Albums

Jimmy Rankin’s latest offering, Moving East, is infused with a local Cape Breton flavour and is tinged with both joy and sadness, but it most definitely makes you want to put out the welcome mat.

On Songs of Love and Horror Will Oldham’s enigmatic aliases hand back control for an unadorned set of tenderly sung, troubled songs that tap the darkness as only Oldham can.

‘Anthems to the Wind’ is a strong and irresistible album that finds Merry Hell on top form – at that brilliant moment in a band’s evolution where everyone’s on the same wavelength and the ideas are just tumbling out.

Afro Celt Sound System are a band that continue to seek out and explore new musical adventures, with utterly captivating results and Flight is an enthralling, wide-ranging album that brings new rewards with every listen.

Thickets create fascinatingly original music, and Four Last Words is a real tonic providing a welcome contrast to much of the anodyne outpourings to be heard on mainstream media – intelligent, beguiling, haunting…seek it out.

Ciaran O’Kane’s Round and Round is a hugely impressive piece of work and a fine debut that deserves to take its place alongside the likes of Lankum and Lisa O’Neill as some of the finest Irish traditional albums released of late.

Matt Molloy, the paragon of Irish traditional flute playing, makes his first solo album in 22 years. Back To The Island is everything lovers of Molloy’s playing could wish for and more.

Canadian acoustic guitarist Les Finnigan returns with Counterpoint Conundrum, a calming 36 minutes of utterly gorgeous contemporary acoustic guitar music to soothe a fevered brow.

Award-winning songwriter Joseph Hammill celebrates the spirit of Teesside with his new EP Infant Hercules. These songs drip with a passion and deep pride in the area and the lyrics have a poetic beauty.

Recorded in what many believe to be the glory days of analogue, ‘Stereo Death Breakdown’ remains a fantastic piece of rootsy audio pleasure. A good-time, feel-good snapshot of a fertile period in music history.

Narthen are a foursome comprising Barry Coope, Lester Simpson, Jo Freya and Fi Fraser. A scintillating teaming of four seasoned and highly talented performers – a lively, eclectic CD from a vibrant quartet; a memorable and life-affirming set.

The Building Light is the debut album from Em Marshall, one that radiates a simple beauty and intensity. It will be interesting to see in what direction, Em’s writing will develop in the years ahead.