New album from Youssou N’Dour

KILA - SOISIN           KILA RECORDS KRCD014

Soisín is the ninth studio album from traditional/fusion band Kíla. Portraying a softer side to the band, the album is entirely instrumental and features violin, saw, guitar, mandolin, flute, uilleann pipes, double bass and percussion. The music is slow and restful, sometimes melancholy, making it quite a change for a group better known for their up tempo live performances. Following the release of Luna Park in 2003, Kíla wanted to record a yin and yang of albums. Gamblers’ Ballet released in 2007, which was the yang the dancing music, and this is its matching counterpart, the yin, and the spiritual. Soisín shows both the exceptional musicianship of each of the band members and that Kila are very much connected to the invisible thread that ties generations of Irish musicians together. Soisín is named after, and dedicated to a young Irish woman, Máire ‘Soishin’ O’Halloran, who travelled to Japan to join a Zen Buddhist monastery and in three short years came to be regarded as a Buddhist Bodhisattva or a saint of compassion. She lost her life in a bus accident in Thailand on her way back home. While touring in Japan, Kíla flautist, Colm Ó Snodaigh heard and was inspired by her story. He wrote the tune Soisín, which, in turn became the name for this album of relaxing, soulful and reflective music.

SIGNE TOLLEFSEN         CORAZONG CRZ 255120

Signe Tollefsen’s grew up in Utrecht in the Netherlands as the child of an American father and a Dutch mother. She started to sing at the age of seven and composed her first songs on guitar at fourteen, inspired by artists such as Janis Joplin, Ani DiFranco and Paul Simon. At fifteen, she moved to the UK to finish high school and studied classical singing at the Royal Northern College of Music before going on to study philosophy at the University of Hull, when she started singing her own songs in public. After returning the Netherlands, she took classes at the Amsterdam Conservatory with René van Barneveld and played with former Pavement member Stephen Malkmus in Italy and Germany. She also toured the UK and won the audience prize and the prize for best musician at the Grolsch Grote Prijs van Nederland, Holland’s most prestigious new talent competition for alternative music, in the category singer/songwriter. Her voice has an amazing range and richness and the unique, self-penned songs on this highly promising debut album combine classical, folk and rock music influences to create what has been called ‘Folk Noir’. Fellow musicians here include René van Barneveld, playing beautiful pedal steel guitar on It Smells of You, violinists Joseph King and Jerry Goodman, and producer Erik Spanjers on drums.

THREE SCORE & TEN     TOPIC RECORDS

In 2009, Topic Records celebrates its 70th anniversary, making it the oldest, truly independent record company in the world. Topic’s illustrious history is splendidly celebrated with this sumptuous seven CD set complete with a 108 page book, charting seven decades of recording and social history. The label started as an off-shoot of the Workers Music Association in 1939 and since then has released a unique and important array of recordings: from Paul Robeson, Pete Seeger, Vanessa Redgrave and Ewan McColl, to Nic Jones, Shirley Collins, Dick Gaughan, Martin Carthy, The Watersons, June Tabor, John Tams and Martin Simpson, to the current generation, including the multi award-winning Eliza Carthy. Topic has also been responsible for releasing acclaimed field recordings from around the globe, most significantly in the UK, where the ground-breaking 20 CD ‘Voice of the People’ set received critical and popular acclaim when released the label’s 60th birthday. Curated, researched, written and produced by David Suff, Three Score & Ten - A Voice to the People features 144 tracks covering all aspects of Topic’s recording history, in a large hardback book with a narrative portrait of Topic Records from it’s inception to the present day. The many illustrations are a revelation in themselves, anchoring the whole project with photos of the artists, album sleeves, advertising leaflets, snapshots and memorabilia in full colour. Also included is a complete discography listing every release in those 70 years. Three Score & Ten comprehensively chronicles the story a dynamic, creative and idiosyncratic label that has become synonymous with the rebirth of folk and it’s growth as a musical and social movement in Britain.

BLUE BOY - RON SEXSMITH             COOKING VINYL   COOKCD 214.

The songs of acclaimed Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith have been covered by artists ranging from Rod Stewart to the opera singer Anne Sophie Van Otter. He conjures up more intriguing images and characters on this his latest CD, produced by Steve Earle in Nashville, Tennessee. It feature a rockier, more upbeat sound sound than usual, especially on tracks such as 'Not Too Big', 'Don't Ask Why' and 'Keep It In Mind'. Other outstanding songs include the reggae-influenced 'Never Been Done', the dark 'Parable', a hymn-like ‘Thirsty Love' and the bluesy 'Not Too Big'. Blue Boy has the sort of fine writing and outstanding melodies expected from Ron Sexsmith and its live ambience reveals another side of this much-admired singer.

ENGLAND, HALF ENGLISH - BILLY BRAGG     COOKING VINYL COOKCD 222.

Billy Bragg, as ever, stays true to himself with this fine collection of brave, reflective songs performed by himself and The Blokes (who include Ben Mandelson, Lu Edmonds, Martyn barker, Simon Edwards and the excellent Ian Mclagan on keyboards). The music ranges from gritty folk-protest (NPWA, Take Down the Union Jack), through more upbeat songs (such as the title track, England, Half-English) to introspective and soulful compositions (Some Days I See The Point). The lyrics are full of wit and intelligence, and the performances throughout are assured and powerful. This is a CD that rewards repeated listening.

LOU BROWN - WHAT ARE YOU SINGING ABOUT?

