Albums

Widdershins is a potent work in response to a moment in time, when, whether it’s clockwise or anti, there seems to be, as Dylan put it, no direction home that is a road rather than a minefield.

Between Wind & Water is a joyous smorgasbord of Nordic Celtic traditional music that fairly warms the cockles and lifts the spirits. The essence of world-class fiddle music has not only been captured, but distilled into 12 potent shots.

Diverse, innovative with plenty of surprises, Extralife is an engrossing album and a fulfilling listen that feels like it was truly made for the sake of music. For the devout fan of indie folk, Darlingside has found an engrossing niche.

Even if you believe you know what the word ‘personal’ implies, James Patrick Gavin has produced an exceptional album that is sure to make you think again…”For those that have gone and those that are yet to come… …This is a love letter to my family and Ireland.”

The Ballad of Shirley Collins soundtrack is a great springboard to find out more. It is also an anthology, or a miscellany, that whilst having a foot back in time – sixty years ago and even before that – it also has a foot in the present.

Here’s A Health is an album with many attractive aspects and several assets: A good choice of song, an appealing underlying humour and the production really brings out the strengths of their clear voices and close harmonies.

The new Low Anthem album requires you take the time to fully listen and absorb, but like immersion in brine baths, the results have an unexpectedly relaxing and calming effect.

Way Out I’ll Wander, the latest offering from Hannah Read, is a fine achievement: listening to each of its songs is like watching the snow settle in an exquisitely crafted snow globe, revealing an image of pristine clarity.        

While the Matthews Southern Comfort band and the sound have, like the bourbon, mellowed warmly with age, the kick is still there on their latest offering ‘Like A Radio’.

Songs for Somewhere Else is another worthy addition to the British branch of the Parsons legacy library curated by the likes of Teenage Fan Club, The Goat Roper Band and Lewis & Leigh.

While Oslo-based Norwegian trio Darling West have been making wider ripples with some high profile tour support, this new album sees them turn those ripples into waves.

For the follow-up to 2015’s Into The Sea and his debut for At The Helm, Dean Owens took himself off to Nashville to enlist the services of go-to producer Nielson Hubbard. Southern Wind is an album that fully deserves to take Dean Owens’ career to a higher level.