Best Folk Songs of 2014

A deal's a deal!

I didn't expect to make this playlist, but I received so many requests for it that I was ultimately quite happy to put it together. Thank you so much for all the comments and emails you've sent over the past few weeks. I can say that I feel more appreciated than I've ever felt working on this site. To be clear—despite the lite retirement announcement—I have no plans to kill off No Words completely. I will continue to post albeit sporadically much like it has been over the past year or more. So really, not that much is changing. (I mainly made the announcement to absolve myself of any pressure I might feel to post regularly.)

That said—like any other media platform—No Words needs an engaged, vocal audience to justify its being. So please know that emailing, tweeting, commenting, and/or linking to No Words content elsewhere can greatly motivate me to keep this boat on the water.

And in case you didn't know, all No Words mixes are currently available on Mixcloud.



Enjoy!

Ursell





MMXIV: Best Folksongs of 2014 (in no particular order):



1) Myriam Gendron • "Solace" • Feeding Tube
2) Padang Food Tigers • "Crabbing King Sappling" • Scissor Tail
3) Sam Amidon • "Your Lone Journey" • Nonesuch
4) Lisa Knapp • "Fine Horseman" • Second Language
5) Sir Richard Bishop • "Frontier" • Drag City
6) Jessica Pratt • "Back, Baby" • Drag City
7) Julie Byrne • "Young Wife" • Ordinal
8) Robin Allender • "M. Laurelle" • Scissor Tail
9) Luluc • "Small Window" • Sub Pop
10) Nathan Bowles • "Chuckatuck" • Paradise of Bachelors
11) Vashti Bunyan • "Across the Water" • Fat Cat
12) Grouper • "Lighthouse" • Kranky
13) Tiny Ruins • "Jamie Blue" • Flying Nun
14) Angel Olsen • "Enemy" • Jagjaguwar
15) Arch Garrison • "Reprise" • The Household Mark
16) RM Hubbert • "Pb" • Chemikal Underground
17) José González • "Every Age" • Mute
18) Magpahi • "Dissolve" • Bird
19) Alasdair Roberts • "Artless One" • Drag City
20) Emma Tricca • "The Painter" • Bird
21) Marissa Nadler • "Dead City Emily" • Sacred Bones
22) Whatever, Dad • "Wean" • self-released

Reissued Material:
23) Smoke Dawson • "The Minotaur" • Tompkins Square
24) Bruce Langhorne • "Ending" • Scissor Tail
25) Bessie Jones • "That Suits Me" • Tompkins Square
26) Sproatly Smith • "Changes" • Folk Police

Best Folk Reissues of 2013

Top Folk Reissues of 2013: Year of the snake

1) Molly Drake • Self-Titled • Squirrel Thing — stream
2) Lena Hughes • Queen of the Flat Top Guitar • Tompkins Square — stream
3) Various Artists • Classroom Projects • Trunk — stream
4) Josephine Foster • Little Life • Fire — stream
5) Dino Valente • Self-Titled • Tompkins Square
6) Various Artists • Nightingales & Canaries • Mississippi
7) Lal Waterson • Teach Me to Be a Summer's Morning • Topic
8) Don & Stevie • Self-Titled • Finders Keepers — stream
9) Various Artists • Imaginational Anthem, Vol. 6 • Tompkins Square — stream
10) Various Artists • Live at Caffe Lena • Tompkins Square — stream

All abovementioned streams require Spotify.





MMXIII II/II: Best Reissued Folksongs of 2013 (in no particular order)



1) Chelmsford County High School Folk Group • "Portland Town" • Trunk
2) Lal Waterson • "Red Wine and Promises" • Topic
3) Virginia Magidou • "Sklavia tes Manes (Song of Slavery)" • Mississippi
4) Bayless Rose • "Frisco Blues" • Tompkins Square
5) Josephine Foster • "Little Life" • Fire
6) Lena Hughes • "Pearly Dew" • Tompkins Square
7) Carol Kleyn • "Return of the Silkie" • Drag City
8) Dino Valente • "Something New" • Tompkins Square
9) Molly Drake • "A Sound" • Squirrel Thing
10) Utah Phillips • "Green Rolling Hills of West Virginia (Live)" • Tompkins Square
11) Don & Stevie • "American Lullaby" • Finders Keepers
12) The Lyttle Folk • "Jimmy Whalen" • Trunk

Best Folk Albums of 2013 / Best Folk Songs of 2013

Top Folk Albums of 2013: Year of the snake

1) Bill Callahan • Dream River • Drag City — stream†
2) Sam Amidon • Bright Sunny South • Nonesuch — stream†
3) Alasdair Roberts • A Wonder Working Stone • Drag City
4) Grey Reverend • A Hero's Lie • Motion — stream†
5) David A. Jaycock • Ten Songs • Static Caravan — stream†
6) Seaworthy & Taylor Deupree • Wood, Winter, Hollow • 12k — stream†
7) Sharron Kraus • Pilgrim Chants & Pastoral Trails • Second Language — stream
8) Josephine Foster • I'm a Dreamer • Fire — stream†
9) Asa Irons • Knife Gift Debt • Laughable — stream
10) Faint Wild Light • Self-Titled • Digitalis — stream
11) Glenn Jones • My Garden State • Thrill Jockey — stream†
12) Alasdair Roberts & Robin Robertson • Hirta Songs • Stone Tape — stream
13) Ólöf Arnalds • Sudden Elevation • One Little Indian — stream†
14) Grouper • The Man Who Died in His Boat • Kranky — stream†
15) Orla Wren • The Words Under the Wood • Home Normal — stream†
16) Sproatly Smith • Times Is n'Times Was • self-released — stream
17) Colleen • The Weighing of the Heart • self-released — stream†
18) Alela Diane • About Farewell • Rusted Blue — stream†
19) Lux Harmonium • After the Tower • Static Caravan — stream
20) His Golden Messenger • Bad Debt • Paradise of Bachelors — stream

Streams denoted with "†" require Spotify.





