Mike Davies

Since the current Fairport Convention line-up (Leslie, Pegg, Sanders, Nicol, Conway) came together in 1998 they’ve not put a foot wrong. Indeed, each successive album has, arguably, been better than the last. Myths And Heroes proves no exception as they set yet another high bar to be surpassed as they contemplate a follow up to coincide with their 50th anniversary.

James McMurtry’s latest offering ‘Complicated Game’ is unflinching in its storytelling, delivered with unembellished honesty and deep empathy, it may well prove one of the finest Americana albums of the year.

JD McPherson’s follow up to his Rounder debut is equally rooted in early rock n roll, plenty of driving basslines, punchy limb-shaking rhythms, twangy reverb and the occasional splash of fat sax. It’s a gem.

Based in London, there’s strong traces of his Irish background to both Niall Kelly’s vocals and the melodies of his Celtic-soul tinged Americana of his latest release Not Sleeping.

If you ever wished there had been a whole album to go with ‘Fairytale of New York’ then ‘Middle Aged Love’ is your perfect unhappy ever after.

Drew Holcomb’s seventh album ‘Medicine’ is a slow burn listen that, in keeping with title, does you good and really should be taken on a daily basis.

Amelia Curran’s latest album is even better than its predecessor. So much so that Mike marks it out as the first of his ‘best albums of 2015’, one which offers greater rewards with each successive play.

Goodnight Lenin release their much anticipated full length debut album ‘In the Fullness of Time’. They don’t disappoint as Mike selects it as one of his albums of the year.

40 Watts is the side project of Katie West, one half of Truckstop Honeymoon. On the evidence of ‘After The Show’ she could light up an entire city.

With founding members David Lowery and Johnny Hickman at the helm Cracker release a double-album that captures two diverse musical and political sides of California.

The reissue of Micah P Hinson and The Gospel of Progress by French label Talitres restores the vision of one of the most critically acclaimed albums of 2004.

A feathery air may inform the album’s ambience, but behind it lie deceptively and disarmingly moving literate songs that catch you unawares with the acumen of their images and emotions.