Albums

It is the combination of attention to detail in every aspect, plus a great idea and considerable skill from a reliably exciting pair of musicians, that results in 365 being an excellent piece of work from the ground up that gently bewitches the listener with subtlety and pathos and lasts in the mind well after the final note has rung out.

Old-school string bands have been seeing something of a revival in recent years, and The Tillers, as demonstrated on their latest album, are certainly up front leading the charge.

Sometimes Just the Sky is the latest offering from Mary Chapin Carpenter, our Artist of the Month. The album is a beautifully conceived and considered set that provides a rich and generous window into the career of this great veteran singer songwriter.

Chamfer is a mini-masterpiece that rewards multiple listens. A labour-of-love release from this brilliant young artist, one who is happy to plough his own depths, both physical and mental.

Musically jovial but lyrically dark, this is solid old-school bluegrass filtered through a punk sensibility, more Pogues than Krauss, fuelled with an energy that suggests they also tear the roof off live.

In these days of polished pop-stars, celebrity couples and the pressure to curate your life on social media to photoshopped perfection, it’s refreshing to find an artist as honest as Kenneth J Nash.

2016 sure deals with some heavy themes, both personal and universal – from a musical perspective, however, this fine roots-rock album is a joyous thing indeed, packed with surging melodies, aching balladry, bona fide anthems and top-notch performances by all involved. 

Edgeland is Kim Richey’s eighth album that finds her working with producer Brad Jones and a bunch of seasoned studio hands that include Dan Dugmore, Pat McLaughlin, Chuck Prophet and Robyn Hitchcock. This has Grammy written all over it.

Sing And They’ll Sing Your Song offers a broad showcase of releases on the Megaphone label over twenty years including Karen Dalton, Michael head and the Strands and Blind Blake, the singer who influenced the first million-selling album by a single artist, Harry Belafonte.

This was as good as live music gets.  Analogies with the likes of CSN&Y, The Byrds, The Traveling Wilburys, The Jayhawks, et al. are/will be inevitable, but don’t be fooled, tonight we witnessed original, euphoric, exhilarating British Americana music of the highest standard, played with unbridled enjoyment by musicians so obviously empathetic to each other.

Avi Jacob’s new EP “Surrender” feels like a breakthrough release, with astute songwriting, inspired vocals and subtle arrangements he stands out from the pack. It packs a punch and shows an artist with unlimited potential. With a full album in the works, Jacob is someone to keep an eye on.

This is Marina’s third album, a gathering together of reworkings of past singles and previously unavailable material that again serves to make you thankful she finally got round to committing her music to disc.