Albums

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.

Here are what, 40 years perhaps, spread out before us. And whilst you can hear changes and movement and development, it never strays – from the core, from the good tune, the excellent finger work.

Root & Branch is a five-piece comprising musicians from both sides of the Atlantic, a band with a hell of a presence. A Breath Against The Calm is sure to figure on Best Albums of Year.

The Last Dance is a pleasing introduction to a pleasing outfit, one that’s found and developed its niche and stuck to it, continuing to satisfy a loyal and appreciative audience with skilled, honest-to-goodness writing and musicianship.

Alula Down hail from the thriving Weirdshire community. Each of the songs on Homespun embrace an enchanting folk poetry for which Kate’s eloquent, crystalline vocal delivery is well suited…every strand of the minimal texture is perfectly audible…It’s magical.

Hallways is just the second EP from the young Ken Pomeroy who has already opened for Wanda Jackson. She has a bright future ahead of her.

Siobhan Miller’s ‘Mercury’ builds on the strength of its two thoroughly impressive predecessors, in an album of outstanding quality that delights with its music, and enthrals with its song.

Hide and Hair by The Trials of Cato is something very special. If there’s a more exciting debut album from a folk band this year, then I haven’t heard it. Their energy, originality and assurance draw a comparison to the Incredible String Band.