With some of indie's favourites and the likes of Bon Iver, Paul Weller and Elbow headlining. This year looks set to be another cracking festival. New comers such as Daughter and Sharon Van Etten in the line-up it will also give artists a chance to expand their fanbase. It is also thrilling to see John Cooper Clarke included at the poetry arena, the punk poet is a cult hero.
Tramp seems like a bold yet appropriate name for Sharon Van Etten’s album; made at a time when she was basically leading the life of a homeless person, crashing on friend’s couches and touring whenever she wasn’t recording at the home studio of producer, Aaron Dessner, of The National.
At such a tumultuous period in her life, you would only expect for this to show in Van Etten’s work. What you find instead is a young musician very grounded, her record is essentially a break up album like her debut record, Because I Was In Love, and 2010’s Epic, which were simple folk albums based around her stunning voice and her guitar, with the help of Dessner and other indie stars however, such as Matt Barrick from The Walkmen, Zach Condon of Beirut and Jenn Wasner from Wye Oak, she has expanded her sound.
From understated works of art to rich intensity, Tramp is certainly the most confident piece that she has released and there is still the same darkness and strain to be found in her lyrics. In ‘Give Out’, Van Etten sings:
“I'm biting my lip
as confidence is speaking to me.
I loosen my grip from my palm
and put it on your knee.
In my way, I say
you're the reason why I'll move to the city,
you're why I'll need to leave”
As frank and tense as the songs might be however, Van Etten manages to show hope, Serpents for example, the album’s only ‘rock’ track, is an epic anthem orchestrated by Dessner and his twin brother Bryce with winding melodies and a gutsy slide guitar, lyrically however Van Etten doesn’t venture too far from the angst,
“You enjoy sucking on dreams
so I will fall asleep with someone other than you
I had a thought you would take me seriously”
It isn’t easy listening then rather cathartic listening to hear these vignettes of a broken relationship being told through such an innocent and fragile yet commanding voice, Sharon Van Etten tells the break up story from the female point of view without being the damsel in distress which artists such as Lana Del Rey have made so fashionable.
The intimacy conducted throughout this album is like a private, confessional conversation that Van Etten has chosen to share only with you, and believe me; you should feel privileged to hear such stories!
After a report was leaked last week, rumours started circling that The National were set to curate the All Tomorrows Parties festival at Butlins, Minehead. Today ATP confirmed with a statement on their website. The National are set to headline the three day event with The Antlers, Owen Pallett, Sharon Van Etten, My Brightest Diamond and Megafaun just some of the artists set to join them. In total 40 live acts will play the three indoor stages. Only 5500 tickets are available with prices at £170.00pp for room only apartments and £180.00pp for self catered apartments, that go on sale this Friday 20 January at 2pm via www.Gigantic.com and this website.The event will also feature DJs until late, Cinema chosen by The National and Book Club curated by The National. For more information visit the website here.
The first I heard of Sharon Van Etten was when she collaborated with The National on their song, Think You Can Wait for the film Win, Win. That song has gone on to make the Oscars shortlist for Best Original Song. It was then released a while back that The National guitarist Aaron Dessner was set to produce Van Etten's album which got the blogosphere buzzing and we now know that the album is set to be released this Autumn. The lead single, Serpents, features just about everyone in the Brooklyn indie scene; Aaron and his twin brother Bryce, Zach Condon of Beirut, the Walkmen's Matt Barrick, Wye Oak's Jenn Wasner and Thomas Bartlett of Doveman.
