Albums

Honest, stark, intimate and open, listening takes you back to the time when names like Tim Hardin, Bob Lind, Eric Anderson, the young Paul Simon and Walker were singing in the coffee bars to mesmerised audiences.

On their self-titled album, Westward The Light seems to have captured the majesty of the landscape as well as the heritage of the land. Four Scottish musicians provide a glorious glimpse of their talent.

Rather than being defined in by African music, or protest music, Tamikrest is a band that expands those vocabularies. Tamotaït not only enlarges the world we know, it also pushes us closer, illustrating a path to what music can become.

Featuring guests such as Kris Delmhorst, Pieta Brown, Tift Merritt and Kenneth Pattengale, Blood Brothers finds Foucault returning to his earlier folksier realms.

This is Brian Fallon’s third solo album since The Gaslight Anthem went on an indefinite hiatus. While the songs here are slow and reflective, Local Honey hits the sweet spot.

Taylor Ashton, lead vocalist/banjoist with the acclaimed Canadian indie-folk outfit, Fish & Bird, makes his solo debut with The Romantic. Outstanding songwriting and an unforgettable voice imbued with emotional weight.

With its electro textures, Basia Bulat’s latest offering is probably her poppiest release to date. Are you in love? She asks. You will be – with this album.

On Waterbound, those all-important qualities of spontaneity and togetherness come across brilliantly, and in spades. Also, Alden Patterson & Dashwood have lavished just as much love and care on the package for this live album as they did on its predecessors.

This is an album that owes everything to the interconnectedness of things and is well aware of that fact… It is elemental and challenging music, but such is the skill of Apneseth and his band it feels beautifully simple.

Huam has something of the magic of an untrodden path about it. It rewards deep listening…light and quick, profound and full of care, it is an album of serenely balanced opposites. Also watch their new video for Mountain Of Gold.

To mark his 30th anniversary, Brooks Williams revisits his back catalogue to re-record some of his favourite songs along with an impressive array of guests including John McCusker, Christine Collister, Aaron Catlow and Jim Henry.

This brand new offering from the intensely versatile Swan-Dyer partnership is the product of their latest obsession – contra dance music. Don’t be sidetracked by its primarily dance-based rationale, but treat it as a pure – and purely enjoyable – listening experience.