Featured Albums of the Month

On ‘The Space Between’ Jamie Smith’s Mabon, our Artist of the Month, create and play music that, rather than attempt to faithfully reflect the closely related cultures around the Celtic Fringe, breaks free of the perceived boundaries and re-unites the ancient Western European musical forms.

German based band Fleadh spread their wings with a UK release. With distinctive songs that echo the approach of Irish contemporary song writers and arrangements that provide a more solid link to the Irish tradition, it’s easy to see why they enjoy such popularity in Germany. The same is sure to follow in the UK.

Vesevo are a new musical trio that take the bucolic sounds of the region around Naples, blend them with world beats and modern arrangements to create some utterly enthralling new music that beats with a primal heart.

With ‘Polonia’, Katy Carr has created a record which is epic in every sense; its scope is immense and the themes covered within its apparently simple concept are as deep as they are wide-ranging. It’s a rare treat to come across a record which is so consistently entertaining as it is informative.

With her new album Kate Rubsy takes her own, beloved, Christmas traditions; adds some of that unique Rusby magic and provides her audience with a large helping of genuinely warm, heartfelt Christmas cheer.

Two Wolves is a superb album, one of the year’s best, with each of its songs brimming with nuance and depth. Although covering some deeply personal subjects, Marry’s skills as a singer, lyricist and, above all, a story-teller bring a very human touch, enabling the songs to maintain their focus and intensity without overwhelming the listener.

On ‘North’ Blazin’ Fiddles manage to combine everything there is to enjoy in Scottish fiddle music. Most of all, though, there’s that infectious, enlivening and irresistible euphoria that comes about from a passion for the music and a longing to share it.

He packed in his job, bought a banjo and headed from Norway to Ireland with his trusty Vespa. For Kyrre Slind life feels like one big adventure, it was a great pleasure to share in some of them with this interview. His latest album ‘Open Airs’ is out now!

What impresses most about ‘Woven’ is Sarah’s skill as an arranger; an interpreter of song, story and music. In taking these snatches and fragments of traditional song, adding her own intricate and fascinating musical themes and merging them into a narrative on the fleeting but complex nature of human existence, she has created an utterly compelling tapestry.

The Lost Boys is an assured and polished debut album which showcases a wide range of Sam’s undoubted talents as a singer/songwriter gifted with a musical maturity beyond his years. It more than justifies his growing reputation as a performer and deserves to bring him and his band to the attention of a much bigger audience.

With songwriting like this it is hard to believe that it has taken Osborne so long to begin committing her own material to tape. We can only hope she doesn’t stop there.

On Open Airs Kyrre Slind exhibits a gift for composition, a proficiency as an instrumentalist and a capacity for translating the joy he finds in nature into music. All woven together in a treasure trove of musical delights.