Albums

These two well-travelled veterans of the folk music scene have still got a great deal to say and can still say it with style. That they have chosen to say it together, for this album at least, is something we should all be grateful for.

Lady Maisery’s live performance banishes thoughts of the cold and a sore throat for our reviewer Thomas as he declares: Lady Maisery have proved themselves one of the most invigorating and talented live acts around. They are a rare tonic in these troubled times.

Doghouse Roses return with their third album featuring a number of guest musicians including Jez Hellard and Laura-Beth Salter of The Shee. One that’s well worth the wait and is quite simply, their best work yet.

Hard to believe, but it’s twenty years since Gillian Welch released her groundbreaking debut album, Revival. To mark the occasions, she’s been through the archives and, along with musical partner David Rawlings, has put together Boots No 1: The Official Revival Bootleg, a double disc 21 track collection of demos, outtakes, alternate takes and other previously unreleased tracks.

Whilst you can play spot the musical namecheck if you have to, you’d be far better off to stop such swithering and just turn up the volume, and appreciate one of the finest musicians to have come out of Glasgow in the past decade.

Featuring 12 brand new songs produced by Thomas Bartlett featuring self-penned and songs written by friends and relatives: Beth Orton, Glen Hansard, Rufus Wainwright, Michael Ondaatje and Merrill Garbus of tune-yArDs.

I can only say that I loved this album, and probably will for as long I can imagine. You can find virtuoso playing, imaginative composition, wonderful arranging and a sense of ‘I’m taking this music where I want it to go, without forgetting the roots of its being.’ What more could you ever want?

Emily Smith’s Songs For Christmas finds its strength not only in the flawless vocal performances and the engaging arrangements, but in the messages it conveys, and the delight that’s discovered in them.

The Fretless offer up a worthy challenge to their previous award winning albums with top class musicianship and cross-genre compositions. A unique voice that is both rich, fresh and diverse.

All the sponsors of this project can be well pleased with the body of music they have enabled, music capable both of entertaining us and of reminding us of rights, privileges and liberties that we may often have taken for granted. Given the political upheavals of the last few months, the timing could hardly have been bettered.

The Slow Show return with their follow-up to last year’s debut album, White Water. Of Dream Darling, frontman Rob Goodwin says they’ve drawn even more on their classical influences this time around.

Like fellow Western Swing revivalists, Hotclub of Cowtown, the trio have a real affection and affinity for the music they play and, while it may, to some extent, be a niche market, acts like this ensure it’s a very vibrant one.