Dorset-based singer-songwriter Lou Brown is making an increasing impact on the national acoustic scene. Having first picked up a guitar at age nine, she has now been playing and creating original material for over 20 years. Her use of multiple capo placings (partial and regular) create unique altered tunings that give her songs an original and quirky quality. This combined with a wonderfully husky yet clear vocal range make her music a force to be reckoned with. In 2003 Lou Brown was awarded the Southwest’s Young Achiever of the Year Award and subsequently won a £5000 grant from the Prince’s Trust to fund her first major album project. ‘What are you singing about?’ features eleven self-crafted songs and the music is a winning fusion of acoustic, folk and pop. Lou Brown sings and plays rhythm guitar, accompanied by Bob Burke (guitar, bass, mandolin, keyboards, vocals, production), Andy Stone (guitar, production), Lee Drayson (bass), Gav Jones (drums, percussion) and Aimee Newsome Stone (harmony vocals). Highlights include the excellent opening track, Morning Light, as well as the beautiful harmonies of A Scenic View, the charming Isn’t She amazing and the album’s catchy title song. Website: www.loubrownmusic.com

CLANNAD - BEGINNINGS           MUSIC CLUB DELUXE MCDLX095

The music of Clannad (Moya, Pól, and Ciarán Brennan and their twin uncles Noel and Padraig Duggan) brings together folk with folk rock, Irish and New Age sounds. The group first made its mark in the Irish traditional folk scene of the 1970s and went on to bridge the gap between Celtic and pop music in the 1980s and 90s with albums such as Macalla and Anam, performing in English as well as Latin, Gàidhlig, Mohican and their native Irish, selling more than 15 million albums. Before signing for RCA and finding success with TV-related projects for Harry’s Game and Robin Of Sherwood, Clannad built up a solid reputation with a series of Irish folk albums, from which the 31 recordings on this mid-price double-CD set are taken. The emphasis is on traditional songs performed in Gaelic and there are six tracks from the album which introduced the world to their young sister and future solo star Enya, namely Mhorag’s Na Horo Gheallaidh, Bruach Na Carraige Báine, Na Buachailli A’lainn, Buaireadh An Phósta, An túll and The Green Fields Of Gaothdobhar. Enya went on to become Ireland’s second biggest musical export (after U2) and has now sold in excess of 70 million albums. This is a fine collection to enjoy while waiting for Clannad to reunite - the original members last played together in public at the 2007 Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow.

TOSS THE FEATHERS                 TESS RECORDS TR0901

Toss the Feathers is a popular traditional Irish folk tune that has usually been played with a tin whistle and fiddle and has existed in several variations, each in a different key. The tune has appeared in over 200 modern compilations, including versions by The Chieftains and The Corrs. It also opens this collection of arrangements of traditional Irish music, together with a few self-composed pieces. The album is the culmination of a long-standing partnership between the violinist Dermot Crehan and the composer/arranger Paul Honey. After working together for many years, performing and producing music for other people, they embarked on this project to create music that is contemporary yet true to the original melodies and the period in which they were created. The result are pieces that move away from the bland sentimentality of so many arrangements of Irish music and instead explore the darker, more melancholic and profound nature of the music. All the pieces are scored for strings, three horns, harp and piano and encompass a broad range of themes from religious persecution to death, from sex to forgiveness and reconciliation. Crehan and Honey are joined by four highly respected exponents of Irish music; the vocalist Mick Sands, accordionist Luke Daniels, flautist Fiona Kelly, and Jean Kelly playing harp. The RTE Concert Orchestra is conducted by Gearoid Grant. The premiere performance of the music at the Church of St Martin In The Fields in 2007 received a standing ovation and the CD was launched there at this year’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Highlights include the title track, Craith Na Cleita (Toss The Feathers), the lovely Tabhair Domh Do Laimh (Give Me Your Hand), The Wild Geese, The Rose In The Heather/The Pipe On The Hob, and the plaintive Death Of Staker Wallace.

JON BODEN - SONGS FROM THE FLOODPLAIN         NAVIGATOR 21

Acclaimed for his work with the traditional Spiers & Boden duo and as founder of the wonderful Bellowhead, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jon Boden has now released his most ambitious album yet. He was born in Chicago in 1977, grew up in Winchester, graduated in Mediaeval Studies from Durham University and since becoming a parent, has since settled in the South Yorkshire dales. He has toured internationally with Bellowhead, who were recently appointed Band in Residence at London’s South Bank Centre, and has composed several theatre scores, including for The Merchant of Venice at the RSC and Hamlet at The Globe. As with his 2006 debut, Painted Lady, Songs From The Floodplain is another return to the singer’s rock roots. It follows in a long tradition of post-apocalyptic literature, from The Last Man by Mary Shelley to The Road by Cormac McCarthy, and although the album doesn’t tell a complete story there are strong thematic links between all the songs. The ambiguous character of ‘The Preacher’ looms large in the darker numbers (Penny For The Preacher, Dancing in the Factory) whilst the character of The Gypsy’s Daughter dominates the middle of the album as a mocking onlooker to an archaic folk custom in Beating the Bounds and then later, as an object of adoration in The Pilgrim’s Way and April Queen. The notion of rain and flood is never far away giving Songs from the Floodplain’s vivid narrative epic proportions. The final track, Has-been Cavalry, brings all the themes together with a defiant hymn-like quality. These brave, tender and poetic songs are enough to give the concept album a good name. Beautifully produced, with a booklet containing the lyrics and many evocative photographs by David Angel.

ELLA EDMONDSON - HOLD YOUR HORSES         MONSOON

This excellent debut album from Ella Edmondson features music that defies categorisation. Guest appearances by leading folk musicians such as fiddle-player and multi instrumentalist John McCusker, Kate Rusby, Andy Cutting and Jim Causley give the album a folky sound but her songs are idiosyncratic and often highly personal. Based on Dartmoor in Devon, Ella Edmondson has been plying her trade around the UK for a few years, honing her performing and song writing skills. Influences come from far and wide and she grew up listening, like many others, to music at home. Her father, comedian Adrian Edmondson, introduced her to heavy metal and punk from an early age, whilst her mother, Jennifer Saunders, preferred country music by people like Emmylou Harris and Dolly Parton. Ella played piano as a child, recording her first song at the age of twelve, and was given a guitar by her father when she was fourteen. After working as a snowboarding instructor in Canada, a barmaid and a painter and decorator, she wisely decided to concentrate on music full time. Her first gig was at the age of 16 and further experiences on the road have included sharing the stage with Martin Carthy and Jaqui McShee’s Pentangle as well as opening for Julie Fowlis, Eliza Carthy and Rachel Unthank. This album of tuneful, intelligent and thoughtful songs shows why she has received such great reviews on the road. Outstanding tracks include the rousing title number, the reflective Sing For You, Breathe (originally recorded for the BBC and featured in ‘Jam and Jerusalem’), the lovely Moonglow, and Hunger, about the anguish of jealousy. Ella Edmondson’s voice is by turns strong, wistful and vulnerable, and she looks as good as she sounds, which won’t do her career any harm. Highly recommended.