Honourable Mentions: Electric albums, EPs, etc. (in no particular order)

Jessica Pratt • Daytrotter Session EP • Daytrotter — stream
Grey Reverend • Everlasting EP • Motion — stream†
Julia Kent • Character • Leaf — stream
Josh Tillman • The History of Caves OST • Sub Pop — stream†
Julie Byrne • Daytrotter Session EP • Daytrotter — stream
Lux Harmonium • Soap and Silk 7-Inch • Static Caravan — stream
1860 • Familiar EP • Gravitation — stream†
Clogs • The Sundown Song EP • Brassland — stream†
Hip Hatchet • Daytrotter Session EP • Daytrotter — stream
Julie Byrne • Faster or Greener Than Now 7-Inch • Ordinal — stream†
A Hawk and a Hacksaw • You Have Already Gone to the Other World • LM Dupli-cation — stream†

Streams denoted with "†" require Spotify.





MMXIII I/II: Best New Folksongs of 2013 (in no particular order)



1) Grey Reverend • "Lament" • Motion
2) Jane Weaver • "Parade of the Blood Red Sorrows" • Finders Keepers
3) David A Jaycock • "Brighton in Sunshine" • Static Caravan
4) Josh Tillman • "Finish Those Cigarettes & Go to Bed" • Sub Pop
5) Death Vessel w/ Jónsi • "Ilsa Drown" • Sub Pop
6) Asa Irons • "St. Brendan" • Laughable
7) Sharron Kraus • "Rowan" • Second Language
8) Sam Amidon • "Pharaoh" • Nonesuch
9) Glenn Jones • "Across the Tappan Zee" • Thrill Jockey
10) A Hawk and a Hacksaw • "Wedding Theme (Ukraine)" • LM Dupli-cation
11) Julian Lynch • "North Line" • Underwater Peoples
12) Clogs • "The World Loves Me" • Brassland
13) Seaworthy & Taylor Deupree • "Hollow" (Excerpt) • 12K
14) Alasdair Roberts & Friends • "Brother Seed" • Drag City
15) Lux Harmonium • "Peggy Come Home" • Static Caravan
16) Julie Byrne • "Holiday" • Ordinal
17) Grouper • "Living Room" • Kranky
18) Colleen • "Push the Boat Onto the Sand" • self-released
19) Faint Wild Light • "Speak, Memory" • Digitalis
20) Angel Olsen & Marissa Nadler • "Frisco Depot" • self-released
21) Julia Kent • "Transportation" • Leaf
22) Jessica Pratt • "I've Got a Feeling (Daytrotter Session)" • Daytrotter

No Words Turns Five — Two New Mixes and Re-Ups of All the Old Ones

I created No Words just over five years ago with the intent of using it as a highly personal folksong repository. Today it is by no means an Internet powerhouse, but I am pleased with the affection it has received. Thanks for all the kind words over the years.

This post features two new playlists, including the first-ever No Words guest mix (courtesy of Cousin Derek). I've also re-upped all previous No Words collections. That's 16 in all, including these two new ones.





Dearest Ursell: A Mix for the Occasion of the Five Year Anniversary of No Words — Compiled by Derek Jenkins

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1) Popol Vuh • "Ah!" • 1972
2) Ivan Rebroff • "Evening Chimes" • 1969
3) Sandy Nassan • "Here's That Rainy Day" • 1970
4) Forward Kwenda • "Chipembere" • 1997
5) The Early Music Consort of London & David Munrow • "Lamento di Tristan" • 1977
6) Lu-Sheng Ensemble • "Lian Hsiao" • 1972
7) Robbie Basho • "Omaha Tribal Player" • 1972
8) D'Gary • "Anary Tany" • 1992
9) Kartik Tivedi • "Basanti: Alap, Jor, Jhala" • 1980
10) Three Musicians • "Twenty-Third Psalm" • 1977





Piety & Custom III: Another Miscellany of Curious and Interesting Songs, Ballads, Histories, &c.

