Folks We Oughta Know – The Labor Day Post

      We’re not sure the sentiment can be defended, but it seems appropriate to post recommended Folk songs on Labor Day. As a heads-up, some songs in this post are good from the start and much better in their second halves. Listening to the songs in their entirety, or at least skipping ahead, is recommended.

     “Keep Falling” is from the Swedish Folk Rock duo of Emil Gyllensvärd (singer, guitar) and Kevin Spring (guitar, various instruments). They don’t have much of a social media footprint, but that will change as fans ask for more information.

     “Keep Falling” by Crooked Trees

     “That Place” takes a where-did-that-come-from turn around the 3:00 mark. Until then, the song from Tay Oskee is lyrically appealing. Then, a short crescendo delivers the listener to a higher energy, group vocals state.

     Tay Oskee is based in Mission Beach, Australia. He is a multi-instrumentalist who welcomes the talents of others. The Facebook page identifies other contributors to the music as Weissenborn (banjo), Micky Boston (bass), Siobhan Corcoran (violin, backing vocals, xylophone, guitar), and Danni Ogilvie (percussion). 

     “That Place" by Tay Oskee

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tayoskee

Website: http://www.tayoskee.com/

     “Big Sky” is the third blogworthy song by Bjear (after "Cold" and "Nell"), but the first we are posting. Our bad! Bjear incorporates equal parts of Bon Iver, Sigur Ros and themselves. The members of the band are Bear McKee, Dan White, John Day, Luke Vianello, and Tom Montessi. They are based in Adelaide, Australia.

     The band’s bio notes “Bjear was birthed through the storytelling and imagery of Huldufólk - Icelandic elvish folklore. Bjear is pronounced 'BYEAH' - with a soft J - and often yelled as a short, sharp, stand-alone staccato-esq phrase.” 

     "Big Sky" by Bjear

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bjear

     Modern Crusoe is Chris Bindloss in Santa Barbara. His song “Santiago” is an attention-arresting mix of horn, guitar, and vocals. Then, that mix steps aside for a piano and acoustic guitar for the final 20 seconds. Arrangements like the one in "Santiago" don't happen without careful thought.

      “Santiago” by Modern Crusoe

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moderncrusoe/