The Invisible Comes to Us is a haunting, modern take on Appalachian and Irish folk songs. Beautiful close-harmonies, banjos and acoustic guitars are juxtaposed with droning atmospheres of woodwinds, Moog bass, pump organ, and euphonium. Guest musicians include Jim White on drums and Susan Alcorn on slide guitar.
Anna & Elizabeth – The Invisible Comes to Us Read More »
Amidst the icy winds of tribal drones and pagan folk rituals, there are moments of mystical serenity in the music of Natural Snow Buildings, like serendipitously finding warm shelter while lost in a punishing blizzard.
Natural Snow Buildings – The Snowbringer’s Cult Read More »
Style: Loner Folk, Singer Songwriter, Psych Folk
Vibe: Lethargic, Loner, Peaceful, Soothing, Airy, Mellow, Contemplative, Dreamy, Droney, Hypnotic, Intimate, Introspective
Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Droney, Slow, Sparse, Soft
Ilyas Ahmed – I Am All Your Own Read More »
Style: Lo-Fi, Experimental Singer/Songwriter, Loner Folk
Vibe: Heartfelt, Imaginative, Introspective, Nature, Intimate, Loner, Bittersweet, Depressive, Psychedelic, Raw, Lonely
Lyrical Themes: Existential, Alienation, Breakup, Philosophical, Poetic, Personal, Death
Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Noisy, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Analogue Recording, lo-fi, Distorted
The Microphones – The Glow Pt. 2 Read More »
Originally released in 2005 on Locust
Drag City Reissue (2020)
Format: LP
Style: Chamber Folk
Vibe: Mellow, Morning, Melancholy, Rootsy, Ethereal
Espers – The Weed Tree Read More »
Style: British Folk, Country-Influenced
Vibe: Contemplative, Earthy, Introspective, Melancholy, Rootsy, Rural, Storytelling
Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Vocal Harmonies, Lyrical, Melodic, Simple, Sparse
Mike and Lal Waterson – Bright Phoebus Read More »
Released in 2004 on Young God Records Format: LPx2
Devendra Banhart – Rejoicing in the Hands / Niño Rojo Read More »
Originally released in 1998 Exiled Records reissue (2016) Format: LPx2, blank D-side
Sir Richard Bishop – Salvador Kali Read More »
Style: American Primitive Guitar, Folk
Vibe: Rootsy, Eclectic, Raw
Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Lo-fi, Sound Collage, Vignettes, Bluesy, Instrumental
John Fahey – The Voice of the Turtle Read More »
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
Pearls Before Swine – Balaklava Read More »
Released in 2019 on Western Vinyl Format: LP
Moon Bros – The Easy Way is Hard Enough Read More »
40+ album released in 2019 worthy of some deep listening, plus an accompanying mixtape recorded straight from these records
Deep Rotations: 2019 — 40+ Essential Records + Mixtape Read More »
Released in 1965 on Elektra Records Recorded in 1964 Format: LP
Phil Ochs – “I Ain’t Marching Anymore” Read More »
Released in 2005 on Drag City Format: LP
Smog – A River Ain’t Too Much to Love Read More »
Originally released on CD in 2005 on Drag City First vinyl pressing – 2009 Format: LP
Six Organs of Admittance – School of the Flower Read More »
Released in 2001 on Future Farmer Records Format: LPx2, 45rpm
M. Ward – End of Amnesia Read More »
Released in 1973 on Takoma Records Format: LP
John Fahey – Fare Forward Voyagers (Soldier’s Choice) Read More »
Another interesting one from Fahey, side A consists of some amazingly intricate guitar duets with Woodrow Mann, including my favorite Fahey song “Jaya Shiva Shankarah”. Side B takes a strange turn though…halfway through the title track a 10-piece dixieland band kicks for a few tracks of New Orleans-style jazz. The album closes in a more familiar place with a contemplative solo piece that most Fahey fans would dig.
John Fahey & His Orchestra – Old Fashioned Love Read More »
Released in 2018 on Thrill Jockey Records Format: LP
Sarah Louise – Deeper Woods Read More »
Released in 2007 on Sub Pop Records Format: LP
Iron & Wine – The Shepherd’s Dog Read More »
These impassioned, and often mournful, renditions of klezmer folk songs (both traditional and original) are infused with elements of free jazz, drone, and chamber music to create something both rooted and urgently modern (Even 15 years after its release). The mostly acoustic band features violinist Jessica Moss (also of Silver Mt. Zion) and upright bassist Thierry Amar (asmz, GY!BE) in addition to singer/multi-instrumentalist Scott Levine Gilmore and Clarinetist/Guitarist Gabe Levine.
