Albums

“Lionheart” stands tall on its own, but it’s also part of the movement of female country artists who are trying to reclaim traditional country music from the clutches of the establishment dominated “bro- country” sound. This album is a step in the right direction.

Lucia Comnes opens Held In The Arms with a hearty welcome, closes it with a warm embrace and all the way through delivers assured, beautifully crafted, American folk. Although there are songs here that have emerged from shadow, it’s still a journey into the light – and that light is a warm, welcoming glow.

Probably not something you’d fish out to put you in the party mood, but as a soundtrack to a good wallow in self-hatred, post-millennial despair and emotional squalor, this is down in the gutter with the best.

Widdershins is a potent work in response to a moment in time, when, whether it’s clockwise or anti, there seems to be, as Dylan put it, no direction home that is a road rather than a minefield.

Between Wind & Water is a joyous smorgasbord of Nordic Celtic traditional music that fairly warms the cockles and lifts the spirits. The essence of world-class fiddle music has not only been captured, but distilled into 12 potent shots.

Diverse, innovative with plenty of surprises, Extralife is an engrossing album and a fulfilling listen that feels like it was truly made for the sake of music. For the devout fan of indie folk, Darlingside has found an engrossing niche.

Even if you believe you know what the word ‘personal’ implies, James Patrick Gavin has produced an exceptional album that is sure to make you think again…”For those that have gone and those that are yet to come… …This is a love letter to my family and Ireland.”

The Ballad of Shirley Collins soundtrack is a great springboard to find out more. It is also an anthology, or a miscellany, that whilst having a foot back in time – sixty years ago and even before that – it also has a foot in the present.

Here’s A Health is an album with many attractive aspects and several assets: A good choice of song, an appealing underlying humour and the production really brings out the strengths of their clear voices and close harmonies.

The new Low Anthem album requires you take the time to fully listen and absorb, but like immersion in brine baths, the results have an unexpectedly relaxing and calming effect.

Way Out I’ll Wander, the latest offering from Hannah Read, is a fine achievement: listening to each of its songs is like watching the snow settle in an exquisitely crafted snow globe, revealing an image of pristine clarity.        

While the Matthews Southern Comfort band and the sound have, like the bourbon, mellowed warmly with age, the kick is still there on their latest offering ‘Like A Radio’.