Scotland-based Xan Tyler and Amsterdam-based Dusty Stray (nom-de-plume of American singer Jonathan Brown) have unveiled the title track a collaborative album, Home. The track unfolds gradually, from a lone voice and acoustic guitar excersise it turns into a duet about feeling lost and lonely, with a bit more guitar and soft-spoken percussion propping them up gently.
Home will be released via Last Night From Glasgow in partnership with Stereogram Recordings. Release date: November 7.
Scottish-based Xan Tyler and Amsterdam-based Dusty Stray (nom-de-plume of American singer Jonathan Brown) have unveiled a video a video for The End Of A New Beginning, the lead single for their collaborative album Home: "A a subtle breakup song, with grief and relief playing catch."
Scotland-based Xan Tyler and Amsterdam-based Dusty Stray (nom-de-plume of American singer Jonathan Brown) have joined forces for a collaborative album, Home, due for release of November 7 via Last Night From Glasgow in partnership with Stereogram Recordings.
Both artists are part of the folk underground, a niche wherein lyrical prowess and ace melodies are held in high regard. The album's lead single, The End Of A New Beginning, is a subtle breakup song, with grief and relief playing catch.
Jonathan Brown will be four shows in Scotland with his Dusty Stray project to promote his Fire Place album: "Brown's superb way with words are emboldened by a subtle, mostly acoustic band. Five years have gone by since the release of his previous album Estranged - which also was about the matters of the heart. With Fire Place he tapped into the same source, but now that he is getting older he looks to future with a bit more confidence as he has realized that being with someone might not be the be-all and end-all for him, at least for now".
Jonathan Brown will be playing shows in Amsterdam and The Hague with his Dusty Stray project to promote his Fire Place album: "Brown's superb way with words are emboldened by a subtle, mostly acoustic band. Five years have gone by since the release of his previous album Estranged - which also was about the matters of the heart. With Fire Place he tapped into the same source, but now that he is getting older he looks to future with a bit more confidence as he has realized that being with someone might not be the be-all and end-all for him, at least for now".
Watch the video for Fire Place, the title track from Jonathan Brown's latest album by his Dusty Stray project: "Brown's superb way with words are emboldened by a subtle, mostly acoustic band. Five years have gone by since the release of his previous album Estranged - which also was about the matters of the heart. With Fire Place he tapped into the same source, but now that he is getting older he looks to future with a bit more confidence as he has realized that being with someone might not be the be-all and end-all for him, at least for now".
Watch Jonathan Brown perform Anymore from the new album Fire Place by his Dusty Stray project @ Café Eik en Linde in Amsterdam on February 11, 2024. With Mario Ramirez (bass), Jonathan Ramirez (electric guitar), Thomas van Nieuwenhoven (drums), Jesje De Schepper (backing vocals) and Maruja Bobo Remijn (violin). The clip was shot by Marc Driessen.
There are countless songs about heartbreak, so it is quite a challenge to come up with something memorable. Alt-folk artist Jonathan Brown is one of those rare artists who have found new ways to write about it. On Fire Place, the latest album by his Dusty Stray project, he goes through all the stages of grief, realizing that his love is not that Special and that he does not want to be with her Anymore, but also compiling Lists with the things he liked about her. She started drifting away and he is left to his own devices, collecting his thoughts staring at the Fire Place - the heat offers a bit of comfort. And while he sure as Hell wants to be Loved again and getting into a fulfilling relationship again, he is not that desperate that will try anything. After all, Happiness Strikes when you are not expecting it.
Brown's superb way with words are emboldened by a subtle, mostly acoustic band. Five years have gone by since the release of his previous album Estranged - which also was about the matters of the heart. With Fire Place he tapped into the same source, but now that he is getting older he looks to future with a bit more confidence as he has realized that being with someone might not be the be-all and end-all for him, at least for now.
Alt-folk artist Jonathan Brown has unveiled a video for Happiness Strikes, the latest single by Dusty Stray project: "The previous singles Lists and Special dealt with relationship issues, but nowhe is looking forward again, well sort of at least: "Happiness strikes at the strangest time // Put my mind at ease // Just when I thought I was gonna drown // It brought me back up on high ground // Now I can see for miles around // Possibilities"." The clip was made by Tobias Brown.
Alt-folk artist Jonathan Brown is sounding uncharacteristically optimistic on his new single Happiness Strikes by Dusty Stray project, another track from his new album Fire Place. The previous singles Lists and Special dealt with relationship issues, but now he is looking forward again, well sort of at least: "Happiness strikes at the strangest time // Put my mind at ease // Just when I thought I was gonna drown // It brought me back up on high ground // Now I can see for miles around // Possibilities".
