Albums

As an instrument sounding a clarion call for self-awareness and awakening in a divisive world, Gilkyson is finely tuned and Secularia a career-defining musical apotheosis.

While the songs are described as brutal in emotional suggestion, it’s Faraone’s disarming confessional tones and the overall, cumulative lo-fi and often shimmering folk beauty that draws you in and keeps you in its arms.

Turas 1980 is to be heartily welcomed, and not just as the only available, live recording of a band at the first peak of their development. It’s a recording of a concert that transports you there, it’s as close as you’ll get to having been there on the night.

The Words in Between was Evan’s first album, released on Ian A Anderson’s Village Thing label, an album that is as good today as it was over forty years ago – still exquisite and unique, so make a space on the shelf alongside Jansch, Renbourn and Graham for Evans.

One of the year’s finest releases, both a brilliant introduction to Reg Meuross’ work for newcomers and a superb collection of reworkings for long-standing admirers.

Like the Fens landscape that helped inspire it, one needs to spend time with this album, soaking up the music’s myriad of subtleties and the understated patterns of rhythm, sound and language – mesmeric and haunting.

With Pretty Warnings, Lucy Ward has surpassed all previous recordings to release a sublime, mesmerising and exquisite album. A gorgeous, atmospheric offering of the highest calibre.

In 2010, Dick received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC’s annual folk awards and whilst we may never see or hear Dick Gaughan perform live again, due to his ill health, this compilation CD is ample evidence, if evidence were needed, of what a terrific artist he is.

30 years out from their groundbreaking 1988 album, “The Trinity Sessions,” the Cowboy Junkies continue to evolve, with clever arrangements and new stories to tell. All That Reckoning is their most overtly political album to date, cementing their status as a great band.

Effortlessly enjoyable, the silver thread of “Llinyn Arian” is one which binds us to its mother-daughter creators. Strewn throughout this album are themes of journeys and resolutions born from joy, love, collaboration, and community.

You Never Were Much of a Dancer is an absorbing, original and varied debut that demonstrates the skill and consideration this talented musician possesses.

An exceptional album from Sophie Cooper & Ben Nash (recorded back in 2009 and released on Sheffield’s Blackest Rainbow Records) made available digitally for the first time.