Albums

Shortwinger is a distinctive, purposeful and powerful record, and represents a typically well-considered new chapter in the artistic development of its three participants, all on top form and working brilliantly together in sparky and harmonious consort.

On his 11th album, Michael McDermott’s confidence and talent have finally aligned. Both personally and musically, he’s become the person he was always meant to be. His best yet.

With Songs From The Seasons, Joshua Burnell delivers a collection of assured, dynamic takes on a wide range of folk songs. An album full of loving detail and exceptional musicianship, an album of genuine ambition, scope and variety.

The Poozies new album ‘Punch’ is the first to feature new recruits Tia Files and Sarah McFadyen. Like the title, the album possesses an underlying sense of drive and energy, of vim, verve and sheer pizzaz.

This is a sheer pleasure to those who cherish Tuli Kupferberg. It’s a grand salute to a man who, with The Fugs, exorcised The Pentagon in 1968 (and caused it to levitate – true story).

The Magic Numbers return following a four-year hiatus with the release of Outsiders. “You ain’t got that magic anymore”, sings Romeo. Don’t believe a word of it.

Gretchen Peters has reacted to the adoring reception of Blackbirds by writing an even better album in Dancing with the Beast. This is assured, highly impressive work from all involved.

The range of musical genres covered, along with the technical prowess of the playing results in an album that is constantly riveting and fits a lot of beautiful music from six years’ of recording sessions, into thirty-nine minutes, without the suggestion of a seam. Highly recommended.

While certainly being the most challenging of Ryley Walker’s albums so far, with music this heady and contemporary blending to make something so cohesive and exciting, Ryley’s ‘Southside Chicago’ album is also arguably his best yet.

Will Pound’s enormous enthusiasm for traditional dance has enticed the very best into this project. Through The Seasons will open many people’s eyes to the power of traditional English dance music.

Arrow is an album of maturity, self-realisation and integrity. It is the album Ciara O’Neill had to make and without any ulterior motive or compromise. Most of all though, it is so musical! Ciara and her songs carry everything with such conviction, it makes her almost transparent.

“as tiny as the venue and invited audience were, if the significance of the event we’d gathered to witness was mirrored metaphorically, there’d have been thousands of us assembled somewhere like Madison Square Garden.”