Albums

Must Take More Care is full of hard truths spoken with a soft voice, and as summer’s glow fades and the nights draw in closer you could certainly do worse than cosying up with this quiet gem over the coming autumn.

Named after a Sheffield landmark, Richard Hawley’s eighth studio album, Hollow Meadows, finds one of Britain’s greatest songwriters in good company, including Martin Simpson, Jarvis Cocker and Nancy Kerr for one of his finest albums yet.

Ryley Walker, the Chicago based singer/songwriter and guitarist, came across a copy of John Hulburt’s 1972 privately pressed LP Opus III in a record store. He bought it and much taken, he teamed up with Tompkins Square to bring about this re-issue.

In their latest release ‘Conflict Tourism, Gilmore and Roberts step over the border, wade through the battles and emerge unbowed… taking us through theatres of conflict that directly and indirectly affect every one of us.

Marian’s artistic vision is painstakingly conceived and the reward for the listener who spends a little time exploring Spirit House is to discover ten intricately glowing miniature worlds, each of which will surely generate an emotional resonance in anyone who’s ever mused on the nature of the human condition.

The sheer ebullient inventiveness of the duo’s musical settings, their committed sense of fun, their consummate, enviable musicality, their serious ability to grab your attention and carry you through the experience – all these qualities are faithfully conveyed in this lovingly crafted exceptional recording.

Stanley Brinks & The Wave Pictures’ latest offering, ‘My Ass’, is a powerfully honest album which, when played back-to-back with Gin, creates an almost perfect soundtrack to the humdrum, everyday existence of many people, to the ups and downs of lives lived to the fullest extent possible and, for that alone it is definitely something to be cherished.

The Scott Wood Band have delivered a stunning first album and it seems only natural that their already successful career is going to flourish yet again. They have set the bar extremely high, not only for any future recordings that they release, but also for other tune orientated folk bands across the UK.

Upon discovering Johanna Warren’s nümün, released earlier this year, it was too good to miss out on, an album that will engulf you as it oscillates between moments of serenity and tumult.

Pearl and the Beard offer up their third and final studio album, Beast. A precious and alluring parting gift, the trendy trio leave behind a feel good album filled with pop grandeur and luscious harmonies.

Between them The Dovetail Trio, an invigorating new grouping of three proven talents: Matt Quinn, Rosie Hood and Jamie Roberts, have managed to work miracles in terms of creating a highly distinctive style and sound on their debut album Wing of Evening.

Light Up the Dark is the latest offering from The Outside Track. Using musics of their native lands of Scotland, Ireland and Cape Breton as cornerstones there really is no dull moment amongst this generously-stocked offering. Another glorious and strong release from this world-class pan-Celtic band.