DERRIN NAUENDORF - SKIN OF THE EARTH     RUF RECORDS RUF1145

Derrin Nauendorf (pronounced No-en-dorf) is a young Australian singer and guitarist who played in rock and blues bands before going on to explore roots and acoustica in a more sophisticated way. His music is a melting pot of influences that has produced a unique and powerful sound. Nauendorf has performed at a thousand shows in the UK and Europe, gaining a strong following of hardcore supporters, and has become a favourite stage act at festivals in Europe and his native Australia. Brilliant guitar technique, sometimes using creative feedback, is combined with sharp lyrics and distinctively powerful singing. Nauendorf has now signed to Ruf Records and has now released his second album, Skin Of The Earth. Following huge critical acclaim for his debut The Rattling Wheel (whose lyrics were complimented by Cambridge University), Skin Of The Earth looks set to be an even bigger success. The songs are more compex, his voice has more depth and soul, and his repertoire has expanded to include ballads, mid-tempo songs and upbeat numbers. Highlights include the gutsy title track, the soulful Pride Before A Fall, the brilliant Everyone’s got a plan, and a cover of one of Bob Dylan’s finest songs, Most of the Time.

STRAWS IN THE WIND - CARTHY & SWARBRICK           TOPIC TSCD556

This new album reunites two giants of the English folk music scene. After playing fiddle in the Ian Campbell Folk Group, Dave Swarbrick teamed up with Martin Carthy in the 1960s, when the duo had a significant influence in the contemporary folk music scene. Swarbrick went on to even wider fame as a member of the folk-rock group Fairport Convention and later formed Whippersnapper, before leaving in 1989 to concentrate on solo work and revive his partnership with Martin Carthy. After a period of serious ill health he has recently begun touring again with ex-Fairporter Maartin Allcock and Kevin Dempsey as Swarb’s Lazarus, appearing at this year’s Cropredy Festival. Singer and guitarist Martin Carthy is one of the most influential figures in British traditional music, inspiring contemporaries such as Bob Dylan and Paul Simon as well as later artists such as Richard Thompson. After training as an actor he sang in London coffee bars and became a resident at the famous Troubador folk club in Earls Court in the late 1950s. His debut album, released in 1965, featured an uncredited Dave Swarbrick playing on several tracks. Martin Carthy has sung with The Watersons since 1972, was an early member of the Steeleye Span, and was part of the innovative Brass Monkey ensemble, which mixed a range of brass instruments with Carthy’s guitar and mandolin and John Kirkpatrick’s accordion, melodeon and concertina. More recently, he has formed a successful musical partnership with Norma Waterson and their daughter Eliza Carthy. Straws in the Wind celebrates one of the great and enduring partnerships in music, with twelve ageless traditional songs arranged by the performers, together with a lyrical tune written by Swarb about the beautiful Blue Mountains of New South Wales in Australia, where he lived during the 1990s. Other highlights include Death of Queen Jane, Whale Catchers, Bride’s March From Unst, the rousing Royal Oak, Jacky Tar and Mermaid. Swarbrick and Carthy play with all the fervour and conviction of their early days and plan to follow up this exciting album with live performances together. Not to be missed.

FRANKIE ARMSTRONG - ENCOURAGEMENT           FELLSIDE FECD208

Cumbrian born singer and voice teacher Frankie Armstrong moved to Hertfordshire as a young child and began singing in a group with her brother, performing Elvis Presley and Little Richard numbers. In 1963 she began working with Louis Killen and performing solo, then in 1964 she joined The Critics Group under Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger. She has been singing professionally ever since, initially alongside working as a social worker, and has also pioneered voice workshops based on ethnic vocal styles and songs, teaching in most European countries, the USA, Canada, India and Australia. This is the singer’s fourth CD for Fellside and as usual the material is both eclectic and challenging, ranging from John Pole’s classic song of homelessness, The Anti Carol, through a setting of William Blake’s Holy Thursday by Mike Westbrook, to a definitive version of the magical and touching ballad, Tarn Lin. Frankie Armstrong is joined by Bob Evans  (crwth - an archaic stringed instrument associated particularly with Welsh music), Anthony Ingle (piano, accordion and vocals) and Sarah Hartman (vocals). These are defiant, thought provoking and passionate recordings from one of the most distinctive and influential figures in traditional British music.

THE DUBLINERS – ESSENTIAL SONGS         METRO METRDCD621

The pioneering Dubliners Irish folk band, initially known as ‘The Ronnie Drew Group’, formed in 1962 and made a reputation for themselves playing in O’Donoghue’s Pub in Dublin. The founding members were Ronnie Drew, Ciarán Bourke, Barney McKenna and Luke Kelly (the change of name coincided with a time when Kelly was reading James Joyce’s Dubliners). Drew accompanied his songs on a Spanish guitar and usually had a mischievous glint in his eyes. His instantly recognisable voice has variously been compared to a cement mixer or the sound of coke being crushed under a door. Luke Kelly was more of a balladeer and played the five-string banjo, singing such traditional songs as The Black Velvet Band and Whiskey in the Jar. Ciarán Bourke was a singer, and also played the guitar, tin whistle and harmonica. Barney McKenna is a talented tenor banjo and mandolin player, often singing sea shanties and love songs to minimal instrumental accompaniment. John Sheahan and Bobby Lynch joined the band in 1964. They had been playing during the interval at concerts, and usually stayed on for the second half of the show. When Luke Kelly moved to England in 1964, Lynch was taken on as his temporary replacement. The Dubliners fame soon spread beyond Ireland to Europe and the United States, especially after their 1967 recordings of Seven Drunken Nights and The Black Velvet Band brought them to a wider public beyond the folk scene. The Dubliners made a strong impression at 1963’s Edinburgh Festival, prompting the hugely influential independent label Transatlantic to sign them up for three albums. The best of that period is presented on this double album, with their earthy enthusiasm for traditional Irish music shining through. Highlights among the 40 tracks are The Wild Rover, the poignant Roisin Dubh and Boulavogue, Banks Of The Roses, the rollicking Mrs. McGrath, a heartfelt Love Is Pleasing, Dominic Behan’s McAlpine’s Fusiliers, The Patriot Game (inspiration for Bob Dylan’s With God on Our Side), the breakneck stomp of The Mason’s Apron, The Leaving Of Liverpool, and The Foggy Dew. This is an irresistible collection of music by a band that has influenced the many musicians and singers, including Van Morrison, Sinead O’Connor and the Pogues.

