Albums

Ernest Bergez transforms Sourdure into the four-piece Sourdurent with the release of L’herbe de détourne – a bold and deeply rewarding venture.

There is something inherently uplifting about Sam Sweeney’s fiddle playing – it soothes, replenishes, and heartens the soul. Add in Campbell’s electric guitar, and ‘Shapes’ proves a stunning listening experience – fiddle and electric guitar have rarely sounded so breath-taking.

A brave melting pot of genres, Cirrus offers deep meditative epics and breezy folk under one roof. Angus McOg is determined to forge their own path, and it’s a pleasant journey to accompany them on.

Withered Hand’s ‘How To Love’ is a remarkable album of human endurance that finds its thrills in the simple pleasures of life and living it as best you can. Dan Willson’s comeback is a thing of triumph and feel-good wonder.

From carefully observed vignettes to widescreen sonic explorations, Scott William Urquhart & Constant Follower’s ‘Even Days Dissolve’ is an immensely rewarding, sensual listen, ripe with understated strength. 

Another fine offering from Bongo Joe Records – Amazigh Freedom Rock 1973-1983, is a significant release, bringing the joyous and vibrant fusion of Les Abranis’ “rockabyle”, to a wider audience.

An acoustic reincarnation of Scott Matthews’ 2020 album New Skin, Restless Lullabies is a whole different listening experience, more intimate, but, note for note, every bit its equal.

Reflections On The Glass Age, an acoustic reworking of Dan Whitehouse’s acclaimed 2022 album, is a completely different listening experience, one to be embraced in calm and solitude and a glowing illustration of his versatility as a musician to bend songs to different purposes.

Released today on the excellent Catalan Record Label Microscopi is ‘Substrat’, the new album by Guillem Ballaz. A work based on old Catalan square tambourine songs -largely unpublished- and one of Catalonia’s greatest unknown cultural riches.

Formed in a damp rehearsal room with no windows, using pre-loved instruments…, Niall Summerton’s ‘What Am I Made Of?’ emerges like a survival manual for those facing struggles or stigmas. It’s a winning debut album, full of tender stories and real-life truths.

With Before I Knew What Had Begun I Had Already Lost, Jon Wilks proves once again what a stand-out talent he really is. At its soul is the love of song, of collaborating with friends, and of discovering old tunes and creating new ones.

While Early Works may not be an indication of where Samantha Whates’ next album might be at, the time she devoted to its creation during lockdown was an undeniably sweet diversion.