Albums

There’s a sense of subtlety and grace to The Weight Of The Sun that only comes from a band that is confident in their ability to find the power in the music…a psychological camaraderie binds the band together.

Taking the road less travelled doesn’t mask the pain, it just makes the journey more real. For Lesley Barth, the learning process has begun. And that makes all the difference in the world.

Joe Nolan’s already achieved considerable acclaim and following in Canada, Drifters suggests he’s about to step up to an international level.

Reassure Me There’s A Window marks the solo debut of Glenn Thomas of Rhode Island rock outfit Wild Sun. At a time when doors are shut, Thomas has thrown open a window to the world of the heart, and the view is wonderful.

Mainly inspired by songs first heard at the Sailortown Folk Club in Belfast. Matt McGinn declares the EP a firm favourite and the most impressive Joshua Burnside performance yet.

Danny and LG Green have concocted a heady brew that reflects their own journey. Spirit Glow is a salve for the soul, a gentle reassurance that love always seems to find a way. We just need to be open to the music.

At the end of the day, while Isbell’s “Reunions” may have been a troubled journey, as the title implies, these are about coming together rather than moving apart. Embrace it in both arms.

While Andrew Tuttle paints a portrait of his hometown, what emerges is not merely a vision of Alexandra, but a watercolour full of the wonder of that which comes from the hands of an acoustic artist of the highest order.

Will Stewart’s name may not yet be embedded in the wider collective consciousness of Americana, but this is a  welcome reminder of a smouldering talent charting an inexorable path to the recognition and acclaim he deserves.

The core sound of Project SMOK is whistle (or pipes), guitar and bodhrán, and it is one that has already earned them an enviable reputation as a live band, Bayview is ideally suited to spreading that reputation further.

Twenty-one years ago Hefner released one of the finest break-up and make-up albums of its era. To say that Hayman has done it again may be a bit reductive – in no sense at all is this a nostalgia trip, quite the opposite in fact – but nonetheless, this is one of the finest records of a consistently brilliant and varied solo career.

Osborne sings, I’ve got three chords and the truth / I’m going to put them to good use, and in the case of this stunning album no truer words could she have uttered. This album is intimate, true, beautiful, and real – a very, very special record.