Black Ox Orkestar – Ver Tanzt? Read More »
Released in 1967 on Elektra Records Format: LP
The Incredible String Band – The 5000 Spirits or the Layers of the Onion Read More »
Released in 1964 on Columbia Records Recorded in 1963 Format: LP
Bob Dylan – The Times They Are A-Changin’ Read More »
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.
Warm, mellow Scottish folk with lyrics that border spiritual, philosophical, and fantasy themes. The arrangements are a bit stripped down from their lush psychedelia of previous releases, but still feature a good amount of sitar, organ, Irish harp, and violin to add some color to the vocals and acoustic guitar-centric songwriting.
The Incredible String Band – The Big Huge Read More »
Released on Elektra in 1968 Format: LP Track Notes A1 – Jobs Tears (Uplifting, Morning, Spiritual) “Stranger than that we’re alive” A2 – Puppies (Peaceful, Sitar, Bowed Gimbri, Morning) “Music is so much less than what you are” A3 – Beyond the See (Instrumental featuring organ, harpsichord, whistle, and bowed gimbri A4 – The Yellow Snake
The Incredible String Band – Wee Tam Read More »
Released in 1967 on Takoma Records Format: LP
Robbie Basho – The Falconer’s Arm II Read More »
Exuma’s first album is a powerful and ritualistic masterpiece of spiritual folk from the Bahamas. Exuma, the Obeah Man, is a master storyteller and preacher, sharing visions, myths, and prayers. His expressive, soulful voice takes on many tones as he delivers his musical sermons, from smooth to raspy, soft to confident. A group of singers, percussionists, whistlers, and toads join him and his acoustic guitar, making me imagine them all circled around a large fire in communal worship and grateful that they let us listeners in on it.
Style: Singer/Songwriter, Chamber-Folk
Moods: Poetic, Sombre, Introspective, Reflective, Mythic, Bittersweet, Autumnal, Existential, Longing, Lonely, Love
Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Mandolin, Violin, Flute, Jaw Harp, Background Vocals
Leonard Cohen – Songs of Leonard Cohen Read More »
Releases in 1983 on Takoma Records Format: LP
John Fahey – Railroad Read More »
1967 Originally Released in 1965 on Takoma Records 1967 Reissue Format: LP
John Fahey – Volume 3: The Dance of Death & Other Plantation Favorites Read More »
Vibes: Bittersweet, Medieval, Pastoral, Autumnal, Longing, Sentimental, Rootsy, Warm, Storytelling
Instrumentation: Vocal Harmonies, Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Upright Bass, Drums, Sitar, Percussion, Dulcitone, Dulcimer, Concertina, Recorder
Pentangle – Cruel Sister Read More »
Released in 2002 on Holy Mountain Format: LP
Six Organs of Admittance – Dark Noontide Read More »
Released in 1969 on Elektra Records Format: LP
Tim Buckley – Happy Sad Read More »
Released in 2015 on Drag City Composed using Ben Chasny’s Hexadic System
Six Organs of Admittance – Hexadic II Read More »
Released in 2017 on Domino Records Format: LPx2
Richard Dawson – Peasant Read More »
Released in 2018 on Columbia Records Recorded September and December, 1974
Bob Dylan – More Blood, More Tracks: The Bootleg Series Vol. 14 Read More »
Style: Singer/Songwriter
Subgenres: Slowcore, Country, Folk
Vibe: Depressive, Intimate, Lonely, Sad, Introspective, Raw, Loner
Musical Attributes: Lo-fi, Sparse, Raw, Simple
Palace Brothers – Palace Brothers Read More »
Released in 2011 on Sub Pop Records Produced by Phil Ek and Fleet Foxes Format: LPx2 Includes large foldout poster
Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues Read More »
Released in 2006 on Drag City Records Format: LPx2
Joanna Newsom – Ys Read More »
“What I’m asking you to do is take some risks. Stop paying war taxes, refuse the armed forces, organize against the air war, support the strikes and boycotts of farmers, workers and poor people, analyze the flag salute, give up the nation state, share your money, refuse to hate, be willing to work…in short, sisters and brothers, arm up with love and come from the shadows”
Joan Baez – Come From the Shadows Read More »
Information: Originally released in 1963 on Columbia This pressing was released in 2001 on Sundazed records Format: LP, 180g, Mono
Bob Dylan – The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan Read More »
On his debut album, the guitar and banjo virtuoso starts off with a 22-minute droning epic fusing American and Arabic Folk music with Indian Raga on his acoustic guitar (often trying to imitate the feeling of the oud). Here, he is accompanied by the fluid, driving drums of Billy Higgins. Side 2 is made up of 4 shorter solo pieces, mostly for the banjo, including an impressive rendition of “Carmina Burana” by German composer Carl Orff and a folky mountain song.
Sandy Bull – Fantasias for Guitar and Banjo Read More »
British singer-songwriter John Martyn fuses folk, jazz, and psychedelic experimentation to create an album that is both eclectic and cohesive, tied together by his flowing voice and virtuosic acoustic guitar fingerpicking.
