River of Lost Souls

For anyone familiar with Eamon s debut solo album from 2013, Old Clump, the honest simplicity of the music will feel like the welcome return of an old friend, which is fitting. Although there are changes to the personnel joining Eamon for All Souls. He is joined by a number of old friends, among whom Emily Miller s soft backing vocals and perfectly placed harmonies remain a constant, and invaluable, aspect of the album. Later in the album Marina Blue, a Folk Radio song of the day in March offers a bolder introduction, and Emily s harmonies seem to come from a deep, silky, soulful place. Declarations of love don t come more earthy than this love song to the city of Montreal.

The Past & Present label presents a new kind of psych-rock compilation: Mindrocker. With the vast amount of '60s garage and psych compilations that have appeared from around the world in the last few years, it's easy to understand why so many fans of the genre have felt overwhelmed by the deluge. There are, however, a select group of compilations that are widely regarded as genuine must-haves for collectors of '60s singles. Alongside Nuggets, Rubbles, Pebbles, Endless Journey, Chocolate Soup For Diabetics and the Perfumed Garden, Mindrocker stands out as a treasure trove of '60s U.S. psych and garage music. Widely applauded for its high sound quality and detailed liner notes, courtesy of Hans-Herman Pohle, Mindrocker is widely-regarded as the launching-point of many a U.S. psych collection as well as an affordable way to locate rare singles by bands which went on to record classic albums for major record companies.

Los Lobos might have touted themselves as “just another band from East L.A.”, but it’s quite likely that even the group’s humble members recognized that few—if any—other artists in the late 1980s rivaled their soulful music, rousing performances, and eclectically blended arrangements. While lacking the commercial status of the quintet’s subsequent La Bamba release, By the Light of the Moon stands as the band’s most enjoyable excursion into American-hued soul, penetratingly reflective lyrics, and earnest roots rock. The music making is simply extraordinary.