The playlist surrounding this article may be titled Acoustic for a Saturday, but the delightful array of songs in this review and suitable fans of the acoustic scene, regardless of the day in question! On this page, you’ll find a comprehensive range of bands and artists who utilise acoustic instruments to the best of their abilities, covering a number of different scenes and genres. Let’s get cracking…
Review by Jane Howkins
Photo by Valerio Lysander
Valerio Lysander – Longer Days
First up we have chamber pop singer-songwriter Valerio Lysander, who also brings a folky quality into the track. It’s got quite a simplistic sound at first, featuring just a strummed acoustic guitar, until the rest of the sparse instrumentation is added later on. However, there’s something really pretty about the tune,with Valerio’s gorgeous vocals drifting across the top in a stylistic way, drawing you right into his world on the very first listen. His voice rises up higher on the chorus, sounding eve more impressive and before due to his vocal range.
Social media: Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram
Rachael Sage – Albatross
Here, musician, artist, producer and record label owner Rachael Sage reimagines her track Albatross, turning it into a magical acoustic number. It’s got quite a slow tempo but the pace actually makes it all sound much more beautiful, allowing you to truly take everything in. There’s also a lovely orchestral melody in the background that adds more of a texture to the tune, accentuating Rachael’s stunning voice well. All in all, Albatross is a lovely tune and one I reckon our readers should all be checking out!
Social media: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Spotify, YouTube, Instagram
Actve Captve – Ellis Island (Live from Studio Greenhouse)
Singer-songwriter Justin Han and his project Actve Captve have been featured by us a few times, so it’s good to have them back with Ellis Island (Live from Studio Greenhouse). The live setting actually seems to amplify the tune, adding a raw sense of realness into the piece, resonating well with the strong lyrics and lyrical themes. As well as the acoustic guitar melodies, there are also some lovely backing effects and vocals to be heard, with the latter harmonising well with Justin’s vocals on the chorus. Just try and listen to this without feeling a hug at your heartstrings!
Social media: Website, Facebook, Spotify, Soundcloud, Bandcamp, YouTube. Instagram, Songkick
Bonnie Milne – Stolen Night Sky
Now we have something a little different from composer Bonnie Milne. Stolen Night Sky is actually more of a neoclassical tune than anything else, but I still felt it belonged here. Bonnie uses her piano playing in a cool way, adding a rhythmic feel to the tune without the need for drums. She performs a selection of haunting piano chords and notes, as a gorgeous string section follows the music in the background, making for something remarkably unique in the modern music industry! Why not try something a little different?!
Social media: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Spotify, YouTube, Instagram
Ollie Norton – Sweet Tooth
A lot of acoustic songs tend to be found within the folk/country genres. However, on Sweet Tooth, Ollie Norton adds his lovely acoustic guitar melodies to a pop song, making for quite a distinctive sound in today’s electronic pop world! The main guitar lick is bluesy and carries through the tune effortlessly, with some faint percussion appearing at times. Ollie has a soulful voice, creating a slight hint of the modern r&b movement, mixing well with the poppy melodies on offer here. I can’t wait to hear what Ollie comes up with next time around!
Social media: Facebook, Spotify, Soundcloud, Instagram, TikTok
Marius Billgobenson – A Little Bit Of Honey
A Little Bit Of Honey is a track created by Marius Billgobenson, a Congolese guitarist who combines moments of r&b, soul, smooth jazz and gospel music into one enticing package. I also felt there was a bit of a ska/reggae vibe, due to the beat and rhythm of the tune, which is very welcome to my ears! You can really feel everything Marius is singing about here, as the horns in the background raise the tune up to new, more anthemic heights. It’s clear that this track has been a real labour of love for Marius, worth every penny for listeners who dare to try something different!
Social media: Website, Spotify, Soundcloud, YouTube, Instagram
Gabriel Byrd – Under a Mango Tree
Gabriel Byrd is a London-based guitarist, multi-instrumentalist and composer, using elements of the blues and folk music in his work. Under a Mango Tree has a very 1960s/1970s folk-rock sound to me, similar in style to the sort of music Jethro Tull used to perform – high praise indeed, in my opinion! The flute melodies are astoundingly beautiful here, following the guitars in a lovely way, as more instruments are added over time. It’s the sort of track that you’ll need to listen through a few times over to really appreciate everything going on here, so why not start your listening journey now?!
Social media: Linktree, Facebook, Twitter, Spotify, Soundcloud, Bandcamp, YouTube, Instagram
Heliara – He’s (No) James Bond
With He’s (No) James Bond, we have another piano-based singer-songwriter tune, this time created by musician and vocalist Heliara. It’s a haunting ballad that is performed primarily on the piano, although the track also features a lovely cello in the background, adding another nice layer into the music. The piano is really chilling here, as Heliara’s vocals simply soar over the top, showing just how strong her voice really is! Lyrically, the track is about the cycle of abuse that can sometimes occur when one person has been abused, making for a melancholy theme that fits with the overall feel of the song.
Social media: Facebook, Spotify, YouTube, Instagram
Cory M. Coons – White Picket Fence
White Picket Fence is more of an old school folk song than anything else, with a touch of Americana and country also thrown in for good measure. Cory M. Coons is an acclaimed singer-songwriter, and White Picket Fence shows exactly why his music has become so beloved. There’s a real sense of heartland nostalgia to this piece, working well with the clever lyricism that Cory brings to the track. The harmonica sounds awesome when it appears, although it never takes over the track, keeping the focus mainly on Cory’s vocals and acoustic guitar strumming.
