Albums

After a six-year hiatus, Kirsty Almeida returns with Moonbird, a gorgeous album with first-class song writing, immersed in a warm suffusion of light and positivity. Breathe deep.

More than simply a Kingdom In My Mind, The Wood Brothers seem to have established their own kingdom where carefully crafting great material leads to albums that stand the test of time.

Odd West is an album that charms listeners rather than bludgeoning them into submission. New leaves of sound open themselves up to listeners upon repeated playing. The subtlety of McMahon’s music details a master class from an artist who revels in his craft.

Fierce Flowers have not just embraced Americana, they have grabbed it by the lapels and plunged it into their own pot-boiler blend of Parisian and European flavours. They are an ensemble whose music is an absolute delectation to discover. Bon appetit!

We catch Judy Collins on her latest UK tour to promote her new album, Winter Songs, a collaboration with Jonas Fjeld and Chatham County Line. Throughout the evening she shares songs and anecdotes and proves she still has what it takes to be a top-class performer.

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.

Robb Johnson’s Eurotopia demonstrates why he’s one of our best songwriters in a collection of reflections on his travels around Europe – the people in these places and their stories.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.