PETER BELLAMY - FAIR ENGLAND’S SHORE       FELLSIDE FECD216

Peter Bellamy had a long solo career, recording many albums and touring folk clubs and concert halls, and since his tragic early death in 1991 he has achieved cult status on the folk scene. He grew up in North Norfolk in the village of Wighton and studied at the Royal College of Art under Peter Blake. After dropping out of college in 1965, he became a founder member of The Young Tradition with Royston Wood and Heather Wood, recording mainly traditional songs in close harmony and usually without accompaniment. The trio split up in 1969 as Bellamy wanted to concentrate on traditional English music whilst the others were by then more interested in mediaeval music. Peter Bellamy’s first solo album, Mainly Norfolk, promoted the folk music of his native county and drew on the repertoire of Harry Cox, the most famous traditional singer of Norfolk songs at the time. Two more solo albums soon followed: Fair England’s Shore and The Fox Jumps Over the Parson’s Gate, and he went on to make about fifteen in all. This double CD - for the price of one - includes the music from all three of those first albums, dating from 1968 and 1969. Even at that early stage Bellamy was revealing a highly distinctive vocal style, which has had an enormous influence on a younger generation of singers such as Damien Barber and John Boden. This collection serves as an excellent introduction to English traditional songs, since Peter Bellamy had a varied repertoire which contained many classic songs in interesting versions. This is a welcome re-release of music made by a perfectionist who was one of the most creative people ever involved in folk singing. ‘The most individual and prolific voice of the second generation of folk revivalists who followed in the pioneer footsteps of Ewan MacColl and A.L. Lloyd’ - The Independent.

VASHTI BUNYAN – LOOKAFTERING           FATCAT RECORDS

Directly descended from The Pilgrim’s Progress author John Bunyan, singer-songwriter Vashti Bunyan was born in London in 1945. At 18 she travelled to New York, heard Bob Dylan’s Freewheelin’ album, and decided to become a full-time musician. Returning to London she was discovered by Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham and in June 1965, she released her debut single, the Jagger and Richards song ‘Some Things Just Stick In Your Mind’. Her 1970 debut LP, Just Another Diamond Day, was recorded with assistance from Simon Nicol and Dave Swarbrick of Fairport Convention, Robin Williamson of The Incredible String Band and string arranger Robert Kirby, best known for his work with Nick Drake. The album received good reviews but struggled to find an audience. Disappointed, she left from the music industry and was scarcely heard from again until interest in her music was revived in the early 2000s. A full 35 years on from her first CD, the singer returned with this breathtakingly beautiful album in 2005. Lookaftering’s title is a personalised word that describes the role of ‘taking care of someone - human or animal - or even something that needs to be done, that needs lookaftering.’ Produced by fellow Edinburgh resident Max Richter, the music is meticulously arranged, with Vashti Bunyan’s intimate voice backed by acoustic guitar and piano as well as string quartet, oboe, harp, French horn, recorder, flute, hammer dulcimer, glasses and harmonium, with contributions from Joanna Newsom, Devendra Banhart, Adem, Adam Pierce, Robert Kirby, Otto Hauser and Kevin Barker. Timeless music from an artist who has influenced a whole generation of singer-songwriters.

VASHTI BUNYAN – SOME THINGS JUST STICK IN YOUR MIND   FATCAT RECORDS

This welcome release is a comprehensive collection of early recordings from the period prior to Vashti Bunyan’s classic Just Another Diamond Day album. Titled after the debut single which opens the double-album, Some Things Just Stick In Your Mind attempts to both draw a line under the past and also to set the record straight regarding the disparity between how Bunyan viewed (and still views) herself and the way the public views her as an artist. While she is widely regarded as folk singer these recordings instead reveal Bunyan as a pop singer, however ‘fragile’ and unique. This complete collection of Bunyan’s 25 existing early recordings is a young London girl’s series of beautiful love songs that resonate profoundly via an almost brutal efficiency and honesty. The melodies seem timelessly sweet and addictive, the vision at once delicate but somehow tough as granite. The first disc gathers together the early singles (two of which were unreleased) and a set of taped demos recorded between 1965 and 1967; the second comprises the contents of a long-forgotten tape discovered at the last minute before mastering, containing a set of raw, pure, intimate recordings with charming spoken introductions. Highlights include two versions of the delicately beautiful Girl’s Song In Winter, 17 Pink Sugar Elephants, Leave Me, Coldest Night of the Year, Don't Believe and Go Before The Dawn.

JACKIE OATES               HANDS ON MUSIC HMCD25

Jackie Oates originates from a musical family in Cheshire and moved to Devon in 2001, where she now lives. Deriving her inspiration from early exposure to Bromyard and Sidmouth folk festivals, she fiddle sings mainly traditional English folk song, in both a solo capacity, as a member of Rachel Unthank and the Winterset, and with brand new trio Wistman’s Wood. She also occasionally plays as part of a string trio with the ubiquitous Show of Hands. She was a finalist in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award in 2003 and has now released her eponymous first album. Highlights include Banks Of Green Willow, Cruel Ship Carpenter, Streams Of Lovely Nancy, a wonderfully affecting version of Mormond Braes, I Wish It Was Last September/Ickbod, Lord Abore And Mary Flynn, Flower Of Northumberland, the beautiful Lavenders Blue/Mazurka, Staffordshire Maid, Mistletoe Bough, Rambleaway, Broken Town, and the bonus track 14th November. This is timeless music, firmly rooted in English tradition, and Jackie Oates’s pure voice is accompanied by her own excellent playing and that of such accomplished musicians as Ed Rennie, Phil Beer and Jonathan Shoreland.

ENCHANTED LADY - LONDON LASSES & PETE QUINN LO LA RECORDS  LO LA 004

Since the release of their debut album in 2000, this acclaimed Irish six-piece have appeared at some of the world’s most prestigious festivals and concert halls (Cambridge Folk Festival, Glastonbury, Philadelphia Irish Festival). Widely regarded as one of the finest acts on the traditional Irish/folk scene, the group plays a mostly traditional repertoire that is reflected in this new album. Enchanted Lady features a host of lively reels, bursting with life, along with intricately arranged jigs and captivating songs. Highlights include Cailín Rua (beautifully sung by Kathleen O’Sullivan), the plaintive Green Fields Of Canada, the irresistible Hornpipe And Reels (Lad O’beirne’s Hornpipe; Joe Madden’s; Mick O’connor’s Choice), and the wistful Slow Air: Rocking The Cradle (featuring Maureen Linane). The London Lasses are five London-based women of Irish heritage: Karen Ryan (fiddle, whistle, mandola, banjo), Elaine Conwell (fiddle), Dee Havlin (flute, whistle), Maureen Linane (accordion), Kathleen O’Sullivan (vocal). Together with pianist Pete Quinn they bring fresh life and assured musicianship to the immortal Irish tradition. Look out too for the group’s previous albums: LONDON LASSES & PETE QUINN (LL001) and TRACK ACROSS THE DEEP (LL002).

