Helen Gregory

Finland’s handpan player Kumea Sound is about to release his second album, “one of the most radically different yet accessible albums I’ve heard in a long time”.

Shift offers a rich and often heady brew of traditional and modern songs and sounds rooted in the musical traditions of the Borders between southern Scotland and northern England.

On Julie Murphy’s new EP ‘Mermaid’ she offers three stunningly evocative interpretations of three traditional folk tunes transforming them into something magical.

On xoa, Anaïs Mitchell opts for a loosely autobiographical approach, largely driven by requests by her fans it offers a back to basics collection which hangs together surprisingly well.

The Holy Court of Baltimore is the fourth self-released album by Chris Kiehne, an album on which his lyrics draw extensively on Shakespeare’s Ophelia.

Kate has produced a work which is as impressively mature and sophisticated as it is eclectic and cohesive…one of the most highly listenable and finely-balanced experimental albums of the year.

Helen captures one the final gigs from Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo at St James Church. Plus a we have a special Neil Young cover performed at Union Chapel.

This is another sterling example of Topic Records consistency – ‘this compilation is not only the icing on the cake, it’s also the sponge, the jam and the candles on the top’.

Burn & Glow is a great introduction to the repertoire of Amy Goddard, one on which she isn’t afraid to write about contemporary social justice concerns along with more personal matters.

Lily-O isn’t afraid to draw on the musical roots of its contributors while, at the same time, remaining thoroughly contemporary in outlook. An enjoyable, fascinating and very accessible listen.

Amidst Fiery Skies is a very accomplished and confident sounding album which suggests that the rise to prominence of The Willows is richly deserved and it points to a bright future for the band.

With the assistance of long time friend Steve Shannon, Adrian Crowley has created his best album to date; it’s a worthy addition to his already impressive back catalogue which augurs well for the future.