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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.

With ‘Making Waves,’ Luke Daniels bridges the gap between traditional music and its contemporary descendants (ft. John Doyle, Mike McGoldrick and Aidan O’Rourke) and emerges with his reputation as an instrumentalist, a composer and an innovator considerably enhanced. An outstanding album.

Copenhagen fulfils the promise of Benjamin Folke Thomas’s live shows and his two earlier albums. It also represents a bold step forward as a song writer and an important progression as a studio artist. It is, without a doubt, his best album yet.

Neil McSweeney’s latest offering ‘A Coat Worth Wearing’ is reminiscent of the romantic poets Wordsworth or Shelley, but like Blake, he has a darker side, a rebellious streak and a decisive need to push for positive change. It is a rare songwriter that can combine these elements over the course of an album or even a career. McSweeney often manages to do it in the space of a single song.

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.

Chris Foster has the uncanny ability to make everything he does appear easy, assembling or arranging songs like an artisan builds a drystone wall. And like drystone walls, Hadelin is sure to stand the test of time. The album features Jim Moray, Jackie Oates, John Kirkpatrick, Jim Causley & more.

Robin Morton’s admiration for the Battlefield Band in all its many incarnations has driven the assembly of this collection; snapshots of 40 years of musical development that so effectively chart the band’s evolution. The Producer’s Choice is a superbly fitting celebration of it.

Flood & Burn is Sean Taylor’s eighth album in just over ten years, and he continues to get better and better. It is a highly accomplished and well-rounded addition to what is already a hugely impressive body of work, and Taylor has quietly become one of our most valuable and unique songwriters.

So Much To Defend wears its heart on its sleeve. Wood’s delivery is unhurried and deliberate, his lyrics are unashamedly earnest, and his concerns are moral and humane. He has created a wise, soulful set of songs that should see him consolidate his place at the top table of British songwriters.

Geoff Lakeman steps into the limelight at 69 to release his debut solo album. Featuring a host of special guests including the Lakeman brothers, Cara Dillon, Kathryn Roberts and nearby neighbour Nic Jones.

On ‘A Burdensome Year,’ Benjamin William Pike’s songs offer instant musical and lyrical appeal. The positive messages that shine through on the album offer a strong sense of hope, and a belief in the therapeutic power of creative expression.

On An Dà Là, Mànran excel at distilling the energy and excitement of their live shows into studio sets that not only mirror the experience but also make room for intricate musical virtuosity that provides the very finest detail. That detail, in turn, provides the album’s lyrical and vocal content with a platform that supports enthralling performances…one to be proud of.

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.

Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith return with their second album, Night Hours. Backed by the members of folk trio Teyr, it is an album that is exhilaratingly diverse and full of impeccably crafted and beautifully realised songs.

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.

Emily Smith’s Songs For Christmas finds its strength not only in the flawless vocal performances and the engaging arrangements, but in the messages it conveys, and the delight that’s discovered in them.

The Seven Suns is replete with the wisdom wrought in a time when humanity existed in tune with nature, rather than in dominion over it. There are legends, ideas and timeless rituals to explore – from the venerable grandeur of stone monuments to the intricate, spellbinding symmetry of a snowflake…above all, though, there is enthralling music.

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.