BELLOWHEAD – BURLESQUE       WEST PARK MUSIC CD 87132

Burlesque is the long-awaited debut CD from Bellowhead, an exciting 11-piece band who won the BBC Radio 2 folk award for Best Live Act in 2005. The band’s first gig at the first Oxford festival in April 2004 was a great success and the band has continued to acquire an enthusiastic following with their dynamic live performances around the country. Their music is traditional but arranged an played in a unique way with a classy lineup that includes John Spiers, Jon Boden, Benji Kirkpatrick, Paul Sartin, Rachael McShane and Giles Lewin, together with the percussion of Pete Flood and the brass quartet of Andy Mellon, Gideon Juckes, Justin Thurgur and Brendan Kelly. Burlesque  features 13 songs and tunes, with highlights that include Rigs Of The Time (dating from the time of Napoleonic Wars), the American minstrel song Jordan, stirring sea-shanties such as Across The Line and Fire Marengo, the irresistible Hopkinson’s Favourite and and Frog’s Legs & Dragon’s Teeth,  and the traditional East Anglian step Sloe Gin. Charismatic lead singer, Jon Boden, holds it all together brilliantly as the band moves effortlessly between rousing instrumental virtuosity and slower songs such as Courting Too Slow. Traditional music is transformed into something new by arrangements that are decidedly adventurous. Occasionally, as with Flash Company, the performance verges on the eccentric but overall this is an album that will add to the band’s growing army of fans.

DERRIN NAUENDORF - THE RATTLING WHEEL     RISING RECORDS DN06

Derrin Nauendorf performs here with a band that includes Jamie O’Keefe (drums), Arnie Cottrell (mandolin, electric guitar, slide guitar), Rick Foot (double bass) and Ron Singh (harmonium). With additional imaginative backing vocals, the result is a more relaxed, smoother sound than usual, although Nauendorf’s expressively passionate voice and brilliant guitar work still predominate. All but two of the eleven songs have been heard on previous albums but have been subtly re-invented for the new release.  Highlights include three of his best-known songs - Queensland, the reflective Deliver Me An Angel and the beautiful Shatter Like Stars - together with the two new ones, the catchy opener, Universe Demands, and the rousing My Hurricane. This Australian troubador’s music defies categorisation, featuring elements of blues and folk, Paul Weller and Richard Thompson, but his unique sound and intelligent lyrics could easily cross over into the mainstream with this stylish, accessible album.

THE QUEENSBERRY RULES - THE BLACK DOG & OTHER STORIES        FELLSIDE FECD201

The up-and-coming Queensberry Rules trio consists of Phil Hulse (vocals, guitar, bouzouki, harmonica), Duncan Wilcox (vocals, fiddle, double bass, mandolin) and Gary Wilcox (vocals, percussion). Since coming together in 2001 they have released three albums before this one, played many folk clubs and festivals, and supported artists such as Jez Lowe, Christine Collister and Chris & Kellie While. Their mostly self-penned songs reflect folk, bluegrass, country, blues and skiffle influences, all combined with wry lyrics, catchy choruses and splendid tunes. The group’s enthusiasm and commitment are apparent in their live performances and this new CD (which also features a video of The Black Dog) covers a wide range of themes, from contemporary issues to reflections on Perkin Warbeck and a fine interpretation of a traditional song, Rounding The Horn. Other highlights include The Herring Girl (a wistful number that could have been written by Billy Bragg), Can't Comprehend (a reaction to the devastating Asian tsunami of 2004), touching a cappella harmonies on A Mother’s Love, and Architects Of The Fall (a heartfelt plea for genuine free trade). The defiant opening track, Sinking Town, also features on Fellside’s excellent LANDMARKS compilation. Highly recommended.

THE RECKONING - JOHN TAMS       TOPIC TSCD 551

John Tams is a versatile musician and singer who performs traditional material as well as songs he has written himself, such as Harry Stone and the lyrical Hugh Stenson & Molly Green. On this highly accomplished new album he reworks several traditional songs and unveils more of his own original compositions. Highlights include tenderly sung performances of Amelia and A Man Of Constant Sorrow, the extraordinary Bitter Withy, a sequence titled  The Sea (Pretty Nancy, A Sailor's Life, One More Day and As I Looked East, As I Looked West) and  the jazz/blues inflected Including Love. As well as John Tams (vocals, acoustic guitar, button accordion, bass guitar, five string banjo) the album features Barry Coope (vocals, keyboards, harmonium, percussion, drums), Graeme Taylor (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, five string banjo, dobro, ukelele), Keith Angel (drums, percussion), Andy Seward (string bass, bouzouki, five string banjo), Steve Dawson (trumpet, cornet, flugel horn) and Roger Wilson (acoustic guitar, fiddles).  ‘An absolutely fantastic album’ - Linda Thompson.

JON BODEN - PAINTED LADY       SOUNDPOST RECORDS SOP05001

Jon Boden was born in 1977 and in his teenage years in Winchester listening to Led Zeppelin and Jethro Tull before Dave Swarbrick inspired him to take up the fiddle. He found inspiration also from Martin Carthy, Peter Bellamy and Eliza Carthy, developing an unusual and effective singing technique. He has steadily established himself as one of the pioneers of new wave traditional English folk music, often working with melodeon player John Spiers and the acclaimed eleven-piece ensemble ‘Bellowhead’, his new solo album features a collection of largely self-composed love songs. Painted Lady fuses his acoustic sensibilities with powerful guitar work and an eclectic range of instruments - including concertina, Indian harmonium, fiddle, cello, double bass, electric piano, glockenspiel and drum machine  - to create a highly textured soundscape. This is Jon Boden’s  debut recording as a songwriter but the lyrical and melodic style is highly accomplished and his delivery wonderfully assured. Highlights include the Get A Little Something, the plaintive Blue Dress, Drunken Princess, Lemany (updating a tradition of love lyrics that dates back to the 11th century), the beautiful True Love and the final track, Drinking the Night Away (based on a traditional Cajun tune). These enjoyable and reflective songs are a revelation and the album, with its suitably moody sleeve photographs, marks another step towards greater recognition for one of the most charismatic and talented performers on the modern folk scene.

