Glenn Kimpton

Earth and its Contents is a rich, intelligent and resilient album from Sarah Louise, one of the most hard-working, aware and important composers and performers we have. Relish this music at this time and let it help you consider things in different ways.

Borrowed Songs contains pieces both original and traditional and Ewan treats them in the same way, which is as songs and stories that need to be kept alive by playing them, hearing them and passing them on. This brief and quietly powerful album is one of subtle beauty and astute skill.

Totally improvised and recorded live in a single take, Adam Summerhayes and Murray Grainger’s “Untold” is work of startling, immediate beauty. It is a rich, durable and mercurial sound that will reward repeated listens.

We chat to master fiddler and our Artist of the Month Sam Sweeney. He talks about the crafting of his second album Unearth Repeat, his loud violin and why withholding information can be beneficial.

Dilyn Afon is an essential masterpiece in traditional music collection and interpretation, performed to an exemplary level…It is a journey piece of pure and utterly beautiful music and singing…I implore you all to buy it.

There are many delights to be found throughout Pill Pilots, which boasts great songs treated with love and respect by a pair of the finest players currently performing. Recommended indeed.

Glenn Kimpton looks back at 2019 and shares his top 10 albums of the year including Jake Xerxes Fussell, Rant, Sarah Louise, Rob Harbron, J.R. Bohannon, Bill MacKay and Katinka Kleijn, Charles Rumback & Ryley Walker, Bill Callahan & more.

Buck Curran and Tompkins Square have done a fine job here, both in paying tribute to the late great Jack Rose and bringing in a number of superb players. Fantastic stuff and a real testament to the quality of current material available to those who seek it.

303 is intelligent, finely nuanced music full of fresh ideas along with signature Three Cane Whale sounds which really does invite and reward repeated listens. The little shades and dashes of sound throughout inject the whole album with a sense of life and nature.

Having just released and toured a fascinating new album from the commission of a beautiful new instrument, it was time to meet with Rhyader’s finest to discuss his Fylde and New Music for the 12 String Guitar.

The Portage, the latest album from Scotland’s Rant is something truly special. At points haunting, at others carefree and light, this is powerful and evocative music that is invigorating, bewitching and beautiful.

Illustrating the creativity flowing between these two performers, Little Common Twist is a very skilfully played and arranged piece of work which balances its many flavours like an accomplished chef.