Sarah Belclaire

The Golden Angle is an admirable work with great potential, and David Benedict has truly proven himself among leaders of a generation of musicians guiding bluegrass into new pastures.

In Comet, Carly Dow reclaims tales of loneliness and heartbreak: she is willing to admit when she is afraid, but proud to proclaim when she feels fearless. No stone is left unturned in this resonant ode to female independence.

Effortlessly enjoyable, the silver thread of “Llinyn Arian” is one which binds us to its mother-daughter creators. Strewn throughout this album are themes of journeys and resolutions born from joy, love, collaboration, and community.

With its Spaghetti Western overtones and Opry undertones, Ortega blends the dark and the light without stumbling too far into either. Liberty samples long untouched art forms and taps into long untouched feelings. A gem of emotional candour, Liberty is a strong and distinct voice within Ortega’s discography.

Released as part of the partnership between Yep Roc Records and The Southern Folklife Collection, Live At Club 47 features a never before heard live performance by Doc Watson, recorded live at Club 47 (now known as Club Passim) in Cambridge, MA in 1963 at the beginning of his solo career.

Diverse, innovative with plenty of surprises, Extralife is an engrossing album and a fulfilling listen that feels like it was truly made for the sake of music. For the devout fan of indie folk, Darlingside has found an engrossing niche.

Mavis Staples and Jeff Tweedy make a masterful pair and blend the perfect concoction of protest and memory. Like living history, If All I Was Was Black is a sweet sojourn towards a collective truth and an earthy ode to the rhythm of rebellion.

The Long-Awaited Album is nothing short of a polished tribute to the bluegrass form. Upheld by the rhythmic and melodic prowess of the Steep Canyon Rangers and the virtuosic flair of Steve Martin, bluegrass could not have hoped for a better pairing. But if it had, Martin would surely have already written a song about it.

Binary is an album born in the grey area between defiance and freedom. It is a means to an end which, if you understand DiFranco’s legacy, is far greater than the sum of its parts. For her most dedicated fans, Binary will prove both gratifying and unifying. For newcomers, Ani DiFranco is at home as an enlightened voice in a collective singalong.

Guitarist and songwriter Tom Bright has literally travelled around the globe for his music. We catch up with him to talk about what motivates his nomadic pursuits and how his music has taken off since his return to the UK.

We talk to our Artist of the Month ‘Eiks’ about her new album Braids…”As I go about my normal daily life, I seem to have a subconscious radar that looks for inspiration, however small and embryonic they are, and I note them down.”

Braids is an album of memory and homage, tooled and re-tooled like a worn keepsake, and Japanese-British singer-songwriter Eiks is an inventive creator who relishes nostalgia and excels in the preservation of life’s tiniest moments.