i don’t usually go for transparent post titles but since the latest issue from yerbird (home to next week’s gig of choice in london) has such a great name, not to mention fantastic artwork too, well, why fight it.

(head over to salvage to read the beautiful quote from the inlay.)

pulling together the most interesting of the increasingly internet active new folk types, yerbird lynchpin, morgan has an ear for a storyteller in song. and what shouts loudly from this gently rousing intelligent collection of songs is how the oscillating hiss of a four track tape machine provides a level of intimacy you can’t replicate but which doesn’t get lost in the tendrils of myspace either.

the very homemadeness of folk music, warms me to it. not that homemadeness isn’t prevelant elsewhere, in fact electronic music is often more homemade than a lot of contemporary folk music. but i’ve a soft spot for a song who’s rhythm section doesn’t try to make you dance but reminds you of the heartbeat which made it. in fact perhaps its this is new soul music, or further reappropriation of the phrase r&b - created by musicians driven not necessarily to make crates of money, to work with will.i.am, pharrell or lil john, to get that david lachappell shoot or guest on a kanye joint but to lift a little something off their hearts and souls and tell a story.

the tracklisting is a healthy mix of familiar and utterly obsure, j.tillman’s barter blues is a moody cormac macarthy-esque story with uncharacteristic electronic elements, sarah white’s part of the story is slyly melodious, the hotel ghost’s appellation sounding plea to her family to pray for salvation on her death bed and hayden’s letter from london brings the percussion in at just the right moment.

the whole kit and caboodle is available now straight from yerbird and here’s a grower from massachusetts native oweihops.

oweihops - sad little drunks