Albums


Cycle is without doubt, an album stuffed full of formidable singing and excellent musicianship. But more than this, it is an album that has something to say about today’s world and is aware of its place in history. Lady Maisery are unafraid to challenge preconceptions about folk music but are aware of its cultural significance and its historical imperative. This album proves that they are worthy custodians and spirited agitators.

Water of Tyne is the first CD release from Magnetic North East CIC, a community interest company promoting the music, arts, culture and heritage of the North East of England. Brought together by Kathryn Tickell the album includes guest appearances from the likes of The Unthanks, Hannah Rickard, Bob Fox and Mike Tickell. A truly lovely collection.

Ashes is the debut album from Stockholm-based Albert Af Ekenstam citing Bon Iver, Mogwai and Explosions In The Sky as influences shaping his quiet, melancholic music.

With reinvention can come reinvigoration, and so it seems with the Montreal-based ‘art-folk’ artist, Emily Millard on her new and wondrous album ‘By Heron & By Season’.

The collaboration between Colorama and Plu has clearly been fruitful and it’s to be hoped that there’s more to come from the quartet. Bendith offers a beguiling mix of sounds and styles, effortlessly crossing musical borders to produce something as fresh and breezy as a warm summer’s day.

With the current divisions tearing America apart, the Dive-By Truckers latest offering, American Band, isn’t just a bloody good album, it’s a bloody important one too.

Lead Me To The Water is Todd Carter’s second album and while not an immediate hook, the more you listen to it, the more it makes you want to drink deep.

In Widdershins, Highland airs, jigs, and reels are treated to a Nordic twist and the rebellious tendencies of both players are given free rein to delightful effect. It is an astounding album that deserves wide exposure, and a work for which Sarah-Jane Summers and Juhani Silvola should be resoundingly praised. Rarely is music such an overwhelming joy.

Daoirí described True Born Irishman as a continuation of his first album but the choice of songs, the intricacies, and energy of the arrangements, the quality of the recording all go to make it so much more…a force to be reckoned with on the Irish music scene.

Zachary Lucky demonstrates that he has no need to mess with winning and timeless formula on this his fourth album – a collection of (mainly) road songs, but also an explicitly Canadian album.

A rich and eclectic mix of styles and accomplished musicianship, with fine harmonies and song-writing of a high standard. The energy and skill that radiates from the album will surely translate into a superb live show.

The Lucky Strikes may come from Southend but their music is firmly rooted in the Southern Americana as they demonstrate on their fifth album The Motion and the Moving On.