Albums

As Maartin Allcock said his final farewells from the stage at Cropredy in 2018, we all knew his musical legacy would continue to entertain and astound for years to come. Now, Talking Elephant have helped that process along by re-releasing OX15.

John Jenkins’ ‘If You Can’t Forgive, You Can’t Love’ is a summery hook-laden indie-pop free-flying balloon ride that makes you want to push the replay button and listen to the whole album all over again.

Monsieur Doumani, the much-acclaimed Cyprus-based trio, return with Pissourin, an enthralling and entertaining fourth album on which the intriguing traditional sounds of the Eastern Mediterranean merge with the contemporary.

One of the most intriguing albums to come out this year, the nine tracks of Wet and Unlucky leave us wanting far more from Tiger Saw and The Reasons Why. Who’d have ever thought that sadcore and country would merge so successfully?

“On Our Way”, the latest release from I See Hawks in L.A., is a spectacular offering that occupies a timeless space where ideas and influences jostle freely, unrestrained by fashion or fortune, contributing together a potent message for the moment.

Inspired by Andrew Wasylyk’s morning walks in a Dundee park, the music of “Balgay Hill: Morning in Magnolia” offers a deep sense of place, filling spaces of the mind and awakening the senses; it adds textures and tangency to discovering all the things you never notice during a busy day.

In keeping with the theme of subconscious exploration, Karima Walker’s ‘Waking the Dreaming Body’ provides a beautifully hypnotic experience. Content in the duality of her music and not afraid to experiment, with this album, Walker has created her best work to date.

From its attention-grabbing opener, Dag Tenere’s “Iswat” is an entrancing EP. Despite the hypnotic raw guitars and steady rhythms coming to the fore, it also feels deeply layered and sophisticated. Short but excellent.

Marisa Anderson & William Tyler deliver a diverse and shifting set of songs, using repetition, space, peace and alarm. Lost Futures is a finely composed and beautifully performed album from these two highly creative players.

Tré Burt’s You, Yeah, You is characterised by an honest and compassionate set of tales, rich with stories of humanity, its beauty and faults, of Burt’s American homeland; a philosopher in jeans and a persuasive new presence on the American folk scene.

When James McMurtry released his debut back in 1989, he was hailed as a blazing new talent with the ability to capture a wealth of meaning and emotion in just a few words. Thirty-two years later, he’s burning brighter and fiercer than ever.

Life and the Land is a magnificent debut. Ben Walker and Kirsty Merryn have set the bar high by delivering a masterclass in how to successfully place old jewels in new settings.