Albums

The latest release from Spiers & Boden titled ‘The Works’ is a worthy & timely celebration of this great English Folk duo. Followers will know the songs and tunes from their signature Rochdale Coconut Dance to the anthemic Prickle-Eye Bush. With the inclusion of some of best musicians out there you can only expect a great album, they deliver in style!

With one foot in Bristol and the other in Japan, UK folk artist Rachael Dadd isn’t one to settle in any place for too long, and her latest release Bite the Mountain certainly reflects this love of people and travel. Released on Broken Sound Records this third LP from the songstress comprises a rich tapestry of songs composed in various locations across Japan. “Making my album in Japan was important”, …

Fellside Records are to release a double CD of A L Lloyd’s Bramble Briars and Beams of the Sun. This is a landmark release for anyone with an interest in British Folk Music as they were never released in the UK!

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.