South Wales folk-rock outfit Rusty Shackle have delivered their most expansive record to date with ‘Mayfield’, and on it I found a new favourite, powerful rambling folk rock single ‘Swandive’.
From the opening notes, the track instantly pulled me back to muddy festival fields and sun-drenched folk-rock tents, washing over me with a wave of hard-won catharsis. Pushed forward by soaring vocals, driving guitar lines, and unexpected rhythmic detours, ‘Swandive’, much like the rest of the album, feels like a warm, familiar embrace for anyone who calls the folk-rock community home.
Rambling and steadily storming like a call to arms, as it carries an epic, cinematic grit, ‘Swandive’ wouldn’t feel out of place on the soundtrack of Vikings or The Last Kingdom. Bold, boundary-pushing, and brimming with colour, ‘Swandive’ is a magnificent introduction to the Welsh six-piece and an essential addition to any playlist.
