display here on Mood Ring, which flaunts the breadth of her talent through chambered, variably galvanic songs. A curious formal exercise, too, the record is an LP but contains nothing on the B-side, sparing the listener the unseemly chore of having to flip it over. This is as much an "ahh"-inducing record as can be, then, with 'Fire Of The Morning' restoring the listener to health after, the lyrics attest, singeing our ears in an allegorical housefire; and 'I Look After You' concluding things on a blue, cushioned vocal ostinato.