Albums

On David Rawlings latest offering, Poor David’s Almanack, there is a sense of playfulness that is as welcome as it is irresistible. An uplifting, gentle and hugely enjoyable record.

Double albums can often be an overindulgence with a surfeit of padding, but, a chance to show two sides to her musical sensibilities, this is well up there with the better ones.

Hoge may not be pushing any thematic or musical envelopes, but you can hear his heart beating in every track of what is a very solid and immensely listenable album.

For Beast Epic, his fourth solo release via Seattle’s Sub-Pop label, Iron & Wine returns to his introspective, confessional style with which he first made his name. It is the quieter more fragile moments that glow the brightest.

In many respects the community choir is the perfect vehicle for social commentary, they are collectivist, everyone working together with a common aim. In this regard, the Commoners Choir are at the top of their game, they excel at entertaining, provoking and engaging.

Binary is an album born in the grey area between defiance and freedom. It is a means to an end which, if you understand DiFranco’s legacy, is far greater than the sum of its parts. For her most dedicated fans, Binary will prove both gratifying and unifying. For newcomers, Ani DiFranco is at home as an enlightened voice in a collective singalong.

Joe Newberry and April Verch clearly had a great time recording ‘Going Home’ together and their enthusiasm for the material springs from the speakers, you just can’t help but be swept along on the tide.

EB=MC² is the new album from British folk legend Michael Chapman and one of Israel’s most successful singer songwriters, Ehud Banai. “A genuine piece of life captured by the flexibility of words and melody.”

Rather than collaborate on self-written material, Moorer and Lynne have come together to share the music that’s been the backdrop to their lives. In sharing with their audience the songs that each has held dear, they bring their music to new levels that an even wider audience can enjoy. Not Dark Yet was well worth the wait.

Deep Time and Narrow Space is a well-crafted and well-balanced release from Molly Evans. She writes to suit the strengths of her beautiful voice perfectly, it is charming and lyrical, and the accompanying instruments add to the pace and depth of each piece. A real delight.

Ladilikan is a bold fusion of the musical traditions from the West courtesy of Kronos Quartet and those of Africa, via Trio Da Kali on which Western tempered scale instruments blend seamlessly with traditional African instruments, creating a wonderful musical hybrid that is engaging, fascinating and irresistible.

With Street Cries, Ashley Hutchings revisits his 2001 album and produces some powerful new lyrics and, with the help of his collaborators (including Steve Knightley, June Tabor, Dick Gaughan, Cara Dillon and the late Vin Garbutt), he creates a collection of powerful and unique performances.