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1) The Pentangle • "Lord Franklin" • 1973
2) Sibylle Baier • "Colour Green" • 197?
3) John Hepple • "Whittingham Green Lane" / "Ward's Brae" • 1996
4) Lena Hughes • "Pearly Dew" • 196?
5) Terry Callier • "Oh Dear, What Can the Matter Be?" • 1968
6) Mia Doi Todd • "Johnny Appleseed (2005 Version)" • 2005
7) Dick Gaughan • "Jock O'Hazeldean " • 1972
8) "Big Sweet" Lewis Hairston • "Bile Them Cabbage Down" • 1977
9) Sacros • "Diosa del Mar" • 1973
10) Anne Briggs • "The Recruited Collier" • 1963
11) Michael Hurley • "I Like My Wine" • 1965
12) Andreas Thomopoulos • "The New Spring" • 1970
13) Itsutsu No Akai Fusen • "I Will Kick a Pebble" • 1971
14) Julie Byrne • "Prism Song" • 2012
15) Atsumasa Nakabayashi Trio • "Plover on the Beach" • 1964
16) Laurence Vanay w/ Jacqueline Carbon • "Juste Te Revior" • 1974
17) Michael Yonkers • "Will It Be" • 1977
18) Jean Bosco Mwenda • "Masanga" • 1994
19) Molly Drake • "A Sound" • 195?
20) Eugenia Sirioti • "Ti Kako Sou Exo Kanei" • 1970
21) Ted Lucas • "It's So Easy (When You Know What You're Doing)" • 1975
22) Lal Waterson • "Never the Same" • 1972
23) Jane Turriff • "Mill o' Tifty's Annie" • Child Ballad #233 • 195?
24) Afunakwa • "Rorogwela" • 1969





As promised, here are re-ups for all previously posted No Words collections. Please do not delay downloading; these are hosted on Sharebeast, and they may very well go down quickly. Once they're down, it may very well be years before I get around to uploading them again.

1) A Revelry of Piety & Custom in Song: A No Words Compendium — download/post
2) Miriam: A No Words Nativity — download/post
3) MMIX: Ursell's '09 Picks — download/post
4) Wishwander: Ursell's Vashti Tape — download/post
5) MMX I/II: Ursell's 2010 Folksong Picks — download/post
6) Terse Tales & Uneasy Utterings: A No Words Halloween — download/post
7) MMX II/II: Ursell's 2010 Folksong Picks — download/post
8) MCML: A No Words 1950s Reel — download/post
9) Peregrinations: No Words Salutes Bert Jansh — download/post
10) Death Mask: Another No Words Halloween — download/post
11) MMXI: Ursell's 2011 Folksong Picks — download/post
12) Piety & Custom II: Another Revelry in Song — download/post
13) MMXII I/II: Best Folksongs of 2012 — download/post
14) MMXII II/II: Best Folksongs of 2012 — download/post

Miriam: A No Words Nativity (Repost)

Here's a repost of my Christmas mix from 2009. One of these years I'd like to create a new mix for the season rather than reposting this one over and over. Until then, this one still seems to get the job done.

"Miriam" (מרים) is Hebrew for "Mary."

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1) The Harvesters • "Virgin Mary" • 1961
2) Shirley Collins • "The Cherry Tree Carol" • 1959
3) Alan Mills • "The Angel Gabriel" • 1957
4) Rakhel Hadass • "Sa'enu" • 1993
5) Pete Seeger • "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" • 1989
6) Rio en Medio & Israel Cilio • "Mary" • 2009
7) "Household" Regina • "Jingle Bells" • 1950
8) John Jacob Niles • "Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head" • 1957
9) The Young Tradition w/ Shirley & Dolly Collins • "The Coventry Carol" • 1955
10) John Fahey • "Good King Wenceslas" • 1975
11) Bert Jansch • "In the Bleak Midwinter" • 1974
12) Roger Sprung • "The Little Drummer Boy" • 1965
13) The Seeger Sisters • "Mary Had a Baby" • 1957
14) The Choir of the Bella Vista Children's Home • "El Niño Querido" • 1967
15) Leadbelly • "Chicken Crowing for Midnight (Christmas Song)" • 1944
16) John Fahey • "Christ's Saints of God Fantasy" • 1975
17) Swiss "Coffin" Box by Mermod • "Auld Lang Syne" • 1950

Best Folk Albums of 2012 / Best Folk Songs of 2012 (Second Half)

Top Folk Albums of 2012: Year of the dragon

1) Jessica Pratt • Self-Titled • Birth — stream†
2) Angel Olsen • Half Way Home • Bathetic — stream†
3) Brother Sun, Sister Moon • Self-Titled • Denovali — stream
4) Tenniscoats • Papa's Ear • Häpna — stream†
5) Padang Food Tigers • Ready Country Nimbus • Bathetic — stream†
6) Mirrorring • Foreign Body • Kranky — stream†
7) C Joynes • Congo • Bo'Weavil
8) Marissa Nadler • The Sister • Box of Cedar — stream
9) James Blackshaw • Love Is the Plan, the Plan Is Death • Important — stream†
10) Josephine Foster • Blood Rushing • Fire — stream†
11) Various Artists • Imaginational Anthem, Vol. 5 • Tompkins Square — stream†
12) Sproatly Smith • The Minstrel's Grave • Folk Police — stream
13) Horse Feathers • Cynic's New Year • Kill Rock Stars — stream†
14) Björn Olsson • Lite Nya Melodier • Gravitation — stream†
15) The Big Eyes Family Players & Friends • Folk Songs II • Static Caravan — stream†
16) TwinSisterMoon • Bogyrealm Vessels • Handmade Birds
17) Josephine Foster and The Victor Herrero Band • Perlas • Fire — stream†
18) Daniel Bachman • Seven Pines • Tompkins Square — stream†
19) Stephanie Hladowski & C Joynes • The Wild Wild Berry • Bo'Weavil — stream†
20) Hip Hatchet • Joy and Better Days • Gravitation — stream

Streams denoted with "†" require Spotify.





