Honest, in-depth album reviews by KLOF Mag – championing and curating intelligent, uncompromising voices in contemporary and experimental music since 2004.
Albums
by David Kidman
Fidil’s Decade is a welcome return from the Donegal fiddle trio and an exceptional album stacked high with spellbinding playing. It represents another artistic triumph for the honourable Raelach imprint which is beautifully packaged as well.
by Dave McNally
Iris DeMent and Pieta Brown made for a very welcome addition to the Celtic Connections programme. There was clearly plenty of Iris DeMent fans present among the enthusiastic audience who were treated to an exceptional evening featuring some special guests musicians.
by Mike Davies
Modern Hinterland return with The Longest Part of the Night, delving into the heart of divided modern Britain, fraught with anxiety and uncertainty and look at how this impacts on people’s relationships.
by David Kidman
Fields Of Frost is an artefact of characteristic dark beauty, its bright glistening atmosphere of comfort within joy…ever looking both back and forward, cherishing and nurturing the promise of the coming spring and rejuvenation.
by Mike Davies
Blackbird and Crow’s “Ailm” is a towering work of transcendental emotional power that trembles with both strength and vulnerability, it’s unlikely you’ll hear anything like it this year.
by Thomas Blake
On Navarasa, Yorkston/Thorne/Khan achieve a kind of serenity that is certainly spiritual but is somehow completely secular and entirely inclusive. Its influences are clearly visible, but the way those influences are put together creates a kind of music that is original, exciting and wholly unique.
by Bob Fish
Focusing on the world that exists within our own heartbeats, The Innocence Mission has created a disc that finds truth in the connections binding us to each other. It radiates a sense of love and warmth to help us through moments when those same commodities may be in short supply.
by Mike Davies
Described as lost dispatches from a forgotten America, The Family Songbook brilliantly captures the sibling kinship, vocally and emotionally, conjuring long-gone days when families would gather around the kitchen table to sing their favourite songs. Wonderful.
by Peter Shaw
Seth Lakeman’s “A Pilgrim’s Tale” condenses the story of the Mayflower with purpose and vigour. But it also tantalizes, leaving stories unresolved and details to uncover. It will be a history primer for many and there’s no better place to start your voyage than here.
by David Pratt
What is immediately apparent on The Pine Hearts fourth studio album ‘Back To Sustain’ is the immediacy and vitality of these new recordings which showcases the very best in contemporary American roots music.