Women's Music CHAT THREAD

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

I've been nattering away off-topic on Stewie's excellent thread asking for suggestions for her International Women's Day CD...so thought I would start an ongoing thread for anyone who, like me particularly enjoys music by female artists and female-fronted bands.

I'm not looking for lists of recommendations - there are two threads called Music By Women which have dozens of brilliant suggestions of artists to check out.

This is more about sharing a recent discovery (artist doesn't have to be new, though!) - a song, album, band, singer/songwriter etc. etc. that have inspired or excited you and you want to share. Or to chew the cud about anything related to women's music that catches your interest. Please join in!

[NicholasTeakozy]

Posted in _Chat by MrsCumberbatch, . Really catchy and rather addictive piece of music featuring Eliza Carthy amongst others.

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

IC's Tune For Today:

A legend of the South African music scene, sadly no longer with us. Miriam Makeba was also a civil rights activist who spoke out against apartheid and had to leave the country as a result, returning when apartheid ended. But most of her songs are joyous. This one is her signature tune and still sounds great more than fifty years after its most famous recording was released.

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

That's awesome, Stewie!

Reminds me of Etta James RIP...

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

IC's Tune For Today:

Anyone not yet discovered Feist?

Time you did!

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

I certainly like Black Doe, I remember thinking it was an ace track when it was released! Haven't yet explored the rest of her stuff, must do so...


Here's a linky:

[bringbacksideburns]

Definitely will give Eliza Gilkyson a listen - thanks.

I thought Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes was amazing. I think they are on again tonight on Jools Holland. I was impressed by her voice.

Has anyone given Mary Epworth a listen? - only heard a couple of tracks but her album looks good.

Black Doe on youtube - i can only bring up the You tube link not the highlighted artist, not sure why, but it's definitely worth a listen

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

IC's Tune For Today:

A straight up and down love song - although you probably wouldn't think so if you'd first encountered it on the soundtrack to the movie The Secretary (a bit of a - ahem - problematic film for feminists, I'll venture). But it's very sweet (and also easy to play on the guitar if you're so inclined!!)

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

IC's Tune For Today:

A salute to another artist with a venerable and continuing career in music, dating back from the 1960s. I posted a couple of recommendations by her daughter, Rose Kemp, further upthread - now for one of the female folk voices of the last 5 decades - Maddy Prior.

[NicholasTeakozy]

6Music is why I need to get a DAB radio, to further widen my already wide musical tastes.

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

Yep, I do - in fact I posted Oblivion by Grimes as a recommendation further upthread. Genesis is indeed fantastic. And 6Music have been playing a lot of Alabama Shakes lately, so I'm familiar with their stuff and like it very much too. Brittany has an amazing voice.

[NicholasTeakozy]

I watched Later last night, and there were two cracking acts on.

performing Hold On and performing Genesis. Two completely different styles of music, two completely different vocal styles, both utterly superb. Hope you like them too. :)

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

Happy to help, Nicholas

IC's Tune for Today:

If you like Lucinda Williams and Americana sung with a female voice, then give Eliza Gilkyson a try. She's been around for yonks, but remains slightly below the radar for most, especially in the UK. A voice etched with experience accompanied by simple acoustic guitar, more often than not.

I find this song very moving - it's the title track from her album Hard Times In Babylon - there's a stream of this (and the rest of the album) here:

Hard Times In Babylon by Eliza Gilkyson

[NicholasTeakozy]

That is just fantastic. Have added her to my listening list. Thanks for posting good stuff so a lazy busy chap doesn't have to search. :)

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

IC's Tune For Today:

Susheela Raman is UK-born with Southern Indian parents and fuses music from her family's culture with the jazz/torch song style.

This is from her first album, Salt Rain. Mellow, slightly haunting and beautifully sung.

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

Ooh, ooh, ooh!!


Two new discoveries to share:

A radio show dedicated to new and emerging music by female artists
The Other Woman with Ruth Barnes on Amazing Radio. Yay!

And...

IC's Tune For Today:

I heard Lauren Laverne play the forthcoming new single by The Moulettes, a Brighton folk collective (mixed, but I think you'll agree when you listen to the song, very much dominated by the various female vocalists/musicians) and instantly loved it.
Sing Unto Me by The Moulettes
(press the little green play button to get a stream)

Top stuff! I'm busy finding more of their music as fast as I can....

[KRITIQ]

Dang, I just saw she played Edinburgh last night and I missed it. Bum luck. She doesn't seem to have an album out yet, but I'll definitely be watching for it. It was the Jo Wiley show she was on.

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

Ooh, ace - more to explore - cheers KRITIQ!

I posted the link to Standing In The Way Of Control before I read this article but it's rather pertinent, as it turns out...

[KRITIQ]

I heard Kyla La Grange on the radio the other day and was quite impressed with both her voice, and the music which was a bit edgy and vaguely reminded me of All About Eve.

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

Swedish I've got that album by Rosie Thomas and it's lovely. I don't think you'll be disappointed! She wears another hat when she's not being a musician - she's a comedienne with a ditzy persona - I could hardly put her together with the same person who wrote those heartfelt acoustic songs when I first heard her doing her comedy thing..!

bbsb ah, thanks for reminding me about Lucinda Williams! That's a classic album of hers, too. Personally, I'm not remotely put off by the word Country when applied to music, I like quite a lot of stuff in that genre, especially by female vocalists (and the country tradition contains quite a few Strong Woman type songs as well as the more usually caricatured "mah awld dawg's dead..." ditties...).

[bringbacksideburns]

I've finally discovered Lucinda Williams. It's about time!
She's sort of like a Country Chrissie Hynde/PJ Harvey.

Don't let the word 'Country' put you off!
Car Wheels on a Gravel Drive is the album i'm listening to it.

This is her angry song. I don't know how to get the link to just show up her name, sorry.

[SwedishEdith]

Speed read this thread but check out Caitlin Rose- she's ace.
Glad First Aid Kit have been mentioned - love that cd
Just got one by Rosie Thomas but not had a chance to listen yet. Heard Gideon Coe play a track "$2 shoes" so followed-up and bought the cd. Took ages to come so am guessing not many buyers

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

IC's Tune For Today:

Beth Ditto is overdue a mention on this thread, I reckon! She's a powerhouse of indie punk/thrash rock and certainly has the courage of her convictions.

I must say, I'm not remotely grabbed by The Gossip's newest stuff (bit too over-produced '80s throwback for my tastes) so I'm going back to their 2005 classic which was written by Beth as a protest against George W Bush's government's refusal to allow gay people to marry...

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

IC's Tune For Today:

If you like June Tabor (and probably Jesca Hoop) then you may well enjoy Heidi Berry too - she released a few albums on 4AD in the 90s.

This is a lovely track from her album Love:

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

I would happily accept iTunes credits and would probably overspend hugely, so they'd do fine out of me..!!