Patrick Pritchard’s latest album, a collaboration with the Canadian poet Patrick Woodcock on which eleven of his poems are set to music, is one steeped in wisdom, elegance and refinement.

One of the best Tiny Desk Concerts I’ve seen in a long time; watch the Bill Orcutt Guitar Quartet with Wendy Eisenberg, Ava Mendoza and Shane Parish. Four musicians at the frontier of creativity and having fun while they’re there.

Our Song of the Day is ‘Spring’, a seasonal new single from Arny Margret, on which she is joined by fellow Icelandic singer-songwriter Júníus Meyvant. It’s a soothing yet delicate heart-rending offering with opening flowers and dewy mornings set against a song of broken love.

With additional production from Daniel Lanois, the country aspects of Tinariwen’s Amatssou are subtle. Yet for all the Americana trimmings here, this band’s political take on praise-singing carries an eternal purity.

Gnoss’s ‘Stretching Skyward’ is an exciting and invigorating album. Alongside an intoxicating fusion of instruments, there is a well-earned quiet confidence on show, with a soft, subtle touch of Americana filtering through the band’s more traditional Scottish sound; it’s an innovative, accomplished meld.

Our Tune of the Day is ‘Second Guess’, the latest single from Chicago trio Black Duck, featuring Douglas McCombs, Bill MacKay and Charles Rumback. It’s taken from their self-titled debut album, out on June 23rd via Thrill Jockey.

Paris-based bandleader Kate Stables of This is the Kit is our latest ‘Off the Shelf’ guest. We learn of her love for tambourines and Alan Bennett, of where their band name maybe comes from…and more.

It’s hard to define the feelings that flow from ther’s ‘a horrid whisper echoes in a palace of endless joy’ – there’s despondency and grief but also comfort as Jones ends: “There’s a whisper in my ear/ It only speaks to me of fear/ But I won’t pay it no mind”.

Our Tune of the Day comes from Jim O’Rourke with an edited version of “A Man’s Mind Will Play Tricks on Him”, taken from the film soundtrack to Kyle Armstrong’s ‘Hands That Bind’. This is also his first film soundtrack to get a worldwide release.

The latest song in the Bring Your Own Hammer series comes from Carol Keogh (aka The Wicc). Watch the accompanying video for  ‘A Pair of Packed Valises (before the Dunbrody), 1849’ which offers a striking and rich re-imagining of the departure of two women from Ireland to the United States.

Maxine Funke’s output over the last few years has been consistently outstanding, and River Said shows her at her best and at her most varied. These are songs that gently demand attention, and longer compositions that are profound and moving and mysterious all at once.

Ernest Bergez transforms Sourdure into the four-piece Sourdurent with the release of L’herbe de détourne – a bold and deeply rewarding venture.