KRISTINA OLSEN - THE TRUTH OF A WOMAN         TAKE A BREAK  TAB 2008

Born in San Francisco and raised in Haight-Asbury during the 1960s, Kristina Olsen is one of the most entertaining and compelling performers on the international folk circuit. A superb instrumentalist (acoustic guitar, steel-body slide guitar, saxophone, concertina and piano) as well as a fine songwriter and singer, her songs are in the troubadour tradition. As well as Kristina Olsen (guitar, steelbody slide guitar, hammered dulcimer, concertina, vocals and pizza box!), The Truth of a Woman features Peter Grayling (cello, mandocello, mandolin & harmony vocals). Highlights include the soulful Spend the Whole Night With You, The Truth of a Woman, The Yellow Piper, Phoebe’s Iceberg (a touching slide-guitar instrumental), Headlights on the Highway, the wonderfully plaintive If I Stayed and an outrageous live track finale, Big O. These are great songs performed by an artist who has clearly experienced and felt much on her travels. Kristina Olsen’s unique and appealing personality is further revealed in her many highly enjoyable concert performances. You can get a good idea of these on All Over Down Under (TAB 2009), an atmospheric live album recorded in Australia with Peter Grayling and accordionist George Butrumlis. Also check out Kristina Olsen’s most recent release, the late night music of In Your Darkened Room (TAB 2010).

FREEDOM FIELDS - SETH LAKEMAN       I-SCREAM  ISCD007

The singer, songwriter and musician Seth Lakeman comes from Yelverton in Devon and began playing music with his parents and brothers from an early age. The brothers later went on to record and joined Kathryn Roberts and Kate Rusby to form Equation. Since leaving the group in 2001, the multi-talented Seth Lakeman has worked with Cara Dillon and her husband Sam Lakeman and has released several acclaimed solo albums, receiving a Mercury nomination for last year’s ‘Kitty Jay’. His latest CD, recorded on a modest budget in the kitchen studios of his brother’s cottage on the edge of Dartmoor, is released on his own label and features Seth’s regular band members, plus lilting vocals from Kathryn Roberts. ‘Freedom Fields’ takes its name from a skirmish which took place on 3rd December 1643. After vicious fighting, the Roundhead Garrison of Plymouth made their final rally and routed the King’s army (the Cavaliers) in an uprising that changed the course of English history. The album contains a compelling array of songs inspired by the West Country, exploring the turmoil of conflict, war and freedom. Several songs relate to the area’s naval traditions, while King & Country, along with the title track, examine the factions created by the English Civil War. The world above and below ground is recorded in The Colliers, taking its theme from the oppression of the tin and copper miners. Seth Lakeman sings and plays with real passion and this intriguing album will further add to his reputation as one of the most original talents on the British folk scene.

THERE IS NO EYE: MUSIC FOR PHOTOGRAPHS             SMITHSONIAN FOLKWAYS SFW CD 40091.

In Music For Photographs, photographer, film maker, folklorist and musician John Cohen (of the New Lost City Ramblers) presents some of the finest American roots recordings ever made. These songs are authentic and captivating and accompany a book of photographs, There is No Eye, showcasing the musicians featured here as well as many others. Experienced together, the music and photographs create a fresh understanding. The CD includes unreleased music from Rev. Gary Davis and Bob Dylan (the brilliant, previously unreleased Roll On, John), as well as classic tracks from Woody Guthrie, Roscoe Holcomb, Bill Monroe, Carter Stanley, Muddy Waters, and others. The 32-page booklet has fascinating photographs and extensive notes.

LANDMARKS                 FELLSIDE RECORDS  FECD203

This great value box set celebrates 30 years of one of this country’s leading folk music labels. Fellside Records, founded by husband and wife team Paul and Linda Adams in 1976, has helped launch the careers of many new artists and has recorded some of the leading players on the folk scene, such as Martin Carthy, Dick Gaughan, Maddy Prior, Martin Simpson and Swan Arcade. The first CD in this collection, titled Signposts, shows the range of music released on more than 200 albums over the years. Highlights include Dave Goulder’s wistful version of Cyril Tawney’s In The Sidings Now, Maddy Prior singing The Blacksmith, Peter Bellamy's The London Waterman, and John Blunt, engagingly performed by the Frankie Armstrong and John Kirkpatrick. The second CD, Starting Points, features some of the many talented performers given their first recording opportunities with Fellside. Among these are Terry Docherty, Jez Lowe, Nancy Kerr and the brilliant Spiers & Boden. The final CD, Wayside Views, brings together various ‘oddities, out-takes and curios’ that have a sentimental appeal for Paul Adams, who writes about them affectionately in his revealing sleeve notes. A love of folk music, both traditional and ‘new wave’, is apparent throughout and all these recordings have a wonderfully ‘live’ sound that is warm yet full of detail. This is a fascinating and fitting tribute to thirty years of sterling work.

SWEENEY’S DREAM - KEVIN BURKE        SMITHSONIAN FOLKWAYS SFW CD 40485.

Kevin Burke is a master of the highly ornamented Sligo style of Irish fiddling and this 1972 recording perfectly captures the stunning artistry of his earliest years in the United States. Instrumentation ranges from solo fiddle to group pieces that include guitar, mandolin, banjo, autoharp and bodhran. Rousing tunes include Murphy’s Hornpipe, Toss the Feathers and The Kid on the Mountain.

