Helen Gregory

Steeped in the traditions of his beloved Dumnonia, Forgotten Kingdom presents both an ambitiously broad canvas and a tour de force display of Jim Causley’s range and depth. It succeeds as a result of his commitment to his vision and his choice of contributors, confirming his status as one England’s finest folk singers, musicians and composers.

Ahoy Hoy is a remarkable collaborative album which respects its roots in the folk music traditions of Scotland and Norway while making good use of innovative and contemporary approaches. The result is a unique and absorbing blend of old and new, exploring both the differences and similarities between the two cultures in innovative and accessible ways.

Ghazalaw is a fascinating project which more than succeeds in its aim of connecting two apparently divergent and ancient cultures, using the ebb and flow between voices, instruments and sounds to great effect in a hypnotic and immersive listening experience.

Old Adam marks the welcome return of Fay Hield to the studio, reaffirming her status as one of Britain’s leading singers across the spectrum of traditional and contemporary folk music. Fay is also our Artist of the Month for February.

With Wolves the Lamb Will Lie balances richly detailed lyrics with accessible arrangements which present M.G. Boulter’s musical vision intact. Anyone looking for instruction in the dark art of writing meaningful and original songs would be well-advised to give this a good, close listen; meanwhile the rest of us will be over here, losing ourselves in Matt’s music.

Kelly Oliver has created an album which crosses musical boundaries, full of thought-provoking lyrics and musical arrangements this is sure to attract a wider mainstream audience to her already rapidly growing fan-base.

Songs of Separation is a superlative and essential record, from its initial concept through to the final result; it’s a huge accomplishment by anybody’s standards and all involved have every right to feel justifiably proud of their achievement.

‘Pelican’ is a fine debut from Katy Hooper which covers a lot of ground in an unfussy and self-assured way which suggests she has all the ingredients necessary to secure a long and successful career. We’re looking forward to a full-length album before too long.

With ‘Polonia’, Katy Carr has created a record which is epic in every sense; its scope is immense and the themes covered within its apparently simple concept are as deep as they are wide-ranging. It’s a rare treat to come across a record which is so consistently entertaining as it is informative.

Recorded in Tasmania over three months in 1974 and released to critical acclaim and minimal sales this reissue offers a welcome chance to hear an album which many of us, I’m sure, would otherwise have remained unaware. In addition we also have a song premiere of ‘Mad Mike’.

On Utica Huw M explores some of the connections between Welsh and American folk songs with the combination of soulful gospel harmonies in the context of traditional and contemporary Welsh folk music – it’s a unique sounding album, one that could make an impressive live show too.

Two Wolves is a superb album, one of the year’s best, with each of its songs brimming with nuance and depth. Although covering some deeply personal subjects, Marry’s skills as a singer, lyricist and, above all, a story-teller bring a very human touch, enabling the songs to maintain their focus and intensity without overwhelming the listener.