you don't spell it, son. you hear it!

Stream the entire ‘Communion’ compilation

As the buzz surrounding Thamesbeat began to fade in the mid-noughties, for lack of better word, a new folk inspired music scene was beginning to emerge in small venues around London.  In 2007, Kevin Jones and Ben Lovett started the club night Communion, offering a safe place where folk musicians could rally with like-minded artists and showcase their music.

In less than five years, Communion has come to witness the extraordinary success from regular club night acts like Johnny Flynn, Noah and the Whale, Laura Marling, and most recently Mumford & Sons, of whom Lovett is a member. Communion has also expanded beyond London, now holding nights in Brighton and Leeds, as well as growing into a full-fledged record label. It’s on this label that Lovett and Jones are releasing Communion: The Compilation, consisting of (mostly) formerly unreleased songs from established acts like Jeremy Warmsley, Johnny Flynn, and Mumford & Sons, and up-and-coming artists Peggy Sue, Alan Pownall, Beans on Toast, Elena Tonra, Andrew Davie, and many more.

Communion’s Kevin Jones says: “”We always wanted to document what was happening on the London folk scene and champion newer artists alongside more established ones. What’s fascinating is you can hear the influence of artists such as Laura Marling, Noah and the Whale and Mumford & Sons filtering down into the newer artists and also cross referencing each other along the way. There really is a new music movement happening in London and further afield, and having seen so many of these acts play Communion over the years it’s an honour to be responsible for putting some of the pieces of the puzzle together.”

You can listen to the Communion compilation in its entirety below. It makes for a good listen whether it’s your introduction to the scene or you’re already hip to the beat. If you’d like more info on the songs/artists included in the compilation, I highly recommend checking out Kevin Jones’ interview with The Independent.

Personal highlights: The inclusion of Jeremy Warmsley, new Johnny Flynn FTW, proper recorded version of Peggy Sue’s “February Snow,” Alan Pownall, M & S, Beans on Toast, and Elena Tonra. But really, it’s all pretty damn good.

Communion: The Compilation is available to purchase tomorrow, March 1st 2010, on 12″ vinyl. BUY IT HERE. Have no fear, every order will come with a special digital download code so you can enjoy your folky tunes on your computer/ipod.

February 28, 2010 at 3:15 pm 4 comments