Honourable Mentions: Electric albums, EPs, etc. (in no particular order)

Lonnie Holley • Just Before Music • Dust-to-Digital
Karen Dalton • 1966 • Delmore — stream†
Harry Taussig • Fate Is Only Twice • Tompkins Square — stream†
Damon & Naomi w/ Ghost • Self-Titled • Drag City
Michael Hurley • Back Home With Drifting Woods • Mississippi
Various Artists • The African Guitar Box • Mississippi
Various Artists • Bed of Pain: Rembetika, 1930-55 • Mississippi — stream†

Streams denoted with "†" require Spotify.





MMXII II/II: Best Folksongs of 2012 (in no particular order)

Most of these selections were culled from albums and EPs released during the second half of 2012. Get the first half's selections here.

Download (ZIP) / Stream in Spotify / Request Immediate Removal

UPDATE (16/5/13): Re-Up (ZIP)

1) OMBRE • "Noche Brilla, Pt. 2" • Asthmatic Kitty
2) Jessica Pratt • "Night Faces" • Birth
3) Adam Torres • "Mountain River" • DZ
4) Daniel Bachman • "Long Nights I" • Tompkins Square
5) Meg Baird • "No Song to Sing" • Tompkins Square
6) Taken by Trees • "Dreams (Coconut Cut)" • Secretly Canadian
7) Bonus Skor • "No Soul's Treasure" • Static Caravan
8) Alasdair Roberts • "My Rola-Bola Board" • The Stables Trading Limited
9) Steve Gunn • "Temple Walk" • Tompkins Square
10) Josephine Foster • "Underwater Daughter" • Fire
11) The Tallest Man on Earth • "Leading Me Now" • Dead Oceans
12) The Big Eyes Family Players & Friends • "Thousands or More" • Static Caravan
13) Eric Carbonara • "Through a House of Violet Abandon" • Tompkins Square
14) Stephanie Hladowski & C Joynes • "Died for Love" • Bo'Weavil
15) Horse Feathers • "Summer for Capricorns" • Kill Rock Stars
16) Angel Olsen • "Acrobat" • Bathetic

Reissued Material:
17) S.E. Rogie • "A Time in My Life" • Mississippi
18) Harry Taussig • "Der Dritte Man Fantasia" • Tompkins Square
19) Michael Hurley • "I Like My Wine" • Dust-to-Digital
20) Rena Stamou • "Bed of Pain" • Mississippi

Halloween Mix Reposts

I've gotten several requests for a third No Words Halloween mix this month. Sadly I haven't had the time to make a new one. Please enjoy these mixes from recent years. Click the arrow on the right of the widgets to download the MP3s.

Terse Tales and Uneasy Utterings: A No Words Halloween • 2010


Death Mask: Another No Words Halloween • 2011

Best Folk Songs of 2012 (First Half)

MMXII I/II: Best Folksongs of 2012 (in no particular order)

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UPDATE (16/5/13): Re-Up (ZIP)

1) Brother Sun, Sister Moon • "Ghosts of Barry Mill" • Denovali
2) C Joynes • "Linden Tree" • Bo' Weavil
3) Starless and Bible Black • "If You Fall I'll Fall With You" • Folk Police
4) James Blackshaw • "A Momentary Taste of Being" • Important
5) Tenniscoats • "Kuki No Soko" • Häpna
6) Alasdair Roberts • "Haruspex of Paradox" • Folk Police
7) Padang Food Tigers • "For Esmé" • Bathetic
8) Lux Harmonium • "Camel Bones" • Static Caravan
9) Sproatly Smith • "The Minstrel's Grave" • Folk Police
10) Hip Hatchet • "Small Demons" • Gravitation
11) Josephine Foster & The Victor Herrero Band • "Brilliante Estrella" • Fire
12) Mirrorring • "Silent From Above" • Kranky
13) Marissa Nadler • "Constantine" • Box of Cedar
14) Björn Olsson • "Vissling i D" • Gravitation
15) Whalebone Polly • "Sometimes the Sea" • Dreamboat
16) The Honeygales • "The Ditching Carol" • Rif Mountain
17) Bill Callahan • "Heaven Help the Child" • Drag City

Reissued Material:
18) Karen Dalton • "Katie Cruel" • Delmore
19) Mark Fosson • "Nancy's Waltz" • Tompkins Square
20) Damon & Naomi w/ Ghost • "The New World" • Drag City

Piety & Custom II: Another Revelry in Song

Piety & Custom is a No Words collection series compiling past-posted songs. You can find the first one here.

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UPDATE (16/5/13): Re-Up (ZIP)

1) Mary-Anne Paterson • "The Jute Mill Song" • 1970
2) Yoon Youn Sun • "My Heart of Sending You, Your Heart of Leaving Me" • 1972
3) Bo Hansson • "Day & Night" • 1975
4) George Washington Phillips • "Lift Him Up That's All" • 1927
5) Lakis Pappas & Popi Asteriadi • "Paei Ki Auth H Kuriakh" • 1969
6) Nick & Gabrielle Drake • "All My Trials" • 196?
7) Mattias Bärjed • "Himlen 12" • 2010
8) Polk Miller • "Oysters and Wine at 2 A.M." • 1928
9) Lida Halkiadaki • "Higher" • 1967
10) Mike Waterson • "The Scarecrow" • 1972
11) Reet Hendrikson • "Meil Aiaaarne Tanavas" • 1969
12) Jean Redpath • "Davy Faa" • Child Ballad #200 • 1977
13) Josh White • "Jim Crow" • 1944
14) Dorothy Ashby • "Gloomy Sunday" • 1962
15) Karen Beth • "Something to Believe In" • 1969
16) Merit Hemmingson • "Fäbodpsalm av O Lindberg (Gammal Fäbodpsalm)" • 1972

This is No Words' twelfth collection. Please enjoy the rest.

