Nickie’s Niches #44: August 2025
- Author
- Podcast | ProgRock.com PodCasts
- Published
- Tue 29 Jul 2025
- Episode Link
- https://podcasts.progrock.com/2025/07/29/nickies-niches-44-august-2025/
| Start | Artist | Song | Time | Album | Year |
| 1 Roz Vitalis NN 07_29_2025 | |||||
| 0:02:09 | Roz Vitalis | The Threesunny Light Power (Very Abridged Version) | 4:38 | Dedication to BigNick | 2025 |
| 2 Poor Creature NN 07_29_2025 | |||||
| 0:07:17 | Poor Creature | The Whole Town Knows | 6:47 | All Smiles Tonight | 2025 |
| 3 Odette Michell NN 07_29_2025 | |||||
| 0:14:52 | Odette Michell | Hourglass (ft. Calum Gilligan) | 3:43 | The Queen Of The Lowlands | 2025 |
| 4 Crown Lands NN 07_29_2025 | |||||
| 0:18:59 | Crown Lands | Dusk | 5:49 | Ritual I | 2025 |
| 5 Midnight Rodeo NN 07_29_2025 | |||||
| 0:25:10 | Midnight Rodeo | Strange Eyes | 3:59 | Chaos Era | 2025 |
| 6 Avi C Engle NN 07_29_2025 | |||||
| 0:29:30 | Avi C. Engel | in the swamp | 4:12 | Five Figments | 2025 |
| 7 Henry Parker David Ian Roberts NN 07_29_2025 | |||||
| 0:34:04 | Henry Parker & David Ian Roberts | Windy Pike Blues | 2:54 | Chasing Light | 2025 |
| 8 Brighde Chaimbeul NN 07_29_2025 | |||||
| 0:37:24 | Brìghde Chaimbeul | A’ Chailleach | 7:27 | Sunwise | 2025 |
| 9 La Nouvelle Musique NN 07_29_2025 | |||||
| 0:45:22 | La Nouvelle Musique | The Mirror | 4:08 | La Nouvelle Musique | 2025 |
| 10 Raphael Weinroth-Browne NN 07_29_2025 | |||||
| 0:49:45 | Raphael Weinroth-Browne | Possession | 4:03 | Single | 2025 |
| 11 Jim Ghedi Toby Hay NN 07_29_2025 | |||||
| 0:54:12 | The Hawksworth Grove Sessions – | Night, Moon, Dance | 4:08 | Duets for 6 & 12 String Guitar | 2018 |
Dedication to BigNickby Roz VitalisInspired by the life and love of music of Russian producer Nikolai Bogaichuk, this release captures the spirit of a man who himself was composed of music. The compositions encompass progressive, chamber, jazz, and avant-garde music, just as the man did, and is a fitting tribute to his genius. I really love the contemplative and melancholy final track, but am choosing to play The Threesunny Light Power to be more representative of the entire release’s scope.
All Smiles Tonightby Poor CreatureFolktronica collective that continues on in the drone craze that has swept the Celtic folk world of late. But they are excellent at it, so why not? I love the wistfulness of Lorene, but am choosing The Whole Town Knows to represent this release for more accurate representation of what you will hear.
The Queen Of The Lowlandsby Odette MichellThese are all original folk tunes that sound as if they are traditional, quite lovely to hear someone doing this, and doing it so exceptionally well. Odette has a crystalline voice and uses it to it’s fullest, also playing guitar, bouzouki and accordion. She has several adept guests on fiddle, mandolin, percussion piano, Scottish smallpipes and double bass as well as guest vocalists, including Calum Gilligan and Daria Kulesh (who cowrote a track with her as well).
Ritual I (24-bit HD audio)by Crown LandsThis Canadian duo offers us cinematic tribalesque instrumentals, perfect to lose oneself in. All kinds of exotic percussive elements, plus didgeridoo, guitars, various synthesizers, and electric piano comprise the instrumentation. Bring a compass, because you might need it to get back home from this place.
Chaos Eraby Midnight RodeoNottingham neo-psych five-piece conjures up ghosts of the Paisley Underground, tossing in some surf and spaghetti western twang. The sound of the band, behind the cleverly pointed lyrics, is drenched in something someone spiked the punch with. This richly layered debut is just pure fun, and you can even dance to it.
Five Figmentsby Avi C. EngelEerie, doleful tunes that sound as if they are wafting across a misty valley on a heavy, dark, and still night. Avi sings and plays four string electric guitar, gudok, chalumeau, and percussion on this release. All of the tunes weave a hypnotic spell.
Chasing Lightby Henry Parker & David Ian RobertsDuet of prog folk guitarists explore the Yorkshire dales, rural landscapes, and the artwork of the Pre-Raphaelites, who featured landscapes so stunningly. Reminiscent of Renbourn/Jansch collaborations, this is done completely live, with no overdubs. A masterwork.
Sunwiseby Brìghde ChaimbeulUK Scottish smallpipes composer and musician returns with more of a solo recording this time around, although a few guests appear sparingly. It begins with a 9 minute drone epic, and continues on with more concise tracks which are traditional in feel, although some are original compositions. As piping often is, much of the recording is quite hypnotic, in the best possible way.
La Nouvelle Musiqueby La Nouvelle MusiqueFolk Psychedelique from London, this duo delivers the delicacy of the founding era of when Psych and Folk first met in the coffeehouses and clubs springing up in the late 60s. The etheric vocals of Joanna Beck, who plays bass and piano, are tempered by the earthier Ian de Silva, who performs full guitar duty. The pieces veer from dark and mysterious encounters to deep reflection and observations, also tossing in some upbeat, sunshiny pop.
Possessionby Raphael Weinroth-BrowneMiddle Eastern piece that gradually builds, using cello looping and effects pedals. Dark, sinister, and brooding, as the title suggests. The upcoming full release is coming, I swear!
The Hawksworth Grove Sessions – Duets for 6 & 12 String Guitarby Cambrian RecordsHere, Cambrian Records has released a work by two fine guitarists, Jim Ghedi on 6 string, and Toby Hay on 12 string guitar. That’s all there is, but it is masterfully done, with each piece a microcosm of what beauty can be found in the voices of two guitars, and nothing else.
