In this Easter weekend edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews recent releases from Katie Keddie, Joey Collins, Blu Syrup, Lace Thief and Karen Macleod...
Single: Joey Collins - Alive
One of Nottingham’s dearest singer-songwriters, Joey Collins has outdone himself here; an acoustic-guitar opening melds into something dramatically wider and euphoric. Melancholic strings add a poignant beauty as Joey sings with hushed emotion… But then, a dramatic build and the vocals soar, with new layers of sound emerging, before we return to a reflective ending.
It feels as if Joey has poured his whole heart and soul into this song; it's heart-wrenching stuff. Don't miss Joey performing at The Bodega on 1st August. @joeycollinsuk (Phil Taylor)
Single: Katie Keddie - Crooked Shoulder
This exquisite new acoustic single from alternative folk singer-songwriter Katie Keddie was initially drawn from a thought-provoking songwriting workshop prompt led by Adrianne Lenker last January. Katie used artist’s Genesis Báez’s tranquil ‘Skyscape’ photograph as inspiration, which is a possible reference in the opening line: “Wrap me up in white linen/the warmth on your skin is glistening.”
Springy and sprightly with entrancing lyrical imagery, bewitching vocals and gentle banjo chimes, crooked shoulder is an alluring complement for a morning mental health walk, or for a wistful trip down memory lane.
Crooked Shoulder is the title and leading single for Katie Keddie’s next EP which will be launched with a headline show at The Grove on 27th June. Tickets are available here. @katiekeddie (Katherine Monk-Watts)
Single: Blu Syrup - Empty Promises
A song and a band which capture the spirit and sound of Nottingham’s current alt-rock scene. Empty Promises is a jagged, languidly energetic, garagey track which flows neatly for just over three minutes, rising and falling on waves of electric guitar. From a minimal start, the full band kick in with intent, a chugging underlay of guitars sitting neatly with vocalist Evvi’s sincere vocals. The song explores themes of self-worth and resilience and Blu Syrup sound energised and happy to be here — they’re shaping up to be a really important part of the local scene. @blusyrupband (Phil Taylor)
Single: Lace Thief - Girl Gang
With rumours of an album due later this year, local singer-songwriter Laura Dickinson – who you may know better as Lace Thief – has been treating our ears with some excellent singles in recent months. Latest release Girl Gang is no exception, a track bursting with a buzz of guitars, stomping drums and Dickinson’s own soaring vocals.
The empowered arrangement reflects the themes of the track, as Dickinson passionately describes female friendship, identity and a sense of togetherness. As uplifting as it is immediate, it’s further evidence that Dickinson is quickly becoming one of our city’s most cherished songwriters. Roll on the album! @lacethiefmusic (Karl Blakesley)
Album: Karen Macleod - Low Road
Low Road is an evocative listen, steeped in blues-by-way-of-country tradition and infused with life experience. Through a simple blend of finger-picked and slide guitar along with deeply soulful vocals, Karen Macleod demonstrates a wonderful maturity and an ability to capture stories, environments and feelings with sometimes startling effect. It's a 16-track record, also reflecting the depth and breadth of Macleod's catalogue of life events.
“This album captures a life-time’s worth of travel and musical adventure," explains Karen, and you can feel that from the first moment on. The album is wide-ranging, though, demonstrating a number of chapters of influence with instrumental songs (including the title track Low Road) as well as poetically written vocal numbers. This is ultimately a very honest body of work - sometimes gritty, at other times more soothing, but always reflecting the character of the author. It's an important one, too, reflective the eclectic world of music-making in our fair city. Karen will be performing at The Angel as part of this year's Dot To Dot Festival. @karenmacleodblues (Phil Taylor)
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