Mike Davies

Seattle-based outfit Massy Ferguson return with ‘Run it Right Into The Wall’ – straight-ahead punch the sky southern roots rock with a side order of beer swilling choruses.

Backed by a stellar cast of musicians with Lucy Kaplansky on backing vocals and produced by double Grammy winner Ben Wisch, American Landscape turned out to be the album Dave Murphy always wanted to make, we recommend you share in his triumph.

Robert Rex Waller, Jr., lead singer of I See Hawks in L.A. releases a solo album of covers. From songs by The Doors & Utah Phillips to Nina Simone & Neil Young it’s filled with some ingenious offerings.

Ana Egge, joined by Denmark’s The Sentimentals, releases her strongest offering to date with ‘Say That Now’, an album that tackles some heavy topics along the way with some powerful electric folk-rock.

Best known as a member of The Magic Numbers, Michele Stodart’s second solo album ‘Pieces’ is a far more rootsier offering and is, both individually and in sum, a thing of perfection.

Tennessee-born husband and wife duo The Danberrys return with their third release ‘Give and Receive’. Produced by Ethan Ballinger this is a broader offering which is sure to win them new fans.

Featuring Bonnie Prince Billy, Linda Thompson, Alasdair Roberts and more – Released July 5th, all the money made from sales of Refugee go to the charity MOAS who have already saved 12,000 lives. Buying this album will help it save more.

On Stereoptican Gary Lucas and Jann Klose provide dazzling guitar playing and a strong, versatile and vibrant vocal in the service of urban Americana.

Following on from her recent EP, singer-songwriter Kelley McRae returns with ‘The Wayside’, an album shaped by a decision to forsake her NY apartment for a life on the road.

Hero & The Sage is a hugely impressive debut from Vancouver-born, LA-based singer-songwriter Tara Beier – a new arrival on the Americana scene that deserves a wider audience.

While ‘South, West, North, East’ works on its own terms, the quality is such that you really would be doing yourself a disservice were you not to seek out the original EPs and the full 20 tracks.

Symphonic re-workings can be bloated and bombastic affairs but in sympathetic hands and with complementary rather than competitive arrangements, they can be quite magnificent. This is one such.