BRANDON SEYFERTH - HOT HEELS RECORDS

This is the first EP under the pseudo-band-name Hot Heels Records by Brandon Seyferth (pronounced ‘cypher’), a folk musician with blues roots and a commendably rebellious attitude. He became interested in folk music after arriving in Chicago late in 2004 following years spent wandering the U.S. East coast in a carnival and hitchhiking penniless through China. As a child, he used to scribble on paper before he could write. He was confined to an oxygen tent a lot because of asthma problems and used to read voraciously. His acknowledged musical influences include Nico, Howlin’ Wolf, Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Band, Bob Dylan, Kyuss, Count Basie, Dinah Washington, Stephen Foster and Woody Guthrie. His eclectic sound incorporates all of these together with his own highly indiviualistic take on the world and a flair for great tunes.  Standout tracks among the seven featured here are Little Sister, Home and the plaintive These Days. Best of all is Hands, a great song with Brandon Seyferth’s passionate vocals complemented by excellent guitar and Dylanesque harmonica work. This is a terrific debut by an artist with a poetic sensibility and real promise for the future. Website: Hot Heels Records

THE DANCE AT THE PHOENIX - MELLSTOCK BAND     BEAUTIFUL JO  BEJOCD-28

Mellstock was the fictional Wessex name that the poet and novelist Thomas Hardy gave to his home parish of Stinsford in Dorset. Hardy was a musician himself and the Mellstock Band was originally formed to play the music he would have known, played using authentic instruments. Their debut album, released in 1986, was Under the Greenwood Tree, in which Hardy’s vigorous and detailed portrayals of song and dance - as well as music from his family's collection of manuscript books - provided inspiration for the band. Their repertoire has since expanded to include a variety of west gallery and village band music, the interpretations of which are based on the manuscript books of village musicians and the singing and instrumental traditions of rural England. In live performance, the Mellstock Band illuminate their music with period costume and spoken word, and have performed at many festivals as well as for productions at the National Theatre and Chichester Festival Theatre. The Dance at the Phoenix captures the dramatic character of the band’s live shows, as the album also includes brief readings of verse written by Thomas Hardy and the Dorset dialect poet he so much admired, William Barnes. The album shows the variety and excitement of the traditions of music-making in small ad hoc bands and ensembles, documented by Thomas Hardy and surviving in musicians’ manuscript music books and a few rare recordings. Highlights include The Ruined Maid, Hardy’s humorous and cynical poem on the themes of poverty and purity, and the writer’s favourite tune, Enrico, which his father often played to him on the fiddle. ‘The band’s combination of concertina, serpent, clarinet, oboe and fiddle is out there on its own and works perfectly’  - Folk Roots.

ENGLISH SONGS OF LOVE       BEAUTIFUL JO RECORDS  BEJOCD-19

English Songs of Love features the voices of Julie Murphy, Lynne Denman and Joanne Acty and 14 traditional songs, including Searching for Lambs, The Cuckoo, A Blacksmith Courted Me, The Dark-Eyed Sailor and a superb interpretation of The Lowlands of Holland. These are some of the finest songs in the English folk tradition and all are wonderfully performed here in sensitive arrangements played by the accompanying musicians: Stacy Bythe (accordion, harpsichord, cello), Ceri Matthews (clarinet, guitar, cittern, pipes), Dan Morris, Bernard Kilbride and Mat Green (fiddle), Peter Acty (guitar, mandola), Di Whitehead (cello, recorder) and Andy Turner (concertina). Fernhill’s Julie Murphy is one of the foremost singers of her generation and often performs in partnership with Lynne Denman, from the band Ffynnon. Their vocal harmonies can be heard on a stunning version of The Banks of the Sweet Primroses. Joanne Acty sings with the Oxfordshire band Magpie Lane. Exquisite singing and sensitive arrangements make this an album that should appeal to all folk aficionados and make converts of any who doubt the beauty and depth of the English tradition. CELTIC SONGS OF LOVE, also from Beautiful Jo Records (BEJOCD-16), is an equally rewarding exploration of a great tradition, featuring Julie Murphy again, together with Emma Christian, Moira Craig and Michael Henry, with songs from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Brittany, Cornwall and the Isle of Man. The album has 23 tracks, including four that are previously unreleased (How Can Ye Gang, Lassie?, Merched, Red Top Knots, and Deus Ganin Me D’Am Bro). Emma Christian is a leading light of the Manx Celtic revival and Scotland’s Moira Craig is co-host of the ballad sessions at Sidmouth International Folk Festival. All the tracks are a delight and Moira Craig, in particular, sings with great purity and tenderness, especially on the ravishing Will Ye Go, Love. The musicians include Peter Acty, Ceri Rhys Matthews, Anne-Marie Boisard and fiddler Chris Leslie from Fairport Convention.

MAGPIE LANE - SIX FOR GOLD           BEAUTIFUL JO RECORDS BEJOCD-42

Magpie Lane is a six-piece band from the Oxford area, originally formed as a one-off recording project in the winter of 1992-93 to record an album called The Oxford Ramble, a collection of songs and tunes from Oxfordshire. The lineup has changed over the years but the founder members still in the band are Ian Giles (vocals, hurdy-gurdy, side drum and bodhran), Mat Green (fiddle and vocals), and Andy Turner (vocals, and anglo-concertinas). They are joined on this their sixth album by newcomers Marguerite Hutchinson (vocals, whistles and flute), Sophie Polhill (vocals and cello) and Benji Kirkpatrick (vocals, bouzouki and guitar). The songs on Six of Gold are varied but all are unmistakably English, although sung with little trace of regional accent. All are traditional tunes, except for ‘Stotty Cake Polka’ (Andy Turner) and ‘Ganivelle’ (Fredric Paris). Highlights include ‘Juniper Gentle and Rosemary’, ‘The Constant Lovers’ (a haunting song learnt from the Copper family), Ralph Vaughan Williams’ ‘John Reilly’, the Oxfordshire shepherd Shadrack Hayden’s ‘Once I Was a Shepherd Boy’ (collected by Cecil Sharp in 1909) and  ‘The Foggy Dew’, a song well known in Thomas Hardy’s Dorset. Magpie Lane are one of the best traditional English music groups, and even when the tunes are familiar they are performed with a freshness and vitality that make this an infectiously enjoyable album.