Alt-folk artist Jonathan Brown has unveiled a video for Special, the latest single by Dusty Stray project: "He realizes that he is just a regular guy and his loved one isn't a winning lottery ticket. There is bit of Tex Mex in this one, as well carefully orchestrated pop. He lets the instruments speak as he proclaims that is time to face the facts of a grumbling relationship: "No more small talk, let's cut to the chase"."
The clip was made by Félix Perez-Hit and is a tribute to all the trenzinhos and carretas, street artists working hard to cheer people up.
Alt-folk artist Jonathan Brown is confronted by a reality check on his new single Special by his Dusty Stray project, a track from his new album Fire Place. During a trip to the desert he realizes that he is just a regular guy and his loved one isn't a winning lottery ticket. There is bit of Tex Mex in this one, as well carefully orchestrated pop. He lets the instruments speak as he proclaims that is time to face the facts of a crumbling relationship: "No more small talk, let's cut to the chase".
Alt-folk artist Jonathan Brown is back with a new single, Lists, by his Dusty Stray project. The Amsterdam based American ex pat is still processsing a break up - the main theme of his Estranged album, but musically he sounds a bit more upbeat.
Using a mix of bass, guitar, organ, synths and looped percussion he waxes melancholically about what went wrong, wondering if things could have turned out for the better if he had done things differently: "I made a list of all the ways I could’ve saved our relationship // It made me think a bit // I made a list of all the times I could’ve been better to you // It wasn’t very hard to do". It is the lead single from his forthcoming album Fire Place. The video was made by Tobias Brown.
Watch the new Dusty Stray video for Down. He used footage from the classic Cosmic Voyage movie (the whole thing is up on YouTube), capturing the melancholy of the song really well. It is a track from his Estranged album: "He took a long hard look at himself and the bad ending of yet another relationship. With his vocals and acoustic guitar, banjo and ukulele at the core of the song he lays down dreamy freak folk songs, enhanced by keyboards, omnichord, backwards masking and almost church like backing vocal arrangements".
HCTF's annual list of the 20 albums that will be in regular rotation for many years to come. As per usual many genres are represented. This blog covers a lot of ground and it shows in this eclectic, final tally.
Today: countdown from number 20 to 16.
Please shop at your local record store, buy directly from the artist, attend live shows. Don't block anyone's view with with your phone (better still, switch it off altogether). Shut the fuck up while the band is playing. Educate your friends. Word-of-mouth can't be beat as the prime source to discover new music.
Breakups are responsible for a lot of great music. Estranged, the new album by Dusty Stray (moniker of Jonathan Brown), is filled with smoldering anger, grief and despair. He took a long hard look at himself and the bad ending of yet another relationship. With his vocals and acoustic guitar, banjo and ukulele at the core of the song he lays down dreamy freak folk songs, enhanced by keyboards, omnichord, backwards masking and almost church like backing vocal arrangements. Estranged is pretty intense and the bleakness may put of occasional listeners - who might try the early Pink Floyd-esque After the Play or Through The Atmosphere as a first taste.
Brown tries to make sense of it all, but fears that he will end up alone when he is Old And Gray. Now based in Amsterdam, the American musician has traveled far and wide, mostly on account of falling in love again and following the woman in question to her native country. So far, music has proven to be his sole solid companion over the years.
Indie folk singer Jonathan Brown has shared a video for You Couldn't Wait To See Me Cry, a track from the forthcoming album Estranged by his Dusty Stray project. It's a country-tinged song, knee deep in keyboards, about a nasty breakup. The video was made by Arturo Bastón, a Mexican artist living in Barcelona.
Estranged will be released on October 12th thru Great Waters (vinyl, CD, digital). The album was produced by Kramer.
Many things can be said about the Donald, but the sole good thing that he has going for him that he has pissed off lots of musicians and inspired them to write protest songs, Jonathan Brown has just released a three-track EP by his Dusty Stray project. USA has a country vibe, thanks to Landon Campbell's lap steel and Brown's relaxed delivery. Not the redneck kind, but the outlaw variety that criticizes blundering elected officials. Trump will surely dismiss in fierce terms should he ever hear it. After one of his cronies has explained the meaning of the lyrics to him, that is.
Multi-intrumentalist Jonathan Brown carved his own niche with his Dusty Stray project. Brown has travelled far and wide before settling down in Amsterdam. Besides his main weapons of choice, guitar and banjo, he used a wide variety of instruments (raise your hand if you have heard of the bulbul tarang) on his new full-length Family Album, a collection of gentle freak folk songs with pretty dark lyrics.
His songs don't scratch at the surface, they pull you in. Brown is pied piper and a story teller. His tales may be pretty disconcerting sometimes - the howling infant in My Little Baby hammers home unpleasant truths, but he honours the tradition of the 20s and 30s when folk songs brought the news.
The album was mixed and mastered by Kramer (Low, Ween), who carefully balanced the tracks and delivered a crystal clear separation. Headphones recommended.
Family Album is released via Basta Music.
Tracks:
