Albums

It’s not enough just to have faith in yourself, you have to have talent too. Like We’re Talking is an album of subtle beauty and proves Betsy Phillips has plenty of both.

For all its range and variation, for all the subtle and beautiful musical flourishes and lingering sonic effects, The Victorians is essentially a call to arms. Harp & a Monkey have made a stunning album that pleads the case for folk song as a working-class mode of expression.

Band Together cuts across Americana genres but maintains a cohesive sound and identity with melodies and choruses designed to fire up any crowd – a terrific album.

What makes this collection most remarkable is her ability to share the details of her life in a way that makes us all a little stronger, and a hopefully a little more understanding.

The occasional almost wilful unpredictability of Provincials’ music, much in spite of its consistencies of conviction and execution, is but one of its many attractions, tellingly complementing Seb and Polly’s unique combined creative forces.

The unique and utterly fascinating elemental power of Lewis born Iain Morrison’s music has never had a more emotive outlet than SÀL. He has surpassed even his own high standards in a work of unparalleled potency.

Old Salt’s energy and virtuosity hit you like a ton of bricks. If you’d told me I was listening to contemporaries of the Del McCoury band, rather than a bunch of talented youths from the town of Ghent, I would have believed it.

Again and again, Chadwick Stokes and The Pintos take the musical landscape and find ways to stand it on its head. Spanning centuries in a single disc, Stokes proves that making serious music doesn’t always need to be treated so seriously. Amen.

With a flawless track record to date, Harbour City Concerts bring only the absolute cream of roots talent to Nanaimo, BC… and it really doesn’t get any creamier than the dazzling Lonesome Ace Stringband.

Come On Up To The House: Women Sing Waits features some great highlights from the likes of Iris DeMent, Courtney Marie Andrews and Rosanne Cash who doesn’t just knock it out of the park, but the entire state.

So summing up, the long and the short of this review is a hearty, unqualified recommendation for this impeccably packaged disc – a seriously uplifting set from Andy Irvine and his chums. Bravo and encore!

Utah trio 3hattrio dip into the well for this live album which celebrates the 100th anniversary of Zion National Park, culminating in a haunting paean to the power of the landscape and a terrific culmination of a remarkable live experience.