Albums

Joined by Yann Le Bozac and Sylvain Quéré, True North is probably Calum Stewart’s finest album yet, throughout which he delivers a most delightful and varied paean of praise to the north of Scotland.

On Dreamer Awake, Rachel Sermanni delivers surprising, touching and hopeful moments alongside darkly delicate, atmospheric folk songs and spellbinding experimentalism. Ultimately, it is the sound of a spectacularly gifted songwriter growing personally and artistically in the face of pain and difficulty.

With her 2021 debut, Pohorylle, Margo Cilker set herself a high benchmark, but with ‘Valley of Heart’s Delight’, she’s cleared that with ease and guaranteed another set of Album of the Year votes.

Those ballrooms of romance are long gone, but as long as people like Ultan Conlon keep making music like this fabulous album, their souls, spirits, and the old songs will continue to live on.

For those less familiar with John Fahey’s later catalogue, Proofs and Refutations is a great starting point, juxtaposing elegant acoustic picking, crazed vocals in places and distorted guitar. For the rest of you, just enjoy this wonderfully rich and idiosyncratic set.

Having become mainstays of the folk, roots and acoustic scene, Gilmore & Roberts’ ‘Documenting Snapshots’ is a magnificent, mercurial album that will cement and further enhance their reputation as purveyors of the finest-quality music.

Talking about “Carrying”, Sally Anne Morgan says: “So much of what we accumulate and carry around with us burdens us, but we also can’t or don’t know how to let go.” Through her music, she leaves you feeling that, in a world full of perils, love can surely overcome all.

Unfolding at its own pace, Spirit Fest finds the mystical core of their music on Bear in Town. Not a moment is truly rushed, unfolding precisely, forging musical connections that touch the soul of what makes us human.

Hollow is one of The Handsome Family’s more musically complex albums, exploring new sonic textures, yet still reassuringly sounding familiar, it marks a welcome return and an interesting suggestion as to where the road ahead might lead them.

Were it not for their accents, you would have thought Wayward Jane were raised in Appalachia. On ‘The Flood’, their music glows with authenticity in sound and spirit as it traverses different genres while never losing sight of their own roots.

Letle Telt, the debut album of Glasgow-based folk singer Lainey Dempsey is magic! A humble and honest endeavour, shot through with truth and integrity, great singing and writing. Her ability to communicate the messages and essence of her songs and stories is a true gift.

On Galargan, The Gentle Good’s wisdom of Welsh folksong and histories is both reverential and contemporary. Combined with his sensitive arrangements and deep, rich, haunting vocals, it is a beautifully accomplished and irresistibly engaging album.