Cinder Well - "Wandering Boy"

Amelia Baker (formerly of Blackbird Raum and Lankum) moved from Los Angeles to Ireland to study traditional Irish music. Cinder Well is the name she's recording that under, and we can hear another song from that project. "Wandering Boy" is haunting in the way that only Celtic music can be. This may be an old song, but Cinder Well makes it her own. It's dark, and sparse, and lonely. Besides Baker's vocals propelling the entire song, there's little more than the hum of a violin or accordion throughout. The music almost feels like it's dragging Baker in, and her voice is the only thing pushing her forward.

You can listen to "Wandering Boy" below. No Summer, the upcoming album from Cinder Well, will be out July 24 on Free Dirt Records. You can pre-order a copy here. For more on Cinder Well, check out the artist's website.

Cinder Well - "The Cuckoo"

Cinder Well is Irish based American songwriter Amelia Baker. She's also a member of anarchist folk project Blackbird Raum (anarchist folk is suddenly something I need to check out...) and spent time with Irish trad-punk group LANKUM. Cinder Well is self-described as "doomy folk from the depths," and the first single off the upcoming album fits that. "The Cuckoo" is just Baker's vocals and guitar, and it might be one of the darkest songs I've ever heard consisting of just vocals and guitar. Baker's vocals fit a traditional Irish folk format, but the use of electric guitar mixes with her voice in a way sure to inspire dread for the listener (in the best possible way). "The Cuckoo" is a beautiful song even though it isn't fully a pleasant listen.

You can listen to "The Cuckoo" below. No Summer, the depressingly aptly titled upcoming album from Cinder Well, will be out July 24. You can pre-order it on Cinder Well's Bandcamp. For more on Cinder Well, check out the artist's website.