The music of Los Angeles, USA-based singer songwriter Mike Stocksdale has graced our pages before, but not since 2022 when Jane ran the rule over his single, Bad Bad World.
By Graeme Smith
Feature photo by Jason Kerman
She described the track as a “timeless folk song” and we hear it, alongside many other tracks, performed live on Mike’s new album, Settle Down! Live at the Hotel Cafe 12.11.24. For the performance, Mike strips it all back, giving us acoustic renditions of his favourite songs.
The joy of a live album is that it captures a unique moment in time. The songs on it will never sound quite the same again. Mike and a rolling roster of guest artists create something special with this performance and it comes through loud and clear in the recording.
The acoustic takes give plenty of space to Mike’s striking and prophetic lyrics. They shine through in moments like the aforementioned Bad Bad World and self-reflective album opener Who am I? At other times, it’s emotion that takes centre stage such as in the gentle, melancholic The Way, the storytelling Andersonville, the philosophical Time Goes By, So?, and the delicate duet with Alex Krimm, Alexandra.
The album’s ambitious run time gives us plenty of opportunity to get lost in his world. It’s certainly an album to fully commit to. By the time you arrive at singalong album closer, Nothing Like Beginning, you feel like you’ve been on a journey.
Settle Down! is available to purchase as a digital album on Mike’s Bandcamp page now. You’ll be able to stream it on the major streaming platforms from 13 March 2025.