Albums

A 50th Anniversary reissue of a classic – For an imperfect perfect glimpse into the past, and for its paradoxical timeless quality, succumb to the spirit of love, either, like me, again, or for many of you, for the first time. Excellent – and pass me that joss stick.

Heath Cullen’s ‘Springtime In The Heart’ finally gets a full physical release after its digital release last year. It may be springtime in the heart, but Cullen is a master music maker for all its seasons.

Suitably autumnal in musical textures to match the tenor of the lyrics, it may be a few months early but it marks the calendar of the heart with a quiet sense of grace in resignation.

Quarterman’s ‘Carondelet’ album is disarmingly simple and beguiling in its songs of bruised hearts and battered hopes…listen once and you’ll be wanting to listen again almost immediately afterwards.

“We’ve got stars above our head and stars beneath our feet”, sings Meyer on the final track of the self-titled Oka Venga, a fine summation of this stellar album.

Inspired by Patrick MacGill’s novel The Rat-Pit, Gráinne Brady’s “Newcomer” is an engaging listen from the outset. While the album as a whole tells the story of Norah Jones, there’s an equal pleasure to be gained listening to each individual strand that makes up that rich tapestry.

Raised in the Midwest and now based in Nashville, this is Claire Kelly’s second full-length release – “I confess I’d not heard of her before, but on the evidence here I certainly look forward to hearing a lot more.”

The whole philosophy that less is more comes to fruition on Renée Reed. Using the most rudimentary of equipment she is able to spin songs of pure gold. Renée Reed has found a most magical place. We are lucky that she has allowed us to come along for the ride.

Despite being conceived during a period of personal upheaval, Brigitte DeMeyer’s ‘Seeker’ glows with a redemptive spirit and sense of optimism for the life ahead. It marks a new chapter in her musical journey, and on this evidence, it’s going to be quite a page-turner.

Fans of the West African style of guitar playing cannot fail to be delighted by the selection from the archive of Shem Tupe, one of the giants of the genre known as Omutibo who, sadly, passed away recently.

Sunny War seems to have lived more in her short life than most people live in a lifetime, those experiences colour her new album, Simple Syrup. She is, quite frankly, a woman of exceptional depth. A remarkable album.

Bill Mackay and Nathan Bowles ‘Keys’ was an album we were excited about and it delivers at every turn. An engaging album with a glorious set of instrumentals and sang numbers. Plus new video ‘Dowsing’.