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From the opening track The Owl Service offer a triumph of execution against expectation if ever there was one, and a challenge that sets the bar for the remainder of the disc. Invigorating, bold, uncompromising and honest! If this is their final release then it’s a fitting one.

Our Song of the Day comes from Jim Causley with ‘Home’ from his new album Forgotten Kingdom which is launched this Wednesday 17th Feb at Kings Place. Special guests on the night include Steve Knightley & Phil Beer of Show of Hands.

It penetrates your conscious on the first listen and unfolds as all its glorious fecundity comes flooding to the surface. A folk-pop-ambient-electronica soup of loveliness.

Steeped in the traditions of his beloved Dumnonia, Forgotten Kingdom presents both an ambitiously broad canvas and a tour de force display of Jim Causley’s range and depth. It succeeds as a result of his commitment to his vision and his choice of contributors, confirming his status as one England’s finest folk singers, musicians and composers.

Over the coming months we are featuring a handful of recently-filmed intimate songs from Ewan McLennan. To kick things off, here by popular request is Ewan McLennan’s take on Bob Dylan’s Boots of Spanish Leather.

Miranda Sykes and Rex Preston, two virtuoso musicians, have created a wonderfully balanced album – that rare combination of immediacy and longevity – a class affair from start to finish. Read our review and watch the video premiere for ‘Good Natured Man.’

Old Adam marks the welcome return of Fay Hield to the studio, reaffirming her status as one of Britain’s leading singers across the spectrum of traditional and contemporary folk music. Fay is also our Artist of the Month for February.

Behave the Bravest is an all-encompassing piece of work that draws on Nuala’s significant experience as a writer, performer and collaborator; just as much as it draws on her deeply rooted love of Irish music. It’s set to be her best solo album yet.

With Wolves the Lamb Will Lie balances richly detailed lyrics with accessible arrangements which present M.G. Boulter’s musical vision intact. Anyone looking for instruction in the dark art of writing meaningful and original songs would be well-advised to give this a good, close listen; meanwhile the rest of us will be over here, losing ourselves in Matt’s music.

Our Tune of the Day comes from our Artist of the Month for January: Jamie Smith’s Mabon. Croeso Ioan features on their latest release The Space Between. Watch them performing it live at the studios of Welsh TV show ‘HENO’.

Young five-piece Cornish band Flats and Sharps release their new album King Of My Mind – a Saturday night record, a going out, indulgent, unrestrained binge of an album that frequently delights.

Kelly Oliver has created an album which crosses musical boundaries, full of thought-provoking lyrics and musical arrangements this is sure to attract a wider mainstream audience to her already rapidly growing fan-base.

We catch up with our Artist of the Month, Jamie Smith’s Mabon, who are part-way through a very busy tour schedule. Jamie talks to Neil about the concept and inspirations behind their new album ‘The Space Between’.

Whilst their music belies their age, Mortal Tides are clearly destined to do great things. Light In / Light Out sets them firmly on that path, in what is sure to be one of the most notable debut albums of the year.

Yet We Sing is the delightful result of a detailed and organic process of writing, planning, arranging and recording that spanned 3/4 of the last year with Cara finding a new level maturity as a creative unit. They deserve to hold their heads high among the extensive family of tradition-based writers and performers.

Songs of Separation is a superlative and essential record, from its initial concept through to the final result; it’s a huge accomplishment by anybody’s standards and all involved have every right to feel justifiably proud of their achievement.

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.