Style: Loner Folk, Chamber Folk, heavily influenced by Celtic Folk & British Folk-Rock
Moods: Reflective, Intimate, Autumnal, Pastoral, Soothing, Melancholy, Medieval, Peaceful, Tender, Mournful, Meditative
Instrumentation: Celtic Harp, Acoustic & Electric Guitar, Piano, Frame Drum, Shakuhachi Flute, Farfisa Organ, Djembe, Dumbek, Tabla, Synthesizers
Style: Progressive Chamber-Folk
Moods: Imaginative, Reflective, Cryptic, Evocative, Cathartic, Sombre, Introspective, Haunting, Dreamy, Poetic, Surreal, Ethereal
Musical Qualities: Lush, Progressive, Acoustic, Dense, Technical, Polished
Instrumentation: Nylon Guitar, Piano, Drums, Bassoon, Upright Bass, Cello, Synthesizer
Style: Singer/Songwriter
HGM Side: Americana, Warm, Contemplative, Sunny, Rural, Passionate, Spiritual, Introspective
Chapman Side: Chamber Folk, Melancholy, Morning, Mellow, Autumnal, Reflective, Storytelling
Style: Progressive Chamber-Folk
Vibe: Rustic, Intertwined, Warm, Passionate, Hypnotic, Celebratory, Exploratory, Morning, Eclectic
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Vocal Harmonies, Polyrhythmic, Percussive, Technical
Instrumentation: Accordion, Saxophone, Panpipe, Acoustic Guitar, Upright Bass, Electric Bass, Drums, Mandolin, Violin, Piano
Style: Free Folk, Cosmic Folk, New Weird Americana, Psych Folk
Vibe: Haunting, Rustic, Mysterious, Intertwined, Suspenseful, Communal, Eerie, Ragged, Discomforting, Ritualistic, Raw
Musical Qualities: Lo-Fi, Droney, Loose, Improvisation, Electro-Acoustic, Percussive
Style: Brit-Folk, Chamber Folk, Jazz-Folk
Vibe: Flowing, Morning, Breezy, Warm, Medieval, Sentimental, Rootsy, Mellow, Pastoral, Uplifting
Musical Qualities: Vocal Harmonies, Acoustic, Traditional, Melodic, Improvisation
Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitars (Fingerstyle), Vocals, Upright Bass, Sitar, Dulcimer, Banjo, Recorder, Harmonica, Electric Guitar, Drums
Style: Chamber Folk, Slowcore, Dream Country
Vibe: Flowing, Lethargic, Peaceful, Dreamy, Melancholy, Elegant, Airy, Romantic, Bittersweet, Contemplative, Intertwined, Intimate, Mellow, Sentimental, Smooth, Soothing, Twangy
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Lush, Slow, Soft, Simple, Chamber Arrangements, Melodic
Style: Singer/Songwriter, Chamber Folk
Vibe: Poetic, Bittersweet, Conversational, Sexual, Dry Humor, Brooding, Melancholy, Longing, Tender, Introspective, Breakup
Musical Qualities: Lush, Lyrical, Groovy, Dynamic
Instrumentation: Electric Bass, Piano, Acoustic Guitar, Backup Vocalists, Trombone, Jaw Harp, Woodwinds, Strings, Banjo, Mandolin, Trumpet, Drums, Percussion, Keyboards
Session musicians include Brian Blade, Eyvind Kang, Sam Amidon, Nico Muhly, Marc Ribot, Rob Burger, etc.