FFO Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, Ryley Walker
John Martyn – Solid Air Read More »
Julie Byrne’s gentle new-age folk is so light and airy it’s easy to miss its depth, but repeated listening shows that it’s strength lies in its weightlessness. Her soothing voice and delicate fingerpicking are enveloped in warm string arrangements, all tied together by soft reverb and pristine production that makes for an inviting, peaceful listen every time.?
Julie Byrne – Not Even Happiness Read More »
At the core of these electrouacoustic Arabic folk songs lies expressive vocals and the buzuk, a fretted lute which Radwan Ghazi Moumneh plays with a near religious determination. While these instruments are played nakedly and organically, it is the production and recording that really exhibits the experimental and atmospheric nature of the music. Acoustic instruments are re-sampled and processed to create granular and rhythmic accompaniment, while waves of white noise, synths and field recordings are used to adorn and enhance the emotional twists and turns of the raw acoustic performances.
Jerusalem in My Heart – If He Dies, If If If If If If Read More »
Pastoral psychfolk from guitar master Ben Chasney. Here his serene acoustic fingerpicking is occasionally accompanied by harmonium drones and trippy guitar overdubs, but overall the album is extremely sparse and meditative.
Six Organs of Admittance – Asleep on the Floodplains Read More »
The first side features Dylan going electric for the first time, including classics such as She Belongs to Me and Maggie’s Farm. Side 2 features the acoustic storytelling and surrealist lyrics Dylan had been perfecting up to that point.
Bob Dylan – Bringing it All Back Home Read More »
Album Information: Released in 1967 on Takoma Records Includes 15-page book of stories and song notes
John Fahey – Volume 6: Days Have Gone By Read More »
Album Information: Released in 1967 on Takoma Records This album was originally released on 100 copies in 1959, but was re-recorded in 1967 for this issue This album is included in the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry for being considered culturally significant.
John Fahey – Volume 1: Blind Joe Death Read More »
Guitar-genius Mdou Moctar visits Portland, Oregon from his home country of Niger to record a hypnotic solo album of desert folk sung in Tamasheq. Most songs consist of intricate fingerstyle acoustic guitar with occasional electric guitar overdubs to accent the melodies.
Mdou Moctar – Sousoume Tamache Read More »
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.
Jim O’Rourke – The Visitor Read More »
Blue Afternoon continues the flowing jazz-folk of Tim’s previous release (Happy Sad) while starting to detour into the avant-garde atmospheres that would manifest more fully on his next two albums, Lorca and Starsailor. The songs and lyrics refuse to be boxed into one category as “joyful” or “lonely” or “sad” and instead reflect the intangible multi-dimensionality of feeling.
Tim Buckley – Blue Afternoon [4menwithbeards] Read More »
An introspective, instrumental journey of pastoral fingerstyle guitar, occasionally joined by piano, synth and horn arrangements
Jim O’Rourke – Bad Timing Read More »
Style: Chamber Folk, Singer-Songwriter, Brit-Folk
Moods: Rainy, Melancholy, Sombre, Intimate, Peaceful, Lonely, Contemplative, Pastoral, Mellow
Nick Drake – Five Leaves Left Read More »
Somber ambient-folk with layers of delicate, circular fingerpicking and sparse arrangements of droning harmonium, piano, guitar feedback and the occasional chirping crickets. The soft reverb dampens everything like a light drizzle over the American prairie
Western Skies Motel – Settlers Read More »
Recorded at Royal Albert Hall in 1966
Format: 2xLP Box Set, 200g, Includes 12″ 20-page booklet of photos and essays
Style: Singer/Songwriter, Folk-Rock
Mood: Cryptic, Poetic, Reflective, Bittersweet, Rebellious, Romantic, Surreal, Intimate
Musical Qualities: Lyrical, Live, Melodic, Simple, Raw, Solo (LP1), Acoustic (LP1)
Bob Dylan – Live 1966: The “Royal Albert Hall” Concert (Bootleg Series Vol. 4) Read More »
Style: American Primitive Guitar, Folk
Moods: Joyful, Warm, Playful, Summer, Contemplative, Rootsy, Pastoral, Nature, Loner
Musical Qualities: Solo, Acoustic, Fingerstyle, Instrumental, Technical
Leo Kottke – 6 & 12-String Guitar Read More »
Primitivist acoustic guitar instrumentals in the form of droney ragas, jovial ragtime, and pastoral fingerpicking
Jack Rose – Opium Musick Read More »
The debut LP from this unpretentious songwriters’ songwriter offers a quality collection of warm & uplifting songwriting with economic guitar genius and top-notch rootsy arrangements, featuring the heavenly, dreamy reflections of “Magnolia”.
J.J. Cale – Naturally Read More »
