Featured Albums of the Month

Reflective but accessible, thoughtful yet soulful, Anian is an altogether stunning and engrossing album of depth and diversity which touches the listener’s head, heart and soul.

It is tempting to think that Behind The Glass is less of a leap into the unknown and more the natural high point of a set of musicians at the peak of their creative powers. It is their most accomplished work to date, and proof of the vital need for change and experimentation, in music as in life.

The pan-continental beats and musical traditions are there in abundance and the host of new collaborators bring new life to the music. The Source is an energetic and captivating album….just like their live shows.

The assured performances on this album rival those of any professional trad musician, songwriter or tunesmith with far more experience to draw on. Dallahan are a remarkable creative unit that offer something new, distinct and infinitely appealing.

An album that enthrals and entrances the senses, places traditional song under a fascinating new spotlight and confirms Rachel Newton as one of our most original and gifted interpreters of those traditions.

This is a fine follow-up to Ninebarrow’s debut, the songs contain a wealth of detail and richness, showcasing their stunning harmony singing. An intricately woven display of light and shade which is sure to become a firm favourite of every folk music fan, and deservedly so.

Sam Carter’s third solo album ‘How the City Sings’ presents a perfectly balanced blend of soft acoustics, upbeat rhythms and fiery rock. A wonderfully engaging release that showcases the wide spectrum of his craft.

Fuel is a thoroughly delightful album, and a perfect example of patient and careful growth resulting in a blossoming of creativity. The pace and vitality engage the senses, the vocal performances are captivating and those arrangements, with their wide range of influences, are delightfully detailed but never overdone.

The Silent Majority is an album which firmly establishes the reputations of Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar as one of the best duos on the British folk circuit today and if there’s any justice in this world, it will sell by the wagonload to existing fans and newcomers alike.

Paper Beat Scissors has just recorded a great session for Bob Harris’ Under The Apple Tree sessions. Watch the first song from that performance called ‘Shapes’. He is currently on tour in the UK supporting the release of his new album ‘Go On’, one of our Featured Albums of the Month.

This is a much stronger step forward from Blue Rose Code than might be initially apparent. It’s an album that rewards return visits with new discoveries and one on which his Scottish roots are far more in evidence. Ultimately, it’s all about those songs…his best yet.

The Longing Kind is a milestone record, both in terms of encapsulating Maz O’Connor’s recent personal journey and offering tantalising views of potential new directions on her musical road ahead – recommended to anyone looking for an insight into what makes a great contemporary folk record.