Kadey Ballard – 7 of Cups

Having been giving myself to new me music for what seems like forever (lockdown has been very creative), I figured I needed to listen to other people again for a while before I dive in to deciding the order of my next album.

So yesterday I dedicated to working from home, obviously, but also listening to stuff on Bandcamp that I’d been notified about, or that others that I follow had bought, or whatever caught me eye.

And everything was shit. Actually, I should just say it didn’t grab me.

Maybe it was a mood thing. Today has been two out of two on the hit rate, and this was the first. Drawn in by the title, because tarot, this is a serious contender for my purchase on the next Bandcamp Friday. Lady and acoustic guitar. Brilliant songs. Nowt else needed.

I didn’t want the album to end.

 

 

Laughing Eye Weeping Eye

I really don’t know where to begin with this.

And that is a good thing.

This is where drone, folk, what is probably a harmonium, and tarot cards meet. This is particularly good for me, as these are all some of my favourite things, although by way of a disclaimer, I should point out that I have many, many favourite things. It’s one of the very best things about getting older.

I mean, I’ve labelled it ethereal, and in many respects it is, but it is also an amazingly material sound. There’s a density which complements the obviously etheric inspirations. If I was a ‘proper’ music critic, I’d be trying to think of a new genre name now.

And it sounds like absolutely nobody else I’ve ever heard. Again, in a good way.

The website of the main player, Rebecca Schoenecker, is here. She’s about a lot more than the music. Have a look at this video for a tune that isn’t on the album I’ve embedded:

Probably the best thing I can do is stop typing. Probably the best thing you can do is listen.