THISTLEDOWN - FLOSSIE MALAVIALLE       MAMBO MUSIC  CDMAMBO 68

Flossie Malavialle is a French singer who became involved in the British folk scene while working as a teacher in the North East of England. Having previously taught English in France and been singing there for years, it was natural to turn up at the Darlington folk club one night to meet the locals and sing a song. After returning to France for a while she missed life in England and decided to come back to focus on her singing, recording the first of her four albums, Thistledown, in 2002. Flossie’s warm, clear voice is heard here to great effect on a wide range of songs, including ‘More hills to Climb’, Beth Nielsen Chapman’s ‘Sand and Water’ and Kate McGarrigle’s beautiful ‘Mendocino’, together with several atmospheric French and Spanish ones. As well as her impressive voice, the singer also backs herself with exquisite vocals and some fine guitar work. Her blossoming talent can also be heard on subsequent albums such as ‘Mistral - Let's do it!’ (CDMambo681), the self-explanatory ‘Flossie Sings Piaf’, with such favourites as ‘La Vie en Rose’ and  ‘Je ne Regrette Rien’ (CDMambo682), and her latest, ‘Making up the Miles’ (CDMambo683).

SWAN-UPMANSHIP - THE OLD SWAN BAND   WILDGOOSE STUDIOS  WGS 320 CD

The Old Swan Band started life in 1974, when they were known as ‘The Cotswold Liberation Front’, and played a major part in the movement for English music as oppose to the Celtic trend. Old Swan’s band style was deliberately slow to encourage dancers to dance and the band was criticised greatly by less tolerant members of the English Folk Dance and Song Society for ‘playing the wrong tunes for the dances, playing too slow, changing tunes, using melodeons instead of proper instruments like accordions and worst sin of all, using brass instruments’. After Rod and Danny Stradling left in 1982, the band became an all fiddle line-up with founder member Fi Fraser joined by Paul Burgess and Flos Headford. They were soon augmented by Jo Freya (jaunty tenor sax and penny whistle), John Adams  (trombone and fiddle), pianist Heather Horsley and Neil Gledhill (bass saxophone). Together they make a unique sound that is well captured on this CD. The fifteen tracks (not counting the ‘false start’) include many reels and hornpipes as well as the lovely laziness of Wenlock Edge/Summer Waltz. The tunes on this album are almost exclusively English, although a Basque tune forms the basis of ‘Basquet of Oysters’ and ‘Schottis fran Havero’ is a wonderfully lively Swedish jig. The joyous, foot-tapping music on this album should encourage even the most reluctant on to the dance floor.

NEW HISTORY - DERRIN NAUENDORF     ONLY BLUES MUSIC      

Derrin Nauendorf (pronounced No-en-dorf) is a young Australian singer and guitarist who played in rock and blues bands before going on to explore roots and acoustica in a more sophisticated way. His music is melting pot of roots influences that has produced a unique and powerful sound. He has performed almost a  thousand shows in the UK and Europe, gaining a strong following of hardcore supporters, and has also become a main stage act at festivals in Europe, the UK and his native Australia. Brilliant guitar technique, sometimes using of feedback creatively, combines with sharp lyrics and powerful singing to win over his many fans and critics alike. He is also one of the hardest working musicians on the world circuit, playing 250 shows a year, and is also self managed. This honest, hardworking approach is reflected in his exhilarating new album - the only one so far that features a completely solo Derrin Nauendorf performance showcasing his  remarkable guitar work, evocative voice, and often moving songwriting. This is about as close as you can get to a live show without actually being there, making it perfect introduction to his music. Outstanding tracks include Queensland, Careless Hands, the stunning Let It Go, Shipwrecked, the soulful Shatter Like Stars and a driving finale, Get Behind The Mule.

NATIVE SOIL - DANA AND SUSAN ROBINSON   OFFSPRING RECORDS TM 0048

Dana and Susan Robinson Dana are based in Asheville, North Carolina, although Dana was raised in California and Susan in America’s Northeast. Together they make music that convincingly blends tradition with contemporary songwriting in a style of which the great Woody Guthrie might approve. Dana is a fine singer, songwriter and instrumentalist (guitar, fiddle, mandolin, banjo) and Susan contributes rich harmonies as well as an effective clawhammer-style banjo to the mix. This excellent album shows how the music of Scots, Irish, African and native Americans has been continually reinterpreted and recycled through generations to become something uniquely American. Outstanding tracks include traditional songs such as The Cuckoo, Lost Girl (an irresistible instrumental with some great fiddle-playing), the touching When First Unto This Country, East Virginia Blues, Cider’s Dream (Chasing Squirrels), Waterbound, Ain’t No Cane, and the jaunty Goin’ To Cary. As well as Dana (vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, fiddle and mandolin) and Susan (vocals, banjo, guitar), Native Soil features John Herrmann (banjo), Meredith McIntosh (acoustic bass, vocals), Mike Alexander (acoustic bass), Pat Madsen (drums) and River Guerguerian (percussion).

MARTIN CARTHY - WAITING FOR ANGELS         TOPIC  TSCD527

Martin Carthy has been one of the most versatile and influential figures in English folk music for more than 30 years. His first solo album for six years, Waiting for Angels was produced by his daughter, Eliza Carthy, together with Ben Ivitsky. It shows the distinctive singer/guitarist at the peak of his creativity on four tracks that feature him solo and seven more on which he is backed by talented musicians such as Martin Simpson (slide guitar), Ben Ivitsky (percussion, viola, trombone), Toby Shippey (trumpet) and Eliza Carthy (fiddle, melodeon and harmonium). The title track is a rare Carthy original composition, inspired by the Scottish poet Hamish Henderson. There’s also a definitive 10-minute version of the remarkable Famous Flower of Serving Men, a classic first recorded by Martin Carthy at the beginning of his professional career. Other songs here include The Foggy Dew, Young Morgan, The Royal Lament, Bold General Wolfe and a quirkily effective performance of The Harry Lime Theme, taken from the wonderful 1940s Carol Reed/Orson Welles film.

THE CELTIC ROSE - MARITA BRAKE     MK81

This album is a mystical jorney through all things Celtic. All the tracks are original compositions by Marita Brake and her collaborator/producer, Kent Thompson. Brake’s wistful lyrics blend perfectly with Thompson’s ethereal arrangements and can be heard to great effect on the title track This is a mythical tale about Joseph of Arimathea fleeing the Holy Land with a piece of the cross, planting it outside Glastonbury Chapel in England, where it blooms into a sweet-smelling, blood red, rose. Other standout songs include the opening instrumental track (The Celtic Spirit, reprised later), Heart in Hand, the exquisite Standing Stones, On Me Mother’s Grave and the delightful By The River (written about a ‘meander along the Mackinaw River’ which flows through Marita Brake’s native Midwest). Although she has never visited Ireland, her music is heavily influenced by the ancient ballad tradition that travelled to America with Scottish and