Albums

Whilst their music belies their age, Mortal Tides are clearly destined to do great things. Light In / Light Out sets them firmly on that path, in what is sure to be one of the most notable debut albums of the year.

‘Rain falls when God spills his cup. We’re down here forever cleaning it up’ – For Picott, it’s how you hold the mop that is the measure of your life.

Tim O’Brien’s latest offering ‘Pompadour’ offers a new approach from the bluegrass maestro – with a greater emphasis on electric guitar and mandolin expect a few surprises.

With Everything Sacred Yorkston, Thorne and Khan have created an album that bristles with inventiveness and skill, one that is more than the sum of its already impressive parts.

Unfussy, simple and heartfelt, it’s one of those albums that curls up in your lap when you need a little comfort and leaves you ready to face the day anew.

Yet We Sing is the delightful result of a detailed and organic process of writing, planning, arranging and recording that spanned 3/4 of the last year with Cara finding a new level maturity as a creative unit. They deserve to hold their heads high among the extensive family of tradition-based writers and performers.

Jess’s music can be deceptive in that it definitely also has hidden depths, accentuated here by the thoughtful and carefully configured instrumental backings. Like its predecessors Shine is a really delicious record, which cannot fail to please.

Peterborough, Ontario artist Jos. (Joseph) Fortin’s sumptuous second album of ‘Cinematic Folk Music,’ Fairweather Walker provides the listener with a luxuriant, calming aural experience.

Songs of Separation is a superlative and essential record, from its initial concept through to the final result; it’s a huge accomplishment by anybody’s standards and all involved have every right to feel justifiably proud of their achievement.

On ‘The Space Between’ Jamie Smith’s Mabon, our Artist of the Month, create and play music that, rather than attempt to faithfully reflect the closely related cultures around the Celtic Fringe, breaks free of the perceived boundaries and re-unites the ancient Western European musical forms.

The Unthanks ‘Archive Treasures’ is described by Adrian McNally as a shelf-clearing selection of snapshots and missing jigsaw pieces providing head space for the next ten years. Here’s hoping they continue with their archiving.

Shadow Songs is an intimate collection of bewitching songs from Southern Ontario artist Creature Speak whose oft-otherworldly vocals are at the fore, providing comfort within the framework of some quite dreamy contemporary folk songs.