Dear Reader is a songwriter that has the same kind of other worldly folklore power that is so wonderfully channelled by the likes of Cate Le Bon or Laura Marling. Twee but strong, there are traditional storytelling techniques in amongst the modernised sounds. Dear Reader is actually South African Cherilyn MacNeil, and now residing in Berlin, she's announced her new LP Day Fever, out 24 February via City Slang. Introductory song 'I Know You Can Hear it' ethereally speaks about the mystery of passing away and comes with a video filled with mystic figures. Grappling with the big questions is a brave move, but one handled gracefully and anthropologically. It's spine tingling stuff. - SJ