Albums

Sean Taylor announces more dates in February and March next year including Danny Thompson’s 75th Birthday celebrations. Their recent pairing at London’s Half Moon makes this unmissable.

For me to even consider reviewing a Christmas album it has to be good! Micah P. Hinson Family’s ‘Wishing for a Christmas Miracle’ has all the makings of a classic which will be on my turntable every year!

Wonderfully evocative Hirta Songs is Robin Robertson’s poetic collaboration with Alasdair Roberts’ musical settings exploring the human story and dramatic geography of St.Kilda.

If you haven’t heard of Kristofer Åström this is your chance for a proper introduction. With his new album ‘An Introduction To’ Kristofer looks back at 15 years of northern blues.

Whilst Christian Kjellvander latest album ‘The Pitcher’ feels lost in the boundless and timeless American West it also rediscovers the remoter and more traditional soul of his native Sweden.

Emiliana Torrini’s latest album Tookah makes a big impression on Helen with its recurring lyrical themes of change and moving on that are also reflected in the music through dynamic tension and a sense of restlessness.

Bears Den distilled all their fine song writing, accomplished musicianship and splendid vocals into a great performance at King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow, the audience were with them all the way!

Having been to the first leg of the recording of this new UFQ Live II CD, it feels great to reconnect with this supremely talented foursome, a band that lives up to its promises.

Good music should lock your feet and jaw to the floor…Those particular objectives were achieved by Luke Sital-Singh in spectacular style at London’s Tabernacle. If you get the chance to see him, you know what to do.

Haiku Salut’s debut album Tricolore can’t be taken at face value, there are depths of colour and emotion here to set the imagination wandering (or wondering) and the spine tingling. This is an absolute gem of an album.

Willy Gantrim has scored up an impressive debut album with Alone and Adrift. A truly honest delta-blues record, loaded with the dusty sounds of the American South West and Gantrim’s Dylan-esque rusty timbre.

Aventine finds Agnes Obel in a darker, more plaintive mood following her 2010 breakthrough but all the signs point to a songwriter going from strength to strength.