Croix du Nord – “A song for the hills and for you”
-The calming sentiment of this track is evident from the start. The comparison that easily comes to mind is Fleet Foxes, but truthfully it’s not exactly the same as that iconic new folk sound. There’s something totally unique to Croix du Nord captured in the balance of the atmospheric backing track and relaxed lead vocal. Even the subtlety of the banjo in the background creates more of an atmospheric folk energy that really connects well with this style. It’s definitely worth consideration for fans of new folk music.
Hinterstate – “City lights”
-There’s a peaceful sweetness to the string work in the opening of this track from Hinterstate. The lyrics highlight what is essentially a confrontation. Yet the overall style of the track makes the whole story from the protagonists perspective as resigning to what couldn’t be, but will always wonder what might have been. This is a great reminder that not all breakups are a bad things. Sometimes it’s good to move on. The musical break from the sad opening to the “feeling fine” rock section is brilliantly done. This is folk rock for contemporary audiences that’s sure to make a lot of fans amongst our readership.
Chris Ho – “Everything is Endlessness”
-The horns in the opening of this track are sure to capture the attention of listeners. The transition to more of a traditional folk style works well. The horns come back for a few interludes and they really do click nicely. Despite the unconventional instrumentation compared to most folk that we hear, the track does a nice job of being unique without being unnecessarily experimental. There’s a joyfulness to the orchestral sections that reminds me of a celebration despite the social criticism evident in the lyrics. This is a fascinating composition with a juxtaposition between the lyrical commentary and the optimistic energy of the instrumentation. Give it a spin!