Style: Chamber Folk, British Folk-Rock, Singer-Songwriter, Folk-Pop
Vibe: Autumnal, Bittersweet, Melancholy, Moody, Rootsy, Warm, Mellow
Musical Qualities: Lyrical, Lush, Melodic, Soft
Style: Chamber Folk, Spiritual Folk, English Folk
Vibe: Mystical, Medieval, Warm, Spring, Intimate, Mellow, Morning, Spiritual
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Lush, Vocal Harmonies, Progressive
Instrumentation: Organ, Banjo, Acoustic Guitar, Dulcitar, Recorder, Electric Bass, Washboard, Drum, Bongos, Tambourine, Cello, Indian Hand Organ
Style: Folk, Singer/Songwriter
Vibe: Warm, Spring, Rootsy, Peaceful, Tender, Morning, Rustic, Lethargic, Nature
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Vocal Harmonies, Melodic
On this self-titled collaboration, acid folk luminaries Helena Espvall (Espers) and Masaki Batoh (Ghost) create mysterious and earthy interpretations of traditional Medieval, Swedish, Japanese, and Finnish folk songs, plus a Son House cover, an original, and a handful of free improvisations.
Style: Psychedelic / Chamber Folk
Vibe: Pastoral, Spiritual, Sentimental, Haunting, Medieval, Spring, Peaceful
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Progressive, Improvisation
Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar, Cello, Flutes (Kaval, Recorder), Hurdy Gurdy, Drums, Piano, Tanpura, Analogue Synthesizers, Electric Guitar, Tympani, Vibes
LP, Thrill Jockey, 1998 Reissue (2015) Style: Chamber Folk Vibe: Pastoral, Peaceful, Warm, Focused, Morning, Intertwined Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Technical, Melodic Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitars, Acoustic Bass, Classical Guitar, Irish Bazouki, and Dobro
Style: Psychedelic Chamber-Folk
Vibe: Haunting, Pastoral, Melancholy, Rainy, Delicate, Intimate, Psychedelic, Intertwined
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Slow, Soft, Electro-Acoustic, Sampling, Home Recording
Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Cello, Turntables, Banjo, Tanpura, Violin, Singing Bowls, Percussion, Dulcimer, Bouzouki, Organ, Wine Glasses
Style: Avant-Folk, Progressive Folk
Moods: Ominous, Forest, Surreal, Dark, Theatrical, Disturbing, Hallucinatory, Mysterious, Ritualistic, Aggressive, Complex, Shadowy
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Percussive, Chamber Arrangements, Technical
Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar (6 & 12-Strings), Violin, Viola, Oboe, Flute, Percussion, Electric Bass
Style: Psychedelic Folk, Singer/Songwriter
Vibe: Flowing, Dreamy, Nocturnal, Mellow, Soothing, Introspective, Haunting, Pastoral, Airy, Ethereal, Intimate Bittersweet, Melancholy, Contemplative, Loner, Peaceful, Soft
Musical Qualities: Vocal Harmonies, Acoustic, Lush, Melodic, Sparse, Reverb
Released in 1974 Chrysalis Pressing (US, 1978) Format: LP Style: Psychedelic Chamber Folk, Singer/Songwriter, Progressive Folk Vibe: Romantic, Floating, Heartfelt, Introspective, Psychedelic, Intimate, Contemplative, Dreamy, Elegant, Mellow, Morning, Peaceful, Airy Musical Qualities: Vocal Harmonies, Acoustic, Sparse, Lush, Progressive, Lyrical, Melodic
Style: Progressive Songwriter, Jazz-Rock, Prog-Folk, Post-Rock
Vibe: Spring, Introspective, Warm, Intertwoven, Bright, Colorful, Carefree, Reflective, Personal
Musical Qualities: Lush, Progressive, Odd Time Signatures, Intricate, Dynamic, Polished, Improvisation, Lyrical, Riffs, Orchestral Arrangements
