Artist of the Month

Afterglow is a full, large scale and grand piece of work that is as intelligent as it is entertaining, and it confirms Jon Boden as one of the most interesting and exciting British singers and arrangers currently working.

Every new Martin Simpson album is one to look forward to, but Trails and Tribulations feels like a biggie, even by the Sheffield string-master’s standards. We listened in as he explained the light and shade running through the set, the importance of nature and the timing of the songs.

Martin Simpson’s ‘Trails and Tribulations’ is a classy, elegant and very confident set that doffs its cap to some top-drawer contributions from some of the country’s very best musician’s and that also benefits from an engineer and producer in mean form.

We catch up with Richard Thompson to discuss his new record Acoustic Classics II, the longevity of a decent piece of writing and the protective nature of fans over material.

On Richard Thompson’s Acoustic Classics II, songs from many years, albums and moods, hang together and work alongside one another. It not only displays the journey of the singer but, importantly, flows more coherently than a straight forward ‘best of’ set. One to treasure.

We talk to our Artist of the Month ‘Eiks’ about her new album Braids…”As I go about my normal daily life, I seem to have a subconscious radar that looks for inspiration, however small and embryonic they are, and I note them down.”

Braids is an album of memory and homage, tooled and re-tooled like a worn keepsake, and Japanese-British singer-songwriter Eiks is an inventive creator who relishes nostalgia and excels in the preservation of life’s tiniest moments.

Adrian McNally, multi-instrumentalist, arranger and producer with The Unthanks, discusses their new album, The Songs and Poems of Molly Drake, the fourth instalment in their inspired, unconventional Diversions series.

Regardless of any societal constraints Molly Drake may have felt in her life, regardless of her unwillingness to publish her own material, she was a consummately gifted songwriter. And in The Unthanks, those songs have found their perfect outlet.

We talk to Lisa Knapp about her latest album Till April Is Dead – A Garland Of May and talk in-depth about the rituals celebrated in May and why it has always held such power over the imaginations of singers and writers.

Unlike Lisa Knapp’s previous releases, Till April Is Dead: A Garland Of May is an entirely different beast, not only because of the unity of its concept but because it seeks to understand old songs and traditions in modern and often highly original ways. It is a real step forward from a genuinely groundbreaking artist.

We talk to George Nigel Hoyle (Cunning Folk) about his fascination with the ritual English landscape and his vast musical influences from Anne Briggs to Brian Eno. He also shares his fascination with ritual…”they signpost where we are & where we have come from.”

Ritual Land, Uncommon Ground is a quietly huge endeavour, a labour of love, full of valuable knowledge, surprising stylistic breadth and exquisite songwriting.

Éilís Kennedy, our Artist of the Month, discusses her new album ‘Westward,’ a collection of traditional and contemporary songs that display the kind of elegance and grace that can only come from Ireland, especially when the songs feature a voice as pure and soothing as hers.

Éilís Kennedy’s new solo album ‘Westward’ features the finest songs from all over the British Isles and from across the Atlantic. The connections Éilís enjoys with her collaborators have helped her share those songs in a memorable and truly enjoyable setting. An exceptional album from one of Ireland’s finest voices.

Big Machine is an album of unrestrained ambition and masterful execution from a performer at the very top of her game. It has all the hallmarks of a vastly important release, and should cement Eliza Carthy’s place as one of our most valuable musicians.

Lady Maisery’s live performance banishes thoughts of the cold and a sore throat for our reviewer Thomas as he declares: Lady Maisery have proved themselves one of the most invigorating and talented live acts around. They are a rare tonic in these troubled times.

In a special guest post from Hazel Askew of Lady Maisery (our Artists of the Month), she reveals their new video for ‘Order and Chaos’ and talks about the inspiration and the fascinating science behind the song.