Not many people think of Australia as a folkie haven. That moniker is usually associated with North America and Europe. In the past year, however, Australia has introduced two brilliant young folk acts. Boy & Bear had one of my favorite songs of 2011, and, had I known about them before the new year, The Paper Kites would have been right along side. In August 2011 the group released an EP entitled Woodland. The record is built on sweet harmonies, gently finger-picked guitars, and heart-wrenching lyrics. The sound is reminiscent of recently disbanded Australian folk stars The Middle East, but slightly lighter in both instrumentation and subject matter. One can only hope that these folksters will find success like the The Middle East, who had numerous songs featured on TV shows and movies, most notably “Blood.” If they do, a second hope will be that they don’t break our hearts, but instead continue to make beautiful music.
Recommended Songs: “Bloom,” “Woodland,” “Featherstone”
For more on The Paper Kites check out the songs above and the videos below! Also, be sure to like the band on Facebook and follow them on Twitter!
Official music video for “Bloom.”
Official music video for “Featherstone.”
