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The Spotlight Column
(by Lee Zimmerman)
While most of these indie artists reside well below the surface as far as wider recognition is concerned, it doesn’t mean they should be ignored entirely. Consequently, The Alternate Root offers an opportunity to discover music that’s well worth extra attention. Here then, is this week’s selection of memorable music from indie environs. Lean in and listen…
Jeffrey Martin (from the album Thank God We Left the Garden available on Fluff & Gravy Records/Missing Pieces Records)
A steadfast troubadour, Portland Oregon’s Jeffrey Martin’s makes a fateful return with his first album in some six years. Naturally, much has transpired in the world since then, and these somber songs reflect the despair and disappointment that’s transpired of late. Recorded mostly solo, and originally intended to be demos for a more formal offering to follow, the music is stark, sobering, and fully reflective of the tattered thoughts that have engulfed Martin and much of the planet of late. That said, the songs are immensely affecting, imbued with an air of intimacy that brings the sentiments front and center. ‘Everybody feels the same way’ he sings on “Paper Crown”. ‘Everybody’s too afraid to say, What they haven’t found’. All sad sentiment and weary reflection, the music pierces the heart and leave an unmistakable impression. Best described as a Sunday morning sequence of songs, this is a record that resonates long after the final notes fade away.
Jeffrey Martin on Spotify Jeffrey Martin website
Keturah Allgood (from the album Shine available as a self-release)
Optimism is in a decidedly short supply these days, and for good reason. Conflict, division, and disappointment clearly prevail. Happily, then, Keturah Allgood reminds us that despite all the angst and antagonism, there’s still reason to remain hopeful. A native of Brevard, North Carolina, Allgood shares songs that are unceasingly positive and persistent. Her first release in some 17 years, Shine provides a welcome return, a combination of beautiful ballads and anthemic expression that find an overriding theme. ‘Music has the power to tear down these walls, bring us all together, unite our souls…We’re not as different as they’d have us believe’ Allgood insists on “Radio”, the album’s infectious opener. Other songs echo that sentiment, from the decided drive of “Sing Baby Sing”, the album’s first single (‘don’t let anyone rob you of your dreams’) to the decided determination that fills “Peaceful Warriors”:
‘See I believe we have the power
To make this world better
To give hope to those who have none
And I believe if we all come together
We can rise above this madness
We can alleviate the sadness forever
If we just believe it
We’ve got to believe it now’
The promise and premise alone make Shine an illuminating effort.
Keturah Allgood on Spotify Keturah Allgood website
Carrie Newcomer (from the album A Great Wild Mercy available on Carrie Newcomer Music / Available Light Records)
Carrie Newcomer is one of the finest singer/songwriters making music today, bar none. That’s been the case for more than 40 years. Her new album, A Great Wild Mercy, proves the point once more. It’s a lovely set of songs that stays true to a sensual and seductive folk-like noir. The easy and alluring title track sets the tone, and every track that follows affirms that seemingly effortless embrace. Newcomer never fails to entice and enchant, and here again, that absolute allure comes decidedly to the fore. “Start With a Stone”, “Path Through the Evening Woods”, “Potluck”, “Take More Time, Cover Less Ground”, and, for that matter, every song on the album shares a calm and caress that’s as supple as pure poetry — all lilting melodies cut through the clutter of everyday life with purity and finesse. Newcomer makes music that’s indicative of a timeless talent that’s capable of captivating the listener immediately from the get-go, while assuring the enticement remains intact throughout. ‘A little sweetness is just what the doctor ordered’ she sings on the sweetly sentimental “A Tissue or Two”. Indeed, prepare to be thoroughly smitten.
Carrie Newcomer on Spotify Carrie Newcomer website
The Wheel (from the album The Wheel available on Boom Records)
Avram Brown, who goes under the nom de plume ‘The Wheel’ is a genuinely compelling artist, one with a knack of creating rich, resonant aural soundscapes fleshed out by swirling, semi-psychedelic arrangements that are both alluring and evocative in equal measure. Brown’s aided in his efforts by a musical ensemble that includes violist/arranger Kyleen King (Brandi Carlile, The Decemberists), engineer Larry Crane (Elliot Smith) and the late Ralph Carney (Tom Waits, The B-52’s) whose contributions on baritone saxophone and bass clarinet mark the final tracks he ever recorded. The results are genuinely affecting, from the persistent pulse of “Crashing Down” and the lush designs of “Love & Truth”, to the mellow musings of “Coyote Mask”, which Brown describes as a song about the transformational power of love lost and acceptance of a peaceful place where being alone doesn’t necessarily mean simply being lonely. It’s an ideal example of Brown’s expressive intents wrapped in a sumptuous sheen of evocative, demonstrative and illuminating revelations and reflection. A compelling creation, The Wheel makes for a most auspicious debut.
