BROOKE FRASER; album FLAGS

Brooke Fraser releases her first UK & Irish album debut today : Flags. It is formed out of vivid tales of stories and characters with intro-centric tunes, a charm and a half and catchy as you can get hooks. Fraser draws inspiration from characters other than herself and opts for colorful storytelling on Flags. Its no wonder it is already up for numerous awards in her homeland of New Zealand where she is an eight times platinum selling phenomenon.

I think it will be Fraser’s capability at delivering soft lingering, lilting melodies that will give her a steady rise not to mention her diverse catalogue of charming songs on this album.

The New Zealand songstress self-produced the record with a sublime confidence that radiantly reflects and beams off the songs. Whats more apparent, is her exploration of different instruments and soundscapes.

Standout tracks include the opener Something in the water (Video below with has over 1.6 million views already!) with its instantaneous sing-a-long appeal, or the piano-backed Aqualung duet, “Who Are We Fooling,” the ‘every girl’ track and Canadian shout-out, “Betty” and beautifully sparse “Sailboats.”

Fraser’s urge to write this album came to her one night at California music festival, Coachella, so it’s only fitting that there be a song in its honor and recognition that you can envision she will play at festivals with the sun going down in the back drop to fans lazily swaying to her hypnotic and enchanting voice. All in all this album is beautifully written and sublimely produced with a personal touch that captures the inner beauty in this artists' music which is destined to propel her into relative stardom away from home.

Flags: Wood & Bone) 10/10

Check out Something in The Water; the lead single from the album here:
Flags (Wood & Bone)

ROBERT SARAZIN BLAKE> THE BELFAST SESSIONS

In 1997, Robert Sarazin Blake dropped out of college and hit the road. The folk music of his father’s house had combined with the DIY punk ethos of the day and produced his first batch of songs, Another Irrelevant Year. On the heels of Richard Manning, Billy Bragg, and Ani Difranco, Blake’s 18-year-old release is an early document of the folk-punk movement. On his first US tour, Blake played 30 shows around the US planting seeds as he developed touring, not as an economic model, but as a lifestyle. He hasn’t stopped. Ten full length albums into his career, he’s continued to write pulling from folk roots, his travels, his contemporaries, and the quiet spot in the back of his mind. The writing has evolved, mellowing with experience and expanding with reference, but the essence of the work has remained the same-strong narratives solidly built on the folk foundation and fully in the immediacy of the now. The touring and performing has become an art in itself. Performing 200 shows a year, Blake is a world class performer in a neighborhood venue.

With gigs across the USA, Europe, and most commonly Ireland. Hitch hiking his way throughout his first tour around the country, guitar on his back, playing bars, rooms, festivals and fields, Blake developed a deep appreciation for Irish Traditional folk music. This year sees the release of THE BELFAST SESSIONS LP. Recorded in Belfast and Bellingham over the course of 2 sessions, the album features trad maestros John and Tina McSherry and Francis Mc Ilduff. 

THE BELFAST SESSIONS

THE LP: Flourishing songs of the everyday, of love and of the weather against a backdrop of uillean pipes, bodhran and guitar, the album is a testament to this powerful songwriters capacity at the simple, yet poetic delivery of song. 

The album features his most accessible work to date, most noticeably; 'Waiting' and 'City Covered in Snow.' It's a folk/trad record, written and conceived in the two wettest towns this side of Glasgow, informed by his love of folk, trad and quality music.

On 29th April, Blake returns to Ireland again with this new record, 'Belfast Sessions.'on deadslackstring records. He's not sleeping on beaches, or parks anymore (well we hope not!) but he is bringing his distinctive style of folk music to bars, venues and rooms around the country.

Irish Tour dates: 


29th April - Cobblestone, Dublin 


30th April - House show, Kinsale, Cork 


1st May- Roadside Tavern, Lisdoonvarna 


2nd May - Limerick 


4th May - Roisin Dubh, Galway 


5th May - Auntie Annie's, Belfast 
6th May - Cavan 


7th May - McGirls Pub, Leitrim 


8th May - Furey's pub, Sligo

Links: 
www.sarazinblake.com