Albums

Spencer Cullum’s Coin Collection 2 forms a perfect complement to the dawning of spring, offering a world of endless possibilities. He and his “nice little crowd of weirdos” have created something truly magical.

A shake-up in circumstances in tandem with a fresh wave of focus and inspiration has resulted in the strongest Nick Waterhouse album of his career so far; take my advice and go get yourself lost in the magical world of ‘The Fooler.’

On Onliness, Josienne Clarke re-explores material from her own back pages – those that were overlooked, or simply songs she felt were abandoned. As a result, her music in 2023 is alive and simmering.

After 52 years of making albums, Chip Taylor doesn’t appear to be slowing down. The Cradle Of All Living Things is a generous double album, one that offers comfort and ideally listened to in those quiet twilight moments.

TumbleWeedyWorld is a terrific album on which Lynn Miles continues to consolidate her reputation as one of Canada’s most formidable songwriters.

Emma Tricca is one of our most valuable and interesting songwriters, capable of strange and beautiful sonic flights of fancy and unexpected lyrical turns. Aspirin Sun is her best yet.

Paul Smith and Rachel Unthank gave a captivating performance of their album Nowhere and Everywhere, and for a couple of hours, the world ground to a halt as we were taken on a journey of stories and myths. I only hope they keep telling them.

At the forefront of both tropical and early psychedelic, electronic/synthesised music, with Ecuatoriana, Analog Africa transports the listener to a parallel universe where Polibio Mayorga is confirmed as a legendary icon of Ecuadorian music.

John Ward’s ‘Congress’ album is a solidly crafted collection of songs and poetic narratives based around the real events of Buffalo Bill’s visit to the UK in 1903 and 1904.

Steve Gunn and David Moore’s ‘Let the Moon be a Planet’ feels improvised and free in nature. Still, its natural idiosyncrasies and fine nuances invite and reward deep listening—a quietly rich, contemplative and satisfying experience.

Cinder Well’s ‘Cadence’ is something of a journey. Meandering, non-linear, but full of care and wisdom, it is an astonishingly powerful piece of work that seems to have been conceived in uncertainty but realised with the supreme assurance of one of the most consummate songwriters around.

Yalla Miku is an exhilarating debut that reaches beyond the norm with its vitality and passion. The Geneva-based group have produced an album that is truly ‘Musique Sans Frontières’.