If It's Too Loud...: fern maddie

Monday, December 12, 2022

Jeff's Best of 2022 - #7: Fern Maddie - Ghost Story

In a year with so many great roots/folk records, it means that some of the best stuff out there needs to do something a little different to stand out, and Fern Maddie more than meets that expectation.

Ghost Story is a full-length debut that feels stark and real in an era where it doesn't even feel like we can all agree on what "real" actually is. The effort here is one that leans into its roots in a unique way, feeling almost international in its presentation in that it feels like its from old England even though Maddie's from New England, and the result is a really gorgeous folk record with a ton going for it. Songs like "Hares on the Mountain" and "The Maid on the Shore" feel immediate and pure, and the whole record ultimately feels like it belongs.

Fern Maddie deserves more praise for one of the better albums of the year, never mind one of the better folk efforts in recent times.

Songs of note: "The Maid on the Shore," "Hares on the Mountain"

Tuesday, July 5, 2022

First Listen: New Releases and Missed Music from 1 July 2022

Artist: Fern Maddie
Album: Ghost Story
Quick Thoughts: We missed this one from June, but my goodness is this great. Ghost Story feels like the near-perfect combination of Americana with Irish folk music, and the beauty of this record as a result cannot be understated. A Vermont native, songs like "Hare on the Mountain" or "The Maid on the Shore" will haunt you in all the right ways. Just a stellar listen across the board, do not miss out on this one.
Songs of Note: "The Maid on the Shore," "Green Grass Growing," "Ca' the Yowes"

Artist: Ghost Woman
Album: Ghost Woman
Quick Thoughts: Psych rock can be very hit-or-miss for me, and Ghost Woman hits. The sound is pure, the songwriting interesting, and the whole package is one that sticks with you long after it's done. I really enjoyed this listen, and if you're into this particular subset of indie music, give this a shot.
Songs of Note: "All the Time," "Clockwork"

Artist: Naima Bock
Album: Giant Palm
Quick Thoughts: Naima Bock was previously part of Goat Girl, and this debut full-length builds on a lot of that foundation. There's a starkness to this that I didn't expect, but it's accessible enough without abandoning the left-of-center approach many of us jumped onto the Goat Girl bandwagon for. This would be a highlight in a busy week, but you should make time for it no matter what.
Songs of Note: "Toll," "Working," "Instrumental"

Artist: Jasmyn
Album: In the Wild
Quick Thoughts: Wanted to highlight this indie record from a former member of Weaves, which balances the line between traditionally melodic and a little experimental near-perfectly. There's a lot to love here, and I hope this finds a broad audience. Add this to the rotation.
Songs of Note: "Crystal Ball," "Edge of Time," "Happy Tarot," "Purple Reflections"

Of note:

* Adwaith - Bato Mato (Solid Welsh language indie.)
* Gwenno - Treson (Former Pipette in an all-Cornish album.)
* Rococobra Quartet - Living Isn't Easy (A fascinating indie/jazz/prog hybrid.)
* Hether - play it pretty
* Tomer Baruch - Synthesized Sounds of the Sea
* Lil Texas - FASTER
* The Range - Mercury
* Bats - Blue Cabinet
* Fresh - Raise Hell
* Naomi Alligator - Double Knot
* Guided by Voices - Tremblers and Goggles by Rank
* Eric Hilton - Lost Dialect
* Onyx and Stasevich - Stasevich Beats 1993
* Teddy and the Roguh Riders - Teddy and the Rough Riders