Best Folk Albums of 2011 / Best Folk Songs of 2011

Top Folk Albums of 2011: Year of the rabbit

1) Fleet Foxes • Helplessness Blues • Bella Union/Sub Pop
2) Marissa Nadler • Self-Titled • Box of Cedar — stream
3) Meg Baird • Seasons on Earth • Drag City
4) Hip Hatchet • Men Who Share My Name • Gravitation — stream
5) Frank Fairfield • Out on the Open West • Tompkins Square
6) Angel Olsen • Strange Cacti • Bathetic
7) Lia Ices • Grown Unknown • Jagjaguwar
8) James Elkington & Nathan Salsburg • Avos • Tompkins Square
9) Various Artists • The Watchbird Alluminate • Bird
10) Marissa Nadler • Covers, Vol. II • self-released
11) Magic Trick • The Glad Birth of Love • Empty Cellar
12) TwinSisterMoon • Then Fell the Ashes... • Primary Numbers/Blackest Rainbow — stream
13) Birds of Passage • Winter Lady • Denovali
14) Paper Dollhouse • A Box Painted Black • Bird
15) 200 Years • Self-Titled • Drag City

Honourable Mentions: Electric albums, EPs, etc. (in no particular order)

John Fahey • Your Past Comes Back to Haunt You: The Fontone Years, 1958-1965 • Dust-to-Digital
The Dark Sky Singers • The Harrowing EP • Static Caravan
Birds of Passage • Highwaymen in Midnight Masks EP • Denovali
Grouper • A I A : Alien Observer/A I A : Dream Loss • Yellow Electric
Various Artists • Never a Pal Like Mother • Dust-to-Digital
Various Artists • To What Strange Place • Tompkins Square

MMXI: Ursell's 2011 Folksong Picks (in no particular order)

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UPDATE (16/5/13): Re-Up (ZIP)

1) The Dark Sky Singers • "Quintain" • Static Caravan
2) Hip Hatchet • "Tyrant" • Gravitation
3) Emma Tricca • "Turning in Circles" • Bird
4) Beth Jeans Houghton • "Dodecahedron" • Mute
5) Frank Fairfield • "Poor Old Lance" • Tompkins Square
6) Puzzle Muteson • "En Garde" • Bedroom Community
7) Fleet Foxes • "The Cascades" • Bella Union/Sub Pop
8) TwinSisterMoon • "Desert Prophecy" • Primary Numbers/Blackest Rainbow
9) Meg Baird • "Share" • Drag City
10) Angel Olsen • "If It's Alive, It Will" • Bathetic
11) Magpahi • "My Soul Was Lost, My Soul Was Lost & No One Saved Me" • Bird
12) Paper Dollhouse • "William" • Bird
13) James Elkington & Nathan Salsburg • "Marjoram" • Tompkins Square
14) Angel Olsen • "In the Morning" • Twosyllable
15) Marissa Nadler • "In Your Lair, Bear" • Box of Cedar
16) Lee Noble • "Doesn't Matter What's Right" • Sweat Lodge Guru
17) Tula • "Don't Say a Word" • Static Caravan
18) Lia Ices • "Daphne" • Jagjaguwar
19) Weyes Blood • "Romneydale" • Not Not Fun
20) Fleet Foxes • "Montezuma" • Bella Union/Sub Pop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Please enjoy other No Words collections here.

Death Mask: Another No Words Halloween

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UPDATE (16/5/13): Re-Up (ZIP)

This has a similar format to last year's Halloween playlist: poetry, sound effects, bizarro classical, vocal exercises, and a folksong for good measure.

00:00: Marita Günther • "Lend Me Your Ears: Phonotation of Words" ~WITH~ David Talcott • "Loop No. 3"
01:13: Heinrich Heine read by Claire Luce • "Why Are All the Roses So Pale?" ~WITH~ University of Toronto Electronic Music Studio • "Summer Idyl"
02:29: Kenneth Patchen • "The Wolf of Winter" ~WITH~ Jim Nollman w/ wolf • "Silent Night"
03:15: Vernon Scannell • "Dead Dog" ~WITH~ Nadi Qamar • "Finger Dance #2"
04:29: Peggy Seeger • "Lammikin" • Child Ballad #93 ~WITH~ sounds issuing from the Oklawaha River east of Orange Spring recorded by Charles M. Bogert
09:00: Norman Rosten • "The Spider" ~WITH~ Tod Dockstader • "Piece #7"
09:51: St. John of the Cross read by Khigh Dhiegh • "Dark Night" ~WITH~ barking treefrog, pine woods treefrog, and cricket frogs recorded by Charles M. Bogert
12:04: Heinrich Heine read by Claire Luce • "Death Brings the End" ~WITH~ Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky under Alfred Wolfsohn • a theme from "Chanson Trieste" ~WITH~ thunderstorm recorded by Dr. Peter Paul Kellogg
13:24: Frédéric Chopin performed by Clara Rockmore • "Nocturne in C-Sharp Minor"
17:15: an excerpt from "The High Cost of Dying!" from A Double Barrel Blast

Peregrinations: No Words Salutes Bert Jansch

No Words would likely not exist without the output and reaching influence of Glasgow-born Herbert Jansch, founding member of The Pentangle, who passed away only four days ago. Below I have collected mostly instrumental pieces by Jansch and his Pentangling contemporaries staggered with a few vocal pieces and traditional ballads.

