Albums

One of the most wonderfully warped Ceremonial Counties tapes yet: The Clare Voyants explore the mystical and musical elements of John Clare’s life via a collage of free folk, found sounds, traditional melodies and spoken word, while The Universal Veil take inspiration from Horace Harman’s Sketches of the Bucks Countryside and produce something that sits between Wicker Man psychedelia and Ghost Box hauntology (and is arguably more mind-bending than either).

JJJJJerome Ellis is an enviably talented musician who has developed an entirely singular musical identity. Vesper Sparrow, Ellis’ second album, communicates in a way that makes us stop and think about our own modes of expression, emerging with a new understanding of how beauty and truth can be conveyed in unprecedented forms, and how form itself can be manipulated to become art rather than simply structure.

An introspective autopsy of time, Keaton Henson talks us through his new album, Parader, released today. Known for his rare performances and heart-on-sleeve vulnerability, Henson revisits his past, embracing the grunge-infused sounds of his youth. Production, split between Luke Sital-Singh and Alex Farrar, harnesses these heavier sounds. The album, which Henson describes as his “weird ‘me’ version” of his youth’s influences, is an acceptance of all parts of himself.

Ivan Moult takes us through his new album ‘Stood Out In The Storm’, his most deeply personal offering yet – “a musical insight into the mind of a stressed-out family man who has a complete breakdown but then recovers…” Following the warmth and intricate songwriting of Songs From Severn Grove (2023), this new album takes a significant, vulnerable step, charting Moult’s gradual process of healing and recovery.

On her sixth solo album, Unfolding, Jessica Moss dives deep into drone and longform ambient soundscapes. The album is a journey through intense emotional abstraction—from the serendipitous “Washing Machine” to the beautiful, nightmarish “One, Now.” Moss then uses clashing textures to craft an explicitly political work inspired by Palestine before concluding with a stunning, multitracked hymn to hope, a quite stunning way to end an accomplished and highly relevant album.

Damien Jurado’s Private Hospital arrives as a unique book and download package, concluding his “Reggae Film Star” pentalogy. The combination of song lyrics and photo essay (Jurado is an avid collector of ‘found photos’) is abstract but powerful, creating a sense of wistfulness, melancholy or the uncanny. It is a cinematic, poetic collection that starts like a dream but reveals deep emotional resonance upon repeated listens.

Steve Gunn’s “Daylight Daylight” creates songs that are light as air but carry with them the weight of imagination. The music skirts genre, moving from chamber-folk to art-rock and jazz, evoking Nick Drake and John Martyn. Gunn builds compelling atmospheres through layered instrumentation, enveloping strings, and quiet, soulful singing. These songs stretch out, replacing gimmicks with sustained intensity. An engrossing album of dignified beauty.

Tepid Toad Records presents a new double A-side from avant-folk duo Alula Down, featuring Mark Waters’ double bass with Kate Gathercole’s alluring, dreamy vocals. From the haunting, poignant field recordings of “High Germany” to the warm improvisation of “Summer Song,” this atmospheric release arrives on November 14th on digital and limited-edition 7″ lathe-cut vinyl.

Robin Adams’ “The Beggar,” is a superb album. Contrasting in mood with his previous work, the nine songs feature strong songwriting alongside intelligent and often adventurous musicianship. While his fingerpicked acoustic guitar is at the core of each song, subtle strings, bowed cello, and percussion frequently enhance the sound, creating a gorgeous, elegiac atmosphere. It’s lean, creative, and packs exceptional depth, deserving many accolades.

Goblin Band’s A Loaf of Wax is a stirring and often spectacular live recording. The quartet can whip up a frenzied sandstorm of sound and transition to delicate sensitivity with consummate ease. They capture the kinetic energy and shared joy of folk music, a medium that thrives not only on shared space and collaboration, but also on shared feeling and companionship. Goblin Band are the best of all possible companions.

Robyn Hitchcock’s “Invisible Hitchcock (Outtakes and Demos)” gets a re-release on December 15th. Originally from 1986, the collection gathers home recordings and studio outtakes from his fertile 1981-1985 period, which produced albums like I Often Dream of Trains. Hitchcock preferred this “homemade” approach, avoiding the “digital patina” of 1980s pop to capture his best, most intimate performances.

Black Sweat Records releases Mariolina Zitta’s Concert For Bats, Voices and Natural Sounds. This arcane work, born from speleology and sound archaeology, is a “magical ritual” celebrating bats. Using special detectors, Zitta transforms bat calls into an organic synthesiser, fusing them with natural instruments like stalactites and bone whistles, plus harmonic singing. A total sensory experience.