Albums

Maintaining the tradition of wrapping their lives into the process of getting their art out into the marketplace, Jacken Elswyth’s end product is a wholly credible, hypnotic and fascinating piece of work. Time to dig out your old tape player perhaps?

Like last year’s Folk Fever album, Variations is a reminder of just how flexible music can be in the hands of an artist who sees genre boundaries as a challenge rather than confinement.

Accompanied by The Celtic Blues Orchestra Rhiannon Giddens delivered an exceptional performance at Celtic Connections, receiving no less than three standing ovations. An unforgettable evening.

We catch master Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser premièring his latest collaborative odyssey at Celtic Connections featuring, cellist Natalie Haas, fiddler sister Brittany, Québécois guitarist, accordionist and singer Yann Falquet, and phenomenal US stepdancer Nic Gareiss.

The Unthanks’ latest venture, Lines, is a trilogy of three discrete song cycles inspired by poetry, linked by their focus on female perspectives across time. Guests include Sam Lee and Tim Dalling. Through their expressive performing style, commitment and vision a deeper undercurrent is revealed.

Exeter duo Sounds of the Sirens return to seal their reputation with an ambitious, musically diverse third album of which Mike Davies declares “We may still be in January, but this is unquestionably an album of the year.”

As two fiddle players work their way through a traditional air in the downstairs bar of Cecil Sharp House, former Bellowhead frontman Jon Boden (solo) prepares to take the stage in the main hall for an epic set of post-apocalyptic prog-folk.

With Playing for Luck, Ranagri have reached a sweet patch, four musicians showing a cohesion and confidence that seems to have imbued them with a sense of adventure.

It is no overstatement to say that Contradicshun is a masterpiece of shared creativity, the fullest flowering of a partnership that has been nurtured for fifteen years. It is Megson’s most complete album and their best to date.

At the National Piping Centre on Saturday, Cormac took to the stage surrounded by around 8 or 9 concertinas, and it was clear that each one was going to have a fascinating story to tell… all delivered with seemingly boundless energy, infectious passion and astounding skill.

James Patrick Gavin’s ‘Chewing The Fat’ is a beautiful, imaginative album that anyone with a love of contemporary folk music should have in their collection; it was a joy to witness that music brought to the stage in such an accomplished manner.

On Icarus Girl, Siobhan McCrudden offers a fine set of songs and an assuredness to her delivery. Keep an eye on her journey, this singer songwriter has real potential.