Albums

Featuring songs from her debut album, Kim Carnie opened the sold-out evening at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall, followed by Duncan Chisholm’s premiere of his new album Black Cuillin. Supported by a cast of top-notch musicians, it was a hugely entertaining evening.

With ‘All Of This Is Chance’, Lisa O’Neill lets her own creative wings spread, unleashing every ounce of elation, despair and love that her music emanates. An epic canyon of sense and sound… a timeless piece of work, wholly unbound by style or genre, a universal shot of medicinal magic.

Through ‘In The Quiet Of The Waiting’, Elly Lucas delivers a small jewel. From a 150-year-old hymn, transformed into a secular rallying cry, and a cover of The Moth by the criminally underrated Anne Lister, the EP has an understated sparkle and a deceptive emotional depth.

Kim Edgar’s ‘Consequences’ features collaborations with the likes of Louis Abbott, Rachel Sermanni, James Grant, Boo Hewerdine, and Horse McDonald. It was initially released as a song a month but is now gathered together in this superbly ambitious album to be launched at Celtic Connections.

Graham Mackenzie and the six musicians he has assembled for ‘The Dawning’ have not only successfully fused the styles and techniques of the folk tradition with the structures of jazz, they’ve also created music that delights and intrigues in equal measure but, above all, is hugely enjoyable.

Complete Mountain Almanac may well be the boldest, most daring album to come out all year. Its unique blending of sounds and structures makes it required listening for anybody that appreciates everything that music can be and do.

On Sex & Dying, Marin Patenaude gets right into the nitty-gritty essence of human existence…don’t shy away, rather revel in its luxuriant sonics, acknowledge its poetry and, as you listen – just as she has – maybe ponder what it is to be human.

More experimental in character and challenging in places than his last album, Bile Bear’s “Cage Mates” is a sure sign of creative progression from a musician who remains intriguing and quite singular. 

With ‘How Can I Say This?’, an all-woman-supported project with contributions from over 40 artists, Annie Capps finds a way to speak about the hard things in her life in the most eloquent and moving way. 

Meg Baird’s ‘Furling’ is unlike anything she has done before. Impressively, she and Charlie Saufley recorded every instrument and the intimacy of their musical connection is plain to see. Baird has mastered the balancing act between maturity and eclecticism perfectly, and the results are spellbinding.

The celebrations for John McCusker’s 30th Anniversary as a professional musician culminated in an unforgettable gathering of musical friends at Celtic Connections including Michael McGoldrick, Ian Carr, Eddi Reader, Julie Fowlis, Karine Polwart, Kris Drever, Roddy Woomble and more.

Celtic Connections experienced an electrifying performance from Abi Sampa & Rushil – Orchestral Qawwali left the crowd cheering wildly, giving one of the longest-standing ovations I’ve ever witnessed.