Albums

Recorded during their debut tour of America, each song recorded live in a different bookshop, from New Jersey to New York, Colorado to New Mexico, Jay Alm finds his book reading list growing.

Having listened to ‘Draft’ by duo Hairetis Harper, I know I have missed things: subtleties, hints, conversations. And I shall return, many times. For the listener and for the musicians, this is exploring, extemporising, excellent.

Forty Elephant Gang launch their album ‘Next Time Round’ with such a strong opener that it grabs you by the collar and simply won’t let go. An audacious beginning.

Dense without being heavy, intelligent without being esoteric, this is elegant, nuanced music that has been finely crafted and richly woven. Unsung is a quite remarkable album.

While Sam Moss’ ‘Shapes’ sounds like a gentle, mellow record at first, it unfolds into an emotional avalanche, cleverly packaged into rhymes that roll off the tongue, an elaborately fingerpicked guitar, and vulnerable voice.

Every note that Mason Lindahl plays on here counts and can be heard; there is a quiet strength and boldness to the music that makes it so effective. Kissing Rosy in the Rain is fantastic – Lindahl has explored the limitations and boundaries of instrumental guitar music and created something fresh and vital.

A more uplifting and optimistic album than Modern Hinterland’s predecessor, a call to not waste life…to escape your metaphorical personal diving bell and breathe in the air. Accept the gift with open arms.

The Beacon finds Harbottle & Jonas performing as a trio alongside Annie Baylis – it does indeed provide a light which should attract great interest and garner serious attention – one of the finest folk trios in the country.

‘whence, the’ is the latest offering from Thirty Pounds of Bone – Experimental but equally delicate and intimate, folk with a cosmic sheen and a human heart, from whence it stems.

Featuring an impressive guest list, Karen Matheson’s ‘Still Time’ is a beautiful album. Mature melodies and heartfelt poetry beautifully sung, it doesn’t get much better than this.

Sun June’s ‘Somewhere’ is a charmer, deceptively slight, each listen uncovering a nuance of sound or sense unnoticed previously. Capable both of bringing thoughts to life or extinguishing them completely.

Luke Jackson is incontrovertibly one of the greatest performers and songwriters to which this country has given birth and Of This Time speaks not just to the ‘here and now’ but to the ‘eternal and the universal’.