Thomas Blake

The Magpie Arc’s debut EP is a varied and brilliantly executed set of songs from a truly gifted group of musicians and bodes extremely well for what is to follow.

Martin Green goes well beyond the boundaries of traditional music with The Portal, a multifaceted artwork that is as original as anything that has come out of this strange year.

Wrackline is more than a mere collection of songs, it is a stunning and complete work of art, put together with great care and skill, performed with Hield’s distinctive magic.

McVittie never loses the wide-eyed sense of wonder at the poetry of the natural world. If she set out to reflect that beauty and wonder in music, she has succeeded admirably.

The undeniably beautiful songs of Murder, And The Birds relish the ugly and the odd… Jaycock is a master of carefully managed contradictions, and a true original.

Hold Fast reflects Stick In The Wheel’s acceptance of diverse musical forms and their radical desire to change things for the better. An urgent and quite brilliant album.

The Eight Gates offers a small glimpse of the bare bones, the craft and hard work that lies behind the artistry and heartbreak of Jason Molina.

Monmouth’s Twelve reflects both Fishclaw’s creative freedom and an ever expanding palette from one of the most exciting and original bands currently working within the loose framework of folk music.

Heart’s Ease provides a tantalising glimpse of what may still be to come from Shirley Collins, an album even better than its predecessor, an album as good as folk music gets.

While this won’t be the only album of reworked material recorded in 2020, the strength of Alasdair Roberts early work means it will certainly be one of the best.

These songs have found a match in Trembling Bells that is perhaps unexpected but nonetheless perfect. If there were any justice, London would cement Askew’s place as one of our most valuable songwriters.

An evocative mixture of psychedelic folk and hauntology – a fertile sound-world of tape loops, spine-tingling vocals and an almost visceral connection to the natural world.