Style: Art Pop, Ambient Pop
Influences: Chamber-Folk, Trip-Hop, Slowcore, Post-Rock
Vibe: Existential, Introspective, Brooding, Gossamer, Dreamy, Melancholy, Reflective, Moody, Eclectic
Musical Qualities: Lush, Atmospheric, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Lyrical
Style: Chamber Folk, Singer/Songwriter
Vibe: Mellow, Morning, Soothing, Bittersweet, Warm, Introspective, Ethereal
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Sparse, Soft
Style: Folk-Pop, Singer/Songwriter, Chamber Folk, Progressive Folk
Vibe: Uplifting, Contemplative, Breezy, Bright, Sunny, Warm, Soft
Musical Attributes: Lush, Polished, Acoustic, Lyrical, Session Players
Bonnie covers Björk, Mickey Newbury, Danzig, R. Kelly and others with help from Espers’ Meg Baird & Greg Weeks
Style: Folk, Slowcore, Singer/Songwriter
Vibe: Introspective, Morning, Melancholy, Existential, Bittersweet
Musical Qualities: Covers, Vocal Harmonies, Sparse, Soft, Acoustic
Style: Psychedelic Chamber Music, Kosmische Musik, Ritual-Folk, Global Fusion
Vibe: Spiritual, Meditative, Communal, Psychedelic, Earthy, Forest, Ritualistic, Tribal
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Atmospheric, Chamber, Droney, Raga, Percussive, Chants
Instrumentation: Oboe, Keyboards, Conga, Acoustic Guitar, Bamboo Flute
Style: Post-Rock, Avant-Rock, Experimental Singer/Songwriter, Chamber-Folk
Vibe: Cryptic, Warm, Cerebral, Spring, Exploratory, Eclectic, Melancholy
Musical Attributes: Odd Time Signatures, Progressive Structures, Melodic
Style: New Weird America, Alt-Country, Psychedelic Americana, Chamber Folk
Vibe: Rustic, Rootsy, Bittersweet, Psychedelic
Musical Attributes: Chamber, Percussive, Studio-as-an-instrument, Rhythmic, Electro-Acoustic, Loops
Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar, Banjo, Vocals, Keyboards, Synthesizer, Fiddle, Mallet Percussion, Horns, Electronic Percussion, Upright Bass, Electric Bass, Piano
Style: Folk Rock, Chamber Folk, Singer/Songwriter
Influences: Celtic Folk, Trip-Hop, Bluegrass, North African Music, Arabic Folk, Blues
Vibe: Misty, Reflective, Warm, Eclectic, Sentimental, Sensitive, Romantic, Peaceful, Mystical
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Lush, Polished
Style: Gothic Country, Americana, Chamber Folk?Vibe: Rustic, Sombre, Murky, Rootsy, Ominous, Loner, Western, Melancholy, Moody, Dark?Musical Attributes: Acoustic Instrumentation (Banjo, Upright Bass, Cello, Acoustic Guitar, Accordion, Piano), Atmospheric, Droney, Slow, Lyrical?Lyrical Themes: Alienation, Religious, Christian, Storytelling
Style: Chamber Folk–Pop, Americana, Singer/Songwriter
Vibe: Warm, Lush, Deadpan, Uplifting, Soothing, Humorous, Soft
Musical Attributes: Lyrical, Melodic, Polished
Religious allegory, profane thoughts, and lustful confessions intertwine on Human Behavior’s third LP; Kedimum is a brooding suite of psychological chamber folk that introspects into a conflicted mind, struggling to reconcile matters of indoctrinated faith, natural human desires, and internalized guilt. Primary songwriter Andres Parada is joined by a sympathetic cast of vocalists to create a vivid sonic drama complete with choral vocals and spoken word passages to complement his haunting narrations. The intricate and shadowy arrangements blend distorted electronic beats with a wide array of acoustic instrumentation, including banjo, clarinet, accordian, acoustic guitar, violin, ehru, and cello.
