“A lot of covers of the late, great Townes Van Zandt’s songs aren’t that successful, largely because his versions are so definitive. This album, then, comes as a pleasant surprise as a cast of largely unknowns and semi-knowns take on the task, emerging triumphant.

Fleet Foxes’ J Tillman’s naked and funeral ‘My Proud Mountains’ is the pick of the nineteen tracks but Stephen Duffy does almost as well with Van Zandt’s best-known song, ‘Pancho And Lefty’, accompanying the despair with mournful accordion and a chorus of angels, while The Be Good Tanyas whispering ‘Waiting Around To Die’, Pacific Ocean Fire’s ‘You Are Not Needed Now’ and Great Lake Swimmers’ ‘Our Mother The Mountain’ are also right up there. As indeed is everybody else, for this is that rare beast, a tribute album without a weak track. The packaging is good too, with Angie Renfro capturing the mood of the music perfectly.

A more radical treatment or two, a’ la Jason And The Scorchers and ‘Absolutely Sweet Marie’, would have been nice but that aside, this is a lesson in how to do this sort of thing – and absolutely first-class. 4/5 (ROCK N REEL)

We just received this email (thank you James, wherever you are):

”Introducing Townes Van Zandt Via the Great Unknown' is a selection of nineteen cover versions of Townes Van Zandt classics by contemporary “unknown” artists who have been inspired by his music.

Playing on the idea that Townes Van Zandt himself remains largely unknown and unknowable, the album also represents the end of a decade of growing interest in one of the most important and elusive figures in alternative country music. Some of the “unknown” on 'Introducing...' are new artists such as the 18 year old Lessons in Time. Some are unknown by virtue of being members of bigger and better known bands such as J. Tillman of Fleet Foxes. Some of the artists have earned the monicker through a lifetime of hugging the peripheries such as Jad Fair of Half Japanese. All have something of their own to offer to this wonderful compilation.

The CD itself contains comprehensive notes on each of the artists and links to artist websites. Accompanying artwork and a complimentary MySpace page shows just how far this project is both a tribute to Townes Van Zandt and a promotion of all that remains “unknown” in contemporary folk and Americana.The album features artists from Australia, Sweden, UK, USA and Ireland. While not enormously varied, it does add a welcome international feel to proceedings.

'Introducing...' alternates between fairly loyal solo-acoustic renditions and more inventive re-imaginings. Among the former, while J. Tillman's 'My Proud Mountains' feels a little uninspired, Gustav Haggren's 'Fare Thee Well, Miss Carousel' is heart-stoppingly beautiful and Jad Fair's acoustic footstomping rendition of 'Turnstyled, Junkpiled' is a brilliant and raucous conclusion to the album. For the most part it is the re-imaginings which are the more successful. Telafonica's version of 'St. John the Gambler' is led by a sultry double bass and evokes Nick Cave's 'Murder Ballads'. The Be Good Tanyas' intense 'Waiting Around to Die' and Great Lake Swimmers ethereal 'Our Mother The Mountain' are other highlights. Stephen Duffy & The Lilac Time have more than met the daunting task of contributing 'Pancho and Lefty', its arguably one of the best versions of this oft-covered tune.

Not only does 'Introducing...' encourage you to revisit, or seek out for the first time, the music of Townes Van Zandt, it demonstrates his continued legacy and the strength and depth of his vision. What's more it provides a platform for some truly talented “unknown” artists to raise their profiles. An important project and a fascinating album.” 8/10 (AMERICANA UK)

When Steve Earle released Townes earlier this year, it was received as it should have been, as a rather clumsy love letter to a late master from an apprentice still possibly feeling pangs of inferiority. At this point, those who even remotely care about folk or country music don't need Earle or anyone else to remind them of the late Townes Van Zandt's greatness. What is more interesting is how that immense body of work is now influencing the latest generation of genre-bending songwriters. That seems precisely the purpose of Introducing Townes Van Zandt Via The Great Unknown, featuring 19 interpretations by artists from around the world, among them Canada's Great Lake Swimmers, Kate Maki and the Be Good Tanyas. What they all share, and what Earle ultimately failed to get across, is a deep connection to the cold, hard realities at the heart of Van Zandt's writing, and at the heart of the myth surrounding his life. Earle may indeed have a self-destructive streak within him but it isn't the same as Van Zandt's, an artist whose genius was fuelled by much more unforgiving demons. While that may be an overstatement, it's not a stretch to say that this notion is part of the reason why everyone on this album wanted to take part. One after another, their sympathetic renditions ― from "My Proud Mountains" by J. Tillman of Fleet Foxes to "No Place To Fall" by Anders Parker ― grasp for the smallest thread of that genius, fully aware that they will fall short. But those attempts are what make Introducing Townes Van Zandt the proper tribute Earle's wasn't. The individual personalities eventually paint a vibrant portrait of contemporary folk that places Van Zandt at its centre, and that's something that would have surely made him proud. (EXCLAIM!)

We have just uploaded some photos from our amazing gig at The Musician in Leicester last night. The players were J.Tillman, Pearly Gate Music and Thomas Denver Jonsson (thanks to all of you!).

You will find the photos in...our photo section (surprisingly).

Goose bumps, also called goose flesh, goose pimples, chill bumps, or the medical term cutis anserina, are the bumps on a person's skin at the base of body hairs which may involuntarily develop when a person is cold or experiences strong emotions such as fear or awe.

Listen to the new track on our player: 'My Proud Mountains' by J. Tillman

A small, but perfectly formed collection of records for your player can be found here:
FORTHESAKEOFTHESONG SHOP

Check the bands on the label here, music and videos for your pleassure:
www.forthesakeofthesong.co.uk