R.I.P. Bert Jansch, 1943 — 2011



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UPDATE (16/5/13): Re-Up (ZIP)

00:00: John Renbourn • "The Earle of Salisbury" • 1968
01:19: The Pentangle • "Lord Franklin" • 1970
04:39: Bert Jansch • "The Wheel" • 1965
06:22: Bert Jansch • "Henry Martin" • Child Ballad #167 • 1966
09:33: Bert Jansch w/ John Renbourn • "Peregrinations" • 1971
11:17: Bert Jansch & John Renbourn • "East Wind" • 1966
12:38: Bert Jansch • "Wishing Well" • 1969
14:51: Bert Jansch • "Miss Heather Rosemary Sewell" • 1969
16:57: Bert Jansch • "Bridge" • 1980
19:27: Bert Jansch • "High Days" • 2006
23:10: The Pentangle • "Willie o Winsbury (Live)" • Child Ballad #100 • 1972
28:45: Bert Jansch • "Needle of Death" • 1965
32:02: Bert Jansch & John Renbourn • "Orlando" • 1966

MCML: A No Words 1950s Reel

Here's a playlist of folksongs recorded in the 1950s. Enjoy.



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UPDATE (16/5/13): Re-Up (ZIP)

1) Connie Converse • "Talkin' Like You (Two Tall Mountains)"
2) Peggy Seeger • "When I Was Single"
3) unspecified Russian choir • "The Gusli Serenade"
4) Elizabeth Cotten • "Freight Train"
5) Molly Drake • "Poor Mum"
6) Jean Ritchie & Paul Clayton • "The Devil's Questions"
7) Dan Haugaard • "Byssan Lull"
8) unspecified Thai can player • "Suksanaen"
9) Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger • "The Elfin Knight" • Child Ballad #2
10) Odetta • "'Buked and Scorned"
11) Jeannie Robertson • "Go Away From My Window"
12) unspecified Javanese gamelan ensemble • "Lagu Srihardjono"
13) Ed McCurdy • "Colorado Trail"
14) Shirley Collins • "Sweet England"
15) Umeno Tajima w/ Eikichi Kazari • "Shima Sodachi"
16) Emerante de Pradines • "Soleil"
17) Herta Marshall • "Down in the Willow Garden"

Best Folk Albums of 2010 / Best Folk Songs of 2010 (Second Half)

Top 15 Folk Albums of 2010: Year of the tiger

1) Joanna Newsom • Have One on Me • Drag City
2) Mountain Man • Made the Harbor • Bella Union/Partisan
3) Ólöf Arnalds • Innundir Skinni • One Little Indian
4) Elisa Randazzo • Bruises & Butterflies • Drag City
5) Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté • Ali & Toumani • Nonesuch
6) Clogs • Veil Waltz • Brassland
7) Alasdair Roberts • The Daemon Lover • Drag City
8) Various Artists • Imaginational Anthem IV • Tompkins Square
9) Jane Weaver • The Fallen by Watch Bird • Bird
10) James Blackshaw • All Is Falling • Young God
11) The Tallest Man on Earth • The Wild Hunt • Dead Oceans
12) Josephine Foster & The Victor Herrero Band • Anda Jaleo • Stillwater Limited/Fire
13) William Tyler • Behold the Spirit • Tompkins Square
14) Fursaxa • Mycorrhizae Realm • ATP
15) Faun Fables • Light of a Vaster Dark • Drag City





Honourable Mentions: Electric albums, EPs, etc. (in no particular order)

Mattias Bärjed • Himlen Är Oskyldigt Blå • Gravitation
Whalebone Polly • Taproot and Sill EP • Dreamboat
Various Artists • Bird Songs 10-Inch • Bird
The Tallest Man on Earth • Sometimes the Blues Is Just a Passing Bird EP • Dead Oceans
Mountain Man • Sun Dog 10-Inch • Underwater Peoples





MMX II/II: Ursell's 2010 Folksong Picks (in no particular order)

Most of these selections were culled from albums and EPs released during the second half of 2010. Get the first half's selections here.

