Albums

After a ten year absence Elle Osborne has retuned with a new release ‘So Slowly Slowly Got She Up.’ It is by far one of the most beautiful re-interpretations of traditional folksong I have heard in a long time. The album features a top supporting cast including Alasdair Roberts, Cath and Phil Tyler and Alex Neilson of Trembling Bells. It’s our Album of the Year so far: Soul stirring, Magnificent …

Reg Meuross’s latest release: ‘The Dreamed and the Drowned’ a selection of unreleased songs reinforces my view of him still further. He ranks amongst the best folk singer/songwriters of our time. The man is an exceptional teller of tales, a true voice of the people!

The BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award Winner Megan Henwood has released her aptly named debut album ‘Making Waves’. An offering of allusive self-penned songs whose musical arrangements mirror an emotional journey of strength, strife, hope, love and despair. She demonstrates a mature view of contemporary society unafraid to question socal issues and motives. A spectacular debut!

While the pace of ‘The Harrow and the Harvest’ may be ponderous and patient, it recalls a return to greatness from Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings, this album reads like her debut Revival, like a classic folk album and like the new praise worthy collection of songs it is – three in one.

Nitin Sawhney has released a new album titled Last Days of Meaning. Nitin has managed to rack up a Mercury, Ivor, Mobo and Olivier awards for his past work and Last Days of Meaning, his ninth studio album, is certainly worthy.

Devon Sproule’s latest recording ‘I Love You, Go Easy’ fleshes out the contemplative jazzy folk of this Ontario born and Virginia based musician, and her live performance at Notting Hill’s The Tabernacle, the perfect setting for these crisp, new arrangements and their personable lyricisms and vocals to take shape.

James Findlay’s Fellside Records debut ‘Sport & Play’ lives up to the fine performance that won him the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards, but I do feel we are gaining just a small glimpse of James Findlay’s fine talents. There is no rush, being only 20 he has a bright future ahead of him and will find many fans across the English folk circuit.

The Woodshedders latest release O Dig is a crazy gumbo of musical ingredients that they like to call Indie Roots Americana. Their ability to flip and twist from one genre to a fusion of others is both dizzying and elating. The Woodshedders O Dig is well up our list of recommendations…a must!

There Are Birds in my Garden is the second album release from David Gibb, BBC Young Folk Award nominee (2011). The album features an array of tradtional and self-penned songs which he gives a refreshing contemporary twist to with the aid of his very talented band, The Pony Club.

Tim Schmidt’s latest release ‘YaYa River’ is an uncluttered album, the beauty of which is akin to that of a Haiku. This is an album to escape to and if you come away feeling elated it’s maybe because you’ve allowed your life to slow down for a while…

On first listen to The Carrivick Sisters new album From the Fields you could easily be fooled into assuming they hail from America. They are in fact from South Devon and their music is inspired by the landscape and stories they have experienced in the South West.

Hazmat Modine can never be accused of settling into their sound and getting too comfy…they make it very clear on their latest release, Cicada, that they are still very much about exploring and evolving. The album features collaborations with Natalie Merchant, the Gange Brass Band, Kronos Quartet and the Tuvan throat-singing ensemble Huun Huur Tu.