Rise

Format

• ---

  CDREL21CD  £6.00

Label

Relentless

Seth Lakeman

Hearts & Minds

British European the follow up to 2008's top 10 critically acclaimed 'poor man's heaven' 'hearts and minds' encompasses traditional and modern themes of love loss and human struggle and represents a further leap forward in both songwriting and sonics seth has taken his story telling to a new level on his fourth album tackling contemporary issues such as the financial crash and the greed of politicians and the banking system as on the title track of the album 'hearts and minds' other lyrical themes both personal and universal are covered elsewhere including the struggles of the workingman 'hard working man' and soldiers losing their lives in battle 'spinning days' 'hearts and minds' also moves into new sonic territory with the studio work of tchad blake the producer and engineer internationally known for his work with the likes of tom wait crowded house black keys and elvis costello on tracks such as future single 'tiny world' blake has developed seth's traditional percussive stomp into something more expansive warm and intimate echoing the more personal lyric lead single 'hearts and minds' sees seth's unique compelling brand of 'indiefolk' move further into the kind of harder edged sound sign posted on the 'poor man's heaven' album a rabble rousing call for people to stand together to face the battles of everyday life in an ever more challenging world the single is already a favourite in seth's rhythmic and captivating live shows that continue to garner an ever growing army of followers having come to wider public attention following his mercury nominated 'kitty jay' album in 2005 when seth brought folk music to a new younger audience he has been widely credited with breaking down perceptions and barriers often associated with folk music and its acceptance or lack of it in the mainstream here he returns into a musical landscape he arguably helped to shape that now encompasses a whole new breed of folk inspired acoustic artists including the likes of noah and the whale mumford and sons and laura marling currently enjoying an unprecedented level of critical and commercial success 'hearts and minds' provides an exciting addition to that landscape where contemporary themed tracks rub shoulders with more traditional tales and furious fiddle playing and stomping rhythms combine with intricate acoustic numbers to form an album which undoubtedly represents lakeman's most mature and compelling work to date