Originally released in 2005 on Locust
Drag City Reissue (2020)
Format: LP
Style: Chamber Folk
Vibe: Mellow, Morning, Melancholy, Rootsy, Ethereal
Released in 2006 on Drag City Records Format: LP Style: Progressive Folk, Psych Folk Vibe: Melancholy, Psychedelic, Nocturnal, Sombre, Forest Musical Attributes: Melodic, Dynamic, Lush
Style: Free Folk, Chamber Music, Progressive Folk
Vibe: Ritualistic, Hypnotic, Earthy, Tribal, Nature, Meditative, Medieval, Exploratory
Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Improvisation, Instrumental, Minimalistic
Instrumentation: Oboe, Violin, Viola, Recorder, Percussion (Tabla, Drums, Chimes), Cello
Released in 1968 on ESP-Disk Format: LP Style: Chamber Folk, Psych Folk Vibe: Peaceful, Mellow, Psychedelic Themes: War, Nature, Love Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Strings, Flute, Banjo, Keyboards, Bass, French Horn
Released in 2019 Recorded in the Netherlands on November 11, 2018 Format: LP, DVD
Released in 1973 on Warner Bros. Records Format: LP
Released in 1979 on Charisma Records Recorded February 1978 Format: LP
Released in 2015 on Asthmatic Kitty Records Format: LP, clear vinyl First Pressing, limited to 10,000 copies
Released in 2008 on Sub Pop Records Produces by Phil Ek Format: LP + 12″ EP
On his latest, producer/composer/multi-instrumentalist Bibio blends serene folk pop, lush instrumentation, pastoral guitar instrumentals, nature field recordings, Walt Whitman-esque lyrics and beat-oriented grooves into the perfectly crafted springtime album. Ribbons feels like daydreaming in a garden or out in the woods under a tree or by a trickling stream.
Ryley Walker’s virtuosic fingerpicking and intricate folk-rock songwriting vibe heavily with a backing band of Chicagoan jazz musicians, including upright bass, drums, Rhodes and electric guitar. The first LP of this release is a studio album of jazzy folk rock songs for fans of Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks or Tim Buckley’s Happy Sad, while the Bonus Lp of this “Deep Cuts edition” is a 40 min live improvisation on one of the album cuts that probably beats anything on the studio LP. It’s rad to be able hear both the concise, song-centric studio side and the loose jammy side of this exciting artist in the same release.
Originally released in 1967 on Elektra 2012 Rhino Pressing, cut from original analogue masters Format: LP
Released in 2006 on Warp Records 2012 Pressing Format: LPx2, 180g, 45rpm
Released in 1968 on Warner Bros.
Originally released in 1974 2018 Earth Records Pressing Digitally Remastered Format: LP
Acoustic-shredder/singer-songwriter ventures out of the jazz-inflected folk-rock territory explored by his last few albums to create something that feels fully himself. Deafman Glance is full of angular left turns, complex structures, airy flutes, jazz detours, and psychedelic atmospheres. A balance of great songwriting, jazz musicianship, and experimental/art-rock tendencies. Recommended to fans of Tortoise’s Standards, Tim Buckley’s Starsailor, and King Crimson’s Red. (Click for full review).
Album Information: Released in 2010 on Drag City Records Produced by Joanna Newsom Arranged & Conducted by Ryan Francesconi Recorded by TJ Doherty, Noah Georgeson, Ryan Francesconi, Dana Gumbiner Mixed by Noah Georgeson & Jim O’Rourke Mastered by Steve Rooke at Abbey Road Studios Format: 3xLP Box Set, includes 12″x12″ lyric booklet with full musician …
A fingerpicking folk odyssey that traverses through passages of delicate piano motifs, tribal drum circles, meditative ambience, celebratory horn arrangements, reverent organ drones, and even a cathartic drum solo, all within a single 40 minute track.
Charming 70’s AM Pop vibes with elaborate string and horn arrangements and a jazzy rhythm section, including the legendary Brian Blade on drums. Great songwriting from Sam Beam, as usual.
An introspective, instrumental journey of pastoral fingerstyle guitar, occasionally joined by piano, synth and horn arrangements
Album Information: Released in 1969 by Island Records Recorded between June 1968 and June 1969 at Sound Techniques in London, England Produced by Joe Boyd 2013 Island repress , remastered from high resolution digital sources Recommended Tracks: River Man, Cello Song
Jazzy Folk-Rock with dynamic songwriting, passionate vocals, and acoustic shredding accompanied by fluid drums, watery vibraphones, distorted keys and groovy upright bass. FFO Astral Weeks, Joni Mitchell, John Martyn, and Tim Buckley