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UPDATE (16/5/13): Re-Up (ZIP)

1) Faun Fables • "Outro: Light" • Drag City
2) Chris Forsyth • "Paranoid Cat" • Tompkins Square
3) Whalebone Polly • "The Turnip Turned" • Dreamboat
4) Ólöf Arnalds • "Innudir Skinni" • One Little Indian
5) Sproatly Smith • "Spring Strathspey" • Reverb Worship
6) Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté • "Machengoidi" • Nonesuch
7) Marissa Nadler • "Daisy, Where Did You Go?" • self-released
8) Junip • "Chugga-Chugga" • Mute
9) Josephine Foster & The Victor Herrero Band • "Los Reyes de la Baraja" • Stillwater Limited/Fire
10) Highlife • "Wet Palm Trees" • Social Registry
11) William Tyler • "Ponotoc" • Tompkins Square
12) This Is the Kit • "Sometimes the Sea" • Dreamboat
13) Tyler Ramsey • "Our Home Beyond the River" • Tompkins Square
14) Mountain Man • "Honeybee (10-Inch Version)" • Underwater Peoples
15) Clogs • "Colony Theme" • Brassland
16) Horse Feathers • "Starving Robins" • Kill Rock Stars
17) James Blackshaw • "All Is Falling, Pt. 7 (Edit)" • Young God
18) Isengrind • "Night Dew Call" • Blackest Rainbow

Bert Jansch • "In the Bleak Midwinter (Live in Glasgow)" • 1974

Stream in Spotify / Procure An Acoustic Hour with Bert Jansch





I contemplated compiling a new Christmas-themed playlist this year, but I simply do not have the time, so here is a repost of last year's.

Miriam: A No Words Nativity

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1) The Harvesters • "Virgin Mary" • 1961
2) Shirley Collins • "The Cherry Tree Carol" • 1959
3) Alan Mills • "The Angel Gabriel" • 1957
4) Rakhel Hadass • "Sa'enu" • 1993
5) Pete Seeger • "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" • 1989
6) Rio en Medio & Israel Cilio • "Mary" • 2009
7) "Household" Regina • "Jingle Bells" • 1950
8) John Jacob Niles • "Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head" • 1957
9) The Young Tradition w/ Shirley & Dolly Collins • "The Coventry Carol" • 1955
10) John Fahey • "Good King Wenceslas" • 1975
11) Bert Jansch • "In the Bleak Midwinter" • 1974
12) Roger Sprung • "The Little Drummer Boy" • 1965
13) The Seeger Sisters • "Mary Had a Baby" • 1957
14) The Choir of the Bella Vista Children's Home • "El Niño Querido" • 1967
15) Leadbelly • "Chicken Crowing for Midnight (Christmas Song)" • 1944
16) John Fahey • "Christ's Saints of God Fantasy" • 1975
17) Swiss "Coffin" Box by Mermod • "Auld Lang Syne" • 1950

Terse Tales and Uneasy Utterings: A No Words Halloween

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Here's something altogether different for Halloween: poetry, prose, and medical essays.



00:00: John Ciardi • "In the Witch-Hunting Season" ~WITH~ Percy Grainger performed by Lydia Kavina • "Free Music, No. 2"
01:32: Edgar Allen Poe read by David Kurlan • excerpt from "The Pit and the Pendulum" ~WITH~ Malcom Goldstein • "Summer"
04:54: Sterling Brown • "Slim in Hell" ~WITH~ snapping shrimp and toadfish sounds, three meters deep
07:58: Bernard Barshay read by Henry Hamilton • "The Case of the Dream Murder" ~WITH~ Malcom
Goldstein • "Spring"
17:05: Rupert Brooke read by Richard Waring • "The Dead: I" ~WITH~ Vaclav Nelhybel • "Cosmic Fright"
18:21: esophageal voice from Speech After the Removal of the Larynx
22:08: Dr. H. E. Ulrich read by George E. Caraker • "Explanation of Various Body Cancer" ~WITH~ snapping shrimp and toadfish sounds, three meters deep
25:24: Robert Francis • "Burial" ~WITH~ Hillel and Aviva • "Twilight"

Best Folk Songs of 2010 (First Half)

MMX I/II: Ursell's 2010 Folksong Picks (in no particular order)

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UPDATE (16/5/13): Re-Up (ZIP)

1) Janelle Monáe w/ Deep Cotton • "57821" • Bad Boy/Wondaland
2) Sam McLoughlin & Alison Cooper • "Lantern" • Disposable
3) Mountain Man • "Soft Skin" • Bella Union/Partisan
4) Alasdair Roberts • "The Daemon Lover" • Drag City
5) Fursaxa • "Lunaria Exits the Blue Lodge" • ATP
6) Joanna Newsom • "'81" • Drag City
7) Emma Tricca • "Coming Into Los Angeles" • Bird
8) Chuck Johnson • "A Struggle, Not a Thought" • Tompkins Square
9) Jane Weaver • "Silver Chord" • Bird
10) Meg Baird • "Moving Up a Ways" • Important
11) A Broken Consort • "Beneath" • Tompkins Square
12) Marissa Nadler • "I Love My Man" • Buffetlibre
13) Languis • "Para Marta" • Plug Research
14) Shawn David McMillen • "For Carrie Brown" • Tompkins Square
15) Magpahi • "Tired and Weary Traveller" • Bird
16) The Tallest Man on Earth • "Love Is All" • Dead Oceans
17) Jack Rose • "Tree in the Valley" • Thrill Jockey
18) Elisa Randazzo • "Remember May" • Drag City





Honourable Mentions: Solid tunes that did not quite make the cut for one reason or another

Ólöf Arnalds • "Innudir Skinni" • One Little Indian
Ólöf Arnalds w/ Björk • "Surrender" • One Little Indian
James Blackshaw • "All Is Falling (Part 7 Edit)" • Young God





P.S. Check out Lord Franklin, the No Words Tumblr companion:

Wishwander: Ursell's Vashti Tape

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UPDATE (16/5/13): Re-Up (ZIP)

A Vashti Bunyan spotlight is perhaps the most obvious post I could make here, but I can no longer help it. Without Vashti, there would be no No Words, so I'm paying my respects at long last. Above is a quick reel of new and old Vashti favourites, collaborations, and rarities, including a 2010 demo, which you can download below in the track list.



