Albums

Dear Friend is one of The Bombadils’ more laid-back and wistful albums, a tender and quietly beguiling affirmation of love, friendship and human contact across the years and the miles.

Exploring the dance forms of England and Western Europe, Nat Brookes’ ‘Cormorant’ is an engaging and deeply immersive offering. Brookes has found notes that resonate with the heart and soul, providing an entryway into tunes that serve both the mind and the dancefloor.

Although her words are incredibly poetic and powerful on their own, just as poetry should be read allowed to fully grasp its intent, it’s the immeasurably emotive way that Moriah Bailey delivers her lines on ‘i tried words ‘ that portrays their true meaning.

Fifteen albums in, while gaining new admirers with each release, those who have discovered him along the journey can be assured that this is further proof that Tom Ovans continues to be one of the finest troubadours of his generation.

Fàs is a thoroughly satisfying album that introduces significant new elements to Breabach’s music but also confirms they’ve never lost sight of their roots. It brings them very securely back to home ground, all adding up to a fascinating blend of familiarity and innovation.

Bold Reynold is a well-overdue debut from David Carroll. Trademark excellence and totally splendid musicianship abound…it will surely come to be regarded as a folk-rock classic and a prime example of the very best the sub-genre has to offer.

NAKSHATRA is the debut album from Brooklyn, NY violinist duo Trina Basu & Arun Ramamurthy, a lush and spiritual collaboration that bridges traditions and defies genres.

There is an openness to La Bête Blanche, a delight in music’s power to elucidate complex ideas simply, and with good humour…. Whatever genre they happen to be joyously ransacking, Storm the Palace are masters of the art of communicating.

Juni Habel’s Carvings is a captivating musical and poetic experience, a fearless conception that is thoroughly contemporary while almost traditional in its authenticity of expression and directness of communication. Juni is a voice that needs to be heard.

John McCusker’s ‘The Best Of’ is an ideal introduction to the breadth and depth of one of the very best traditional musicians working today…a rare musician whose fiddle style and overall production sound is both distinctive and alluring.

Here are our favourite Top 100 folk and alternative albums of the last 12 months, as voted for by our core writers.

Trent Freeman, best known as a fiery fiddle player in The Fretless, has released an EP of original fiddle tunes, recorded live on Vancouver Island. The line-up is from the top drawer of Canadian roots talent.