Ben Garland

Ultimately, Emiliana Torrini & The Colorist Orchestra’s ‘Racing the Storm’ represents collaboration in its richest form; and if there was ever an example that genre is dead in modern music (and that it can yield outstanding results), this is it.

Although her words are incredibly poetic and powerful on their own, just as poetry should be read allowed to fully grasp its intent, it’s the immeasurably emotive way that Moriah Bailey delivers her lines on ‘i tried words ‘ that portrays their true meaning.

A confident and intricately polished album, Macie Stewart’s ‘Mouth Full of Glass’ revels in the subtle and sombre, without losing its palpable sense of hope.

MacGillivray’s talent and passion bring the tragic story of Mary, Queen of Scots to life. Her intricate instrumental work, captivating lyrics, and powerful vocals all come together to build this profoundly engaging and focused album.

Across the 16 minutes of Rhona Macfarlane’s “Closing the Window”, she offers a much-needed moment of pause. Despite its themes of loss and regret, it looks to the future with a great sense of optimism and hope, a sentiment as comforting as it is timely.

Ben Garland shares his Top 10 Albums of 2021 including Karima Walker, Molly Linen, Cassandra Jenkins, Yasmin Williams, José González, Andrew Wasylyk, John Francis Flynn, Wyndow and more.

Ben Howard’s latest album ‘Collections From The Whiteout’ found the singer-songwriter at his most experimental. As part of his four-date stripped-back UK tour, the Bristol audience were offered a different perspective of that album’s songs alongside the bonus of enjoying them in such rare intimate settings.

The serene beauty of An Overview on Phenomenal Nature was precisely what many of us needed during lockdown, now Cassandra Jenkins offers a similar respite while taking her album on tour.

A dark and atmospheric experience, ‘IRIS’ elevates the sound of Reb Fountain’s previous record and explores some abstract yet highly relatable concepts. It’s an incredibly focused, deep, and powerful record that won’t be easily forgotten.

With their incredible debut record, Wyndow capture the contradictory feelings of uncertainty and familiarity of the last 18 months into this experimental time capsule of beautiful melodies, ethereal vocal layers, and powerful lyrics.

Featuring songs from landworkers and some well-known folk singers, ‘Stand Up Now’ is a beautiful and enchanting album that uses its traditional sound to explore a range of political issues surrounding the agricultural industry. Ultimately, it’s an album about hope; hope for a better, fairer world.

Gorgeous and precise, ‘Days Awake’ is a masterful piece of work that takes Molly Linen’s signature serene sound and elevates it to new levels.