00:00: Vashti • "Here (Demo)" • 2010
02:58: Vashti • "Wishwanderer (Demo)" • 1967
04:49: Vashti • "Wayward Hum" • 2005
09:00: Vashti • "Glow Worms" • 1970
11:17: Piano Magic w/ Vashti • "Dark Ages" • 2004
14:53: Vashti • "Here Before" • 2005
16:59: Vashti • "Train Song (Single Version)" • 1966
19:07: Vashti • "Come Wind Come Rain" • 1970
22:12: Vashti • "Where I Like to Stand" • 1970
23:33: Vashti • "Homesick 1972 Gibson From Los Angeles" • 2007
24:31: Vetiver w/ Vashti • "Sleep a Million Years" • 2008

Best Folk Albums of 2009

Top 10 Folk Albums of 2009: Year of the ox

1) Tiny Vipers • Life on Earth • Sub Pop
2) Emma Tricca • Minor White • Bird
3) Blue Roses • Self-Titled • XL
4) James Blackshaw • The Glass Bead Game • Young God
5) Mattias Bärjed • Familjen Babajou OST • Gravitation
6) Frank Fairfield • Self-Titled • Tompkins Square
7) Various Artists • Leaves of Life • Borne!
8) Green Blossoms • Whiskey Leaves • Digitalis
9) C Joynes • Revenants, Prodigies & the Restless Dead • Bo' Weavil
10) Josephine Foster • Graphic As a Star • Fire





Honourable Mentions: Electric albums, EPs, etc. (in no particular order)

Mountain Man • Self-Titled EP • Self-Released — Name your price.
A Hawk and a Hacksaw • Délivrance • Leaf
Beth Jeans Houghton • "Golden" 7-Inch • Static Caravan
Le B • Good Fortune Sounds EP • Bird
Bill Callahan • Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle • Drag City
Julianna Barwick • Florine EP • eMusic Selects
Beth Jeans Houghton & The Hooves of Destiny • Hot Toast, Vol. 1 EP • Static Caravan
Espers • III • Drag City
Marissa Nadler • Little Hells • Kemado





MMIX: Ursell's 2009 Picks

"MMIX" is 2009 in Roman numerals. Will this tidbit inspire a slew of year-end mixes?

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UPDATE (16/5/13): Re-Up (ZIP)

1) Le B • "The Trees They Do Grow High" • Bird
2) Emma Tricca • "All Along the Hudson" • Bird
3) Frank Fairfield • "Fair Margaret and Sweet William" • Tompkins Square
4) Green Blossoms • "Hana-Akari" • Digitalis
5) Beth Jeans Houghton • "Night Swimmer" • Static Caravan
6) Fern Knight • "Our Mountain the Mother" • Borne!
7) Bruno Coulais, Mathilde Pellegrini & Hélène Breschand • "Exploration" • Koch
8) Mountain Man • "Animal Tracks" • Open Face
9) C Joynes • "Happy & Delightful" • Bo' Weavil
10) Arborea • "Son of the Moon, Daughter of the Sun" • Borne!
11) Blue Roses • "I Am Leaving" • XL
12) Mattias Bärjed • "Familjen Babajou Theme 2" • Gravitation
13) Ellie Goulding • "The Wolves" • blogs
14) Tiny Vipers • "Dreamer" • Sub Pop
15) Taken by Trees • "Tidens Gang" • Rough Trade
16) James Blackshaw • "Cross" • Young God
17) Julianna Barwick • "Bode" • eMusic Selects

Miriam: A No Words Nativity

Happy Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza/Neopagan Yule, my noble few. "Miriam" (מרים) is Hebrew for "Mary," the Blessed Virgin.

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UPDATE (16/5/13): Re-Up (ZIP)

1) The Harvesters • "Virgin Mary" • 1961
2) Shirley Collins • "The Cherry Tree Carol" • 1959
3) Alan Mills • "The Angel Gabriel" • 1957
4) Rakhel Hadass • "Sa'enu" • 1993
5) Pete Seeger • "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" • 1989
6) Rio en Medio & Israel Cilio • "Mary" • 2009
7) "Household" Regina • "Jingle Bells" • 1950
8) John Jacob Niles • "Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head" • 1957
9) The Young Tradition w/ Shirley & Dolly Collins • "The Coventry Carol" • 1955
10) John Fahey • "Good King Wenceslas" • 1975
11) Bert Jansch • "In the Bleak Midwinter" • 1974
12) Roger Sprung • "The Little Drummer Boy" • 1965
13) The Seeger Sisters • "Mary Had a Baby" • 1957
14) The Choir of the Bella Vista Children's Home • "El Niño Querido" • 1967
15) Leadbelly • "Chicken Crowing for Midnight (Christmas Song)" • 1944
16) John Fahey • "Christ's Saints of God Fantasy" • 1975
17) Swiss "Coffin" Box by Mermod • "Auld Lang Syne" • 1950

Hear my No Words mix from earlier this year: A Revelry of Piety & Custom in Song, and check back in a few weeks for a "Best Folk of 2009" list and mix.