Josephine Foster & The Victor Herrero Band - Anda Jaleo / Perlas

A reissued set of  precious Spanish folk tunes from couple Josephine Foster and Victor Herrero, via Fire.

John Hulburt - The Freak on the Black Harley

Solo acoustic guitar music from John Hulburt (1947-2012). From Opus III, out August 28 via Tompkins Square.

Mark Kozelek - Sings Christmas Carols

"Mark, you're the only person I know who can take a wonderful season like Christmas and turn it into a problem ... Of all the Mark Kozeleks in the world, you're the Mark Kozelekiest."

There's no topping that for now. Happy holidays, y'all! Thanks for a great year!

Jessica Pratt - "Back, Baby"

https://soundcloud.com/drag-city/jessica-pratt-back-baby With a voice like Janis Joplin minus the cigarettes and guitar playing like an angel with problems, Jessica Pratt seems to be a rising contender in the folk rock world. Pratt’s original and peculiar approach is simple, but allows her to enter a completely different category to modern folk rockers: a strummed or plucked guitar, and vocals that hold such unfamiliar nuances that their beauty really lies in the heart of the listener. “Back, Baby” is a single from her upcoming album titled On Your Own Love Again, which is being released on January the 27th.

Although the track is similar to her previous work, there seems to have been some emotional progression. Reminiscent of a pregnant Joan Baez at Woodstock, Pratt tells a tale of a lover from the past, a man she wishes she could revisit, but understands the consequences could be dire. As she “sometimes prays for the rain," I pray her new album lives up to the standard that this single has set.

- Fin Worrall

Mirel Wagner - "The Dirt"

Ethiopian-born Finnish singer-songwriter Mirel Wagner very quietly released her debut of creaky, stark folk music with a self-titled record in 2012. The whole thing was very minimal and dark and somber, so it isn't too much of a surprise that it didn't catch too much buzz (which is unfortunate, really). But now, Wagner has signed to Sub Pop for her sophomore record, When the Cellar Children See the Light of Day, and has released a new song.

"The Dirt" follows a similar pattern to her debut songs, but it has a richer production and songwriting value, with Wagner's voice really shining throughout, with just the right dab of reverb. It has a bluesy strut (blues has always been a clear influence on her brand of folk), and the electric guitar that comes sliding in has a rustic, rickety feel that fits the song perfectly. It's nice to hear Wagner's songs get a couple more musical elements embedded into them; she does a nice job with these small but important assists. And when she closes the song with the chilling, "You'll be in the dirt / You'll be the dirt," it just gets me all scared and excited.

When the Cellar Children See the Light of Day is out August 12 via Sub Pop.

ikea-graveyard - stray

Alofa Gould is a 19-year-old Vista, CA-based singer-songwriter who has recorded under the moniker Your Bruise, and now under ikea-graveyard. This month, she put out a split EP with touringmates Bulldog Eyes and Yukon, as well as this collection of demos she recorded on her porch, called stray. The tracks are breezy and feature only Gould's lovely voice and acoustic guitar, but while simple, they manage to be quite evocative. She caps off the tape with a nice Joyce Manor cover, too. Happy listening!

The Men - "Turn Your Color"

Next month, The Men will release an all-acoustic 5-song EP actually recorded around a campfire while the band was holed up in a house in upstate New York. The project is aptly titled Campfire Songs and will feature re-imagined versions of New Moon-era tracks "I Saw Her Face," "The Seeds," and "Water Babies," as well as two new songs, "Turn Your Color" and "Patience;" the former of which can be streamed above. Enjoy the adeptly-crafted ambiance!

Campfire Songs is due out October 15 via Sacred Bones. Below, check out the review for their latest LP, the determinedly rustic New Moon, released earlier this year:

Juana Molina - "Eras"

Juana Molina used to be a hit comedic actress in her native Argentina, but ever since 1996, she has been making decidedly less funny work as a singer-songwriter. She crafts a unique blend of acoustic and electronic sounds, and often creates labyrinthine layers of her vocals. Her new album, Wed 21, comes out in October, and it’s her first since 2008’s glorious Un Día. This first song to drop from it is built upon a thumping, tricky meter, and simple, repetitious guitar riffs. The English chorus of “Come, come quickly” is oddly catchy, and the whole thing remains positively warm. Excited to see what the album brings.

Stream the track above via soundcloud. Wed 21 comes out on October 29 on Crammed Discs.