The Wheel on Spotify The Wheel website
(by Lee Zimmerman)
While most of these indie artists reside well below the surface as far as wider recognition is concerned, it doesn’t mean they should be ignored entirely. Consequently, The Alternate Root offers an opportunity to discover music that’s well worth extra attention. Here then, is this week’s selection of memorable music from indie environs. Lean in and listen…
Jeffrey Martin (from the album Thank God We Left the Garden available on Fluff & Gravy Records/Missing Pieces Records)
A steadfast troubadour, Portland Oregon’s Jeffrey Martin’s makes a fateful return with his first album in some six years. Naturally, much has transpired in the world since then, and these somber songs reflect the despair and disappointment that’s transpired of late. Recorded mostly solo, and originally intended to be demos for a more formal offering to follow, the music is stark, sobering, and fully reflective of the tattered thoughts that have engulfed Martin and much of the planet of late. That said, the songs are immensely affecting, imbued with an air of intimacy that brings the sentiments front and center. ‘Everybody feels the same way’ he sings on “Paper Crown”. ‘Everybody’s too afraid to say, What they haven’t found’. All sad sentiment and weary reflection, the music pierces the heart and leave an unmistakable impression. Best described as a Sunday morning sequence of songs, this is a record that resonates long after the final notes fade away.
Jeffrey Martin on Spotify Jeffrey Martin website
Keturah Allgood (from the album Shine available as a self-release)
Optimism is in a decidedly short supply these days, and for good reason. Conflict, division, and disappointment clearly prevail. Happily, then, Keturah Allgood reminds us that despite all the angst and antagonism, there’s still reason to remain hopeful. A native of Brevard, North Carolina, Allgood shares songs that are unceasingly positive and persistent. Her first release in some 17 years, Shine provides a welcome return, a combination of beautiful ballads and anthemic expression that find an overriding theme. ‘Music has the power to tear down these walls, bring us all together, unite our souls…We’re not as different as they’d have us believe’ Allgood insists on “Radio”, the album’s infectious opener. Other songs echo that sentiment, from the decided drive of “Sing Baby Sing”, the album’s first single (‘don’t let anyone rob you of your dreams’) to the decided determination that fills “Peaceful Warriors”:
‘See I believe we have the power
To make this world better
To give hope to those who have none
And I believe if we all come together
We can rise above this madness
We can alleviate the sadness forever
If we just believe it
We’ve got to believe it now’
The promise and premise alone make Shine an illuminating effort.
Keturah Allgood on Spotify Keturah Allgood website
Carrie Newcomer (from the album A Great Wild Mercy available on Carrie Newcomer Music / Available Light Records)
Carrie Newcomer is one of the finest singer/songwriters making music today, bar none. That’s been the case for more than 40 years. Her new album, A Great Wild Mercy, proves the point once more. It’s a lovely set of songs that stays true to a sensual and seductive folk-like noir. The easy and alluring title track sets the tone, and every track that follows affirms that seemingly effortless embrace. Newcomer never fails to entice and enchant, and here again, that absolute allure comes decidedly to the fore. “Start With a Stone”, “Path Through the Evening Woods”, “Potluck”, “Take More Time, Cover Less Ground”, and, for that matter, every song on the album shares a calm and caress that’s as supple as pure poetry — all lilting melodies cut through the clutter of everyday life with purity and finesse. Newcomer makes music that’s indicative of a timeless talent that’s capable of captivating the listener immediately from the get-go, while assuring the enticement remains intact throughout. ‘A little sweetness is just what the doctor ordered’ she sings on the sweetly sentimental “A Tissue or Two”. Indeed, prepare to be thoroughly smitten.
Carrie Newcomer on Spotify Carrie Newcomer website
The Wheel (from the album The Wheel available on Boom Records)
Avram Brown, who goes under the nom de plume ‘The Wheel’ is a genuinely compelling artist, one with a knack of creating rich, resonant aural soundscapes fleshed out by swirling, semi-psychedelic arrangements that are both alluring and evocative in equal measure. Brown’s aided in his efforts by a musical ensemble that includes violist/arranger Kyleen King (Brandi Carlile, The Decemberists), engineer Larry Crane (Elliot Smith) and the late Ralph Carney (Tom Waits, The B-52’s) whose contributions on baritone saxophone and bass clarinet mark the final tracks he ever recorded. The results are genuinely affecting, from the persistent pulse of “Crashing Down” and the lush designs of “Love & Truth”, to the mellow musings of “Coyote Mask”, which Brown describes as a song about the transformational power of love lost and acceptance of a peaceful place where being alone doesn’t necessarily mean simply being lonely. It’s an ideal example of Brown’s expressive intents wrapped in a sumptuous sheen of evocative, demonstrative and illuminating revelations and reflection. A compelling creation, The Wheel makes for a most auspicious debut.
The Wheel on Spotify The Wheel website
