Albums

The Black Doorway betrays Coll’s true talent – The man’s a poet. His life is presently filled with muses and champions. The former inspires, the latter releases.

On ‘Hand Me Down’, Kate Rusby highlights how precious all music can be and delivers a truly individual set of covers that complements the originals beautifully.

The equivalent of being gifted all those Dylan and Springsteen songs hitherto locked away unknown and unheard in the vaults. We’re looking forward to Vol 2 and 3.

Portraits is a high end set of beautifully performed and written songs that will delight on many levels. A great introduction to Ben Bedford’s music and one to also satisfy fans.

The possibly often over-looked genre of ‘Tulsa sound’ warrants a fresh listen, and there would be no better place to start than this album – Back To Paradise.

The album cover of ‘Total Freedom’ has Kathleen Edwards facing out full-on, an image that embodies the music and the emotions within, a triumphant return to music.

While this project may have arisen out of a period of writer’s block, Swift’s interpretations and musical finesse shine brightly throughout this impressive cover album.

These songs deserve a far wider platform, give them a listen, earn him some money, spread the word and give a little love.

John Prine’s decision to sign Arlo McKinley was fully justified. This is a terrific album of confession, expiation and catharsis that deserves to be up there with the year’s best.

For the uninitiated, Waves makes a great introduction to singer, songwriter, force of nature – Tommy Alexander. There’s plenty to chew on and it’s all pretty tasty.

Peradam is the final release in a triptych of albums from Soundwalk Collective with Patti Smith that evoke and explore the sainted spaces of thought and creativity – intriguing; absorbing; excellent.

Consistently musically infectious and emotionally weightier than it seems at first hearing, in their name change Golden Shoals have most definitely raised their bar.