Albums

Drawn To The Light signals ALAW’s triumphant re-emergence from lockdown. And its strong, vital sense of togetherness is but one of the myriad of qualities that make it such an exceptional album.

The Pine Hearts expand their musical horizons and refine their newgrass sound on Lost Love Songs on which thoughtful lyrics touch on emotions to which we can all relate…well worth discovering and giving a  home.

On ‘Solo’, Sam Sweeney could be playing just for you. Add in the beautiful acoustic echoes of St Martin’s Church and you are left with a truly immersive and compelling listening encounter. Solo is a thrilling, timeless and thoroughly evocative listen.

With, After the City, Bird In The Belly have created a concept album that provides a kind of musical prequel to Richard Jefferies visionary novel. Eloquent, lovingly detailed and touched with a welcome dash of experimentalism, they have made it accessible, gripping and mythical.

A stunning return by Amy Boone, who exudes assurance and bruised sensuality alongside evocative lyrics from Willy Vlautin and a consummately crafted soundscape. The Sea Drift is an intoxicating piece of work from The Delines.

Featuring a number of special guests including Eliza Carthy and Angharad Jenkins, Just For The Record is a stunning debut from Glen Peters, an album with a genuine and enriching heart. Just don’t make this your last, Peter.

Dublin-based singer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Inni-K turns her attention to the rich heritage of Irish traditional sean-nós singing on Iníon, an album of tremendous understatement, power and beauty.

Recorded over two years, Dean Owens’ “Sinner’s Shrine” finally emerges out of the sand and desert nights with its heart beating and warmth radiating from its musical core,  go and make your pilgrimage.

Beguilingly sung, melodic, warm, tender, open and insightful in its vortex of emotions, Kate Ellis’ ‘Spirals’ is an early contender for the year’s best-of lists.

Warm, relaxed, bittersweet, sad and joyful in equal measure, recorded two years before 2020’s Notes From Vinegar Hill, Herman Dune’s ‘Santa Cruz Gold’ stands as an often thematic companion piece, and its first-time physical release is a very welcome addition to the library.

There was a definite buzz around RURA’s Celtic Connections appearance and their collaborative EP launch gig featuring an extended band and guests: Duncan Chisholm, Julie Fowlis, Hannah Rarity, Ross Ainslie and Michael McGoldrick. It couldn’t have been better.

It’s as if Sam Weber didn’t so much construct Get Free as deconstruct it. In the process, he has made it an almost perfect collection of folk music that seems to play against all the rules. Which is what makes it an album worth hearing.