Albums

On “Saul Williams meets Carlos Niño & Friends at TreePeople”, the music and poetry exist symbiotically, growing out of the same physical and political landscape. Williams has a gift of kindling revolutionary thought through a sense of responsibility, to the land and to each other. It’s a message the world needs to hear, and on this beautiful, angry and groundbreaking live album, he gets that message across with unrivalled eloquence.

Taking its name from a street in Birmingham that a teenage Jon Wilks would busk, Needless Alley is described as a patchwork of memories and marks a more autobiographical approach to his writing after previous trad folk-inclined material. These songs from his mental attic are definitely worth exploring, and, as a guitarist, he fully deserves his place alongside names such as Jansch, Carthy, and Simpson.

Good Times is the latest offering from Alexei Shishkin. “…pop culture, poetics, psychology and philosophy are rolled into a surreal, lumpy ball and garnished with a palatable – and memorable – indie-pop melody.” Despite Shishkin’s lo-fi beginnings and his continuing willingness to drink from the well of slacker aesthetics, Good Times is a bold and – dare we say it – polished artistic statement.

“I Will Swim to You: A Tribute to Jason Molina” celebrates one of the most enduring and impactful songwriters of the last thirty years with twelve loving covers. Artists like MJ Lenderman, Horse Jumper of Love, and Hand Habits explore the raw, unvarnished truth of Molina’s music, reflecting on an artist who never shied away from desperation and who found a strange beauty in the struggle of modern life.

Gwenifer Raymond’s third album, Last Night I Heard the Dog Star Bark, fuses folk horror with the cosmic. From the complex guitar prowess of “Jack Parsons Blues” to the eerie sounds of “Banjo Players of Aleph One,” Raymond’s new work is a natural progression of her sound that raises the instrumental acoustic guitar album to new heights and delivers something new. It’s another banger from this excellent guitarist.

Here are ten new albums to dive into. From the psychedelic desert folk of Foot Ox and the soulful Americana of The Fishermen Three to the timeless duets of Tamar Korn and Kyle Morgan, this list offers a range of sounds. Explore the genre-bending jazz of Shrunken Elvis, the cosmic collaboration between Ivan The Tolerable & Hawksmoor, and the experimental folk-pop of Greg Jamie.

James Yorkston, Nina Persson, and Johanna Söderberg form the perfect trio on “Songs for Nina and Johanna,” creating a masterful blend of melancholy and some unexpected emotional uplift. They seem to have invigorated his work while he, in turn, has provided them with some of his most lyrically poignant songs.

Jens Kuross’s Crooked Songs is by far his warmest and most intimate-sounding yet. It plays out with the sound of Jens moving around in his kitchen; the teaspoon clinks against the cup; the floor creaks. It is the sound of life and a perfect way to end such a raw, bold set of songs that are quietly profound and powerful in their unvarnished delivery. This album is something special.

Eve Adams’s fourth album, American Dust, is a stunning folk noir soundscape that transports listeners to the sun-baked American Southwest, exploring themes of love, family history, solitude, resilience, and the enduring spirit of the American Dream.

Sarah-Jane Summers and Juhani Silvola’s “How to Raise the Wind” presents a collection of beautifully crafted chamber folk music inspired by Scottish and Norwegian folklore. The acclaimed duo blends intricate violin with dynamic guitar, supported by a talented guest quintet. Each track offers a unique listening experience, from high-energy compositions to serene, atmospheric soundscapes. The result is a rich and diverse musical journey that achieves true beauty and depth.

Ron Sexsmith’s 18th studio album, “Hangover Terrace,” is a raw and honest collection that explores themes of friendship, self-examination, and the passage of time. Despite its “wounded” core, the album radiates warmth and optimism through tracks like the tender “House Of Love” and the rocking “Camelot Towers.” The album showcases Sexsmith’s enduring talent and ability to please audiences with his sincerity and soul.

On Junior Brother’s third album, The End, Ronan Kealy displays real genius in the way he links ancient themes, such as the album’s underlying central motif of fairy forts, to our contemporary plight. “we can do nothing other than hang on his every word, words that slip from calm to fervid to agonised. It’s a journey we are willing to take again and again.”