Albums

Deceptively philosophical and sneaking shafts of light between the curtains of darkness, Josh Fortenbery’s debut album ‘No Such Thing As Forever’, promises him a bright future.

On ËNDLËSS, Adelaide-based 6-piece Sons of Zöku concoct an upbeat, heady blend of psychedelic rock that blends in sing-along chants and a limb-stretching mass of influences including Eastern music, folk, jazz and soul—made for carefree, long summer days.

On Qasr, the defiance and courage of Sheherazaad translates into some of the most wondrous and exhilarating music I’ve ever heard. There isn’t another album like it; it’s transformational, and everyone should own a copy.

While quietly understated, the vital messages found in the songs of Maddie Morris on ‘Skin’ are no less potent. It’s a remarkable full-length debut album that should consolidate her position as a rising star in the folk firmament.

On ‘The Closest Thing to Silence’, Ariel Kalma, Jeremiah Chiu and Marta Sofia Honer fearlessly connect, creating a remarkably coherent album that offers exciting new narratives.

If you’ve not seen Serious Sam Barrett play live, ‘A Drop of the Morning Dew’ will most certainly persuade you that you should as you hear him win over his audience at the Bacca Pipes Folk Club, where this album was recorded.

Montreal fiddler Alexis Chartrand has joined forces with multi-instrumentalist Cédric Dind-Lavoie for their new album Au Chemin 4. If you are a fan of The Gloaming and Martin Hayes’ The Common Ground Ensemble, I’m sure you’ll love this.

Steve Gunn & David Moore’s “Live in London” was recorded at Cafe Oto during their 2023 spring tour of ‘Let the Moon be a Planet’…using pieces that appeared on that album, they have created five new compositions from a place of joy and camaraderie.

Mawja, the latest album from the Sahrawi songwriter, musician and activist Aziza Brahim, finds her expanding her musical influences…it’s a compelling listen and truly representative of music without frontiers.

As part of their 85th anniversary, Topic Records reissue Martin Carthy’s self-titled debut solo album on vinyl – an iconic, almost peerless release, read why this album is as essential a listen now as it was in 1965.

On Ark Angel II, Alex Homan’s experimental freeform guitar flourishes guide the listener on a meandering walk…warbling tapes, glitchy sounds and occasional cacophonous outbursts all serve to remind you that it’s sometimes necessary to get intentionally lost in order to truly appreciate freedom.

Itasca’s Imitation of War is a record that sounds both rooted in history yet alive and breathing as it responds and feels a way through the present-day traumas that engulf us. It is an album overflowing in wonderous moments.