As regular visitors to the blog will know we are suckers for most things with a”roots” tag. In fact, anything half-decent ticking the Folk, Country, or Americana boxes is in with a chance on MM and this bunch is a whole lot more than half-decent.

From start to finish, Jo Henley’s album Mohawk is brimming with story-songs: a rollicking retelling of the Schenectady Massacre of 1690, a Celtic-tinged ditty about the plight of the Irish immigrants who found work digging the Erie Canal, dark ballads about some of Campolieto’s most intimate and haunting memories, and even an old-timey banjo-and-piano instrumental that carries the listener down the sleepy river after which the album is named. Sample track, The Kittie West rumbles along on the back of a jaunty rhythm that could have come from the Man in Black himself. Have a listen.

Download Jo Henley – The Kittie West mp3 (from Mohawk)

Out On The Open West is Frank Fairfield’s new album. When he opened for the Fleet Foxes on tour, The Guardian described him thus: “He plays old-fashioned “hillbilly” music on fiddle, banjo and guitar; he wears tweeds, grandad shirts and hair oil.” Good enough for us!

Download Frank Fairfield – Poor Old Lance mp3 (from Out On The Open West)

Wagons unruly sound, draws upon rock ’n’ roll, country, funk, cabaret, psychedelia and soul all tied together by Henry Wagons’ delightfully twisted vision. With his gentle growl, he comes off like a cross between Leon Russell and his fellow Aussie Nick Cave as taster track I Blew It demonstrates.

Download Wagons – I Blew It mp3 (from Rumble, Shake & Tumble)

One could easily imagine the Twilite Broadcasters performing in Depression-era southern parlors, sipping sweaty glasses of sweet tea while full-skirted ladies swoon over the gorgeous brother harmonies and understated solos that find just the right notes. The Twilite Broadcasters create traditional American early country and bluegrass music directly inspired by the likes of the Louvin Brothers and Bill Monroe.

Download The Twilite Broadcasters – Lorene mp3 (from The Trail Of Time)

And lastly, Montreal indie songwriter Daniel Isaiah, released High Twilight, on June 7. It is an ambitious work that makes no reservations about diving into big classic themes like love and death, sex and myth. Musically the motifs are each given their own respective treatment, as the record features everything from Americana to French chanson and even a touch of Dixieland. But it’s Isaiah’s mesmerizing voice, both literally and figuratively, that strings the album together and manages to make it somehow sound both contemporary and timeless. Think the likes of of Will Oldham, Bright Eyes, Leonard Cohen, and Calexico – listen to the brilliant title track.

Download Daniel Isaiah – High Twilight mp3 (from High Twilight)

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