Albums

Both haunting and moody, Alex Roberts sixth album, The Daemon & The Eidolon, illustrates why he’s held in such esteem. It also underscores his immersion in the sound of traditional English folk-blues and prime influences of John Renbourn, Bert Jansch and almost certainly John Martyn.

The music on Cold Moon has a deceptively gentle tone that can mask the powerful lyrics and the slowly developing theme of departure. It is also a truly, remarkable album – we can only hope that Diane and Francesconi continue collaborating and make many more like it.

Gren Bartley has recorded an absorbing collection of songs awash with poetic lyrical imagery and stunning harmonies. His decision to work with a contemporary producer should broaden the appeal of an album where the magnificent creatures are the songs.

Esteesee conforms to the exceptionally high standard of presentation of Ange’s previous albums; having already, long ago and from the start, set herself such a benchmark, she simply cannot depart from it. Esteesee will doubtless also prove every bit as addictive as the opium and laudanum on which Coleridge himself dosed.

Ryan Boldt’s ‘Broadside Ballads’ is a love letter to his record collection. Now reissued, this understated and haunting album is – no more, no less – a collection of Boldt’s renditions of some of the traditional North American and British folk songs he holds so dear.

Produced by Dave Stewart, The Lake Poets is the debut release from Sunderland singer/song writer Martin Longstaff, one on which his distinctive voice and capacity for forging a strong lyric from his own experience shines through.

The latest offering from The Men They Couldn’t Hang’s powerhouse songwriting partnership of Paul Simmonds and Phil ‘Swill’ Odgers is certainly a persuasive collection and a salutary reminder of their collective talents.

Winners of the 2014 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards for Best Duo, Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin continue to forge ahead with their third album, Watershed, a moving and very accomplished achievement.

Welsh band Ffynnon’s latest offering ‘Llongau’, while eminently listenable and accessible, is unique enough to single-handedly and significantly raise the profile of Welsh folk music.

Chantal Acda’s latest offering ‘The Sparkle in our Flaws’ is ethereal, full of swirling passions and whispered longings, an intoxicating, calming and beguiling journey through the beauty of our imperfections.

In part one of our live review of this year’s Wickham Festival we highlight performances from Sharon Shannon, Carlos Núñez, De Temps Antan, Gavin Marwick and more.

London folk group ‘Stick in the Wheel’ have combined the influences of skiffle, punk, and folk in their debut album ‘From here’. This is high-energy, politically switched-on folk music and it is one of the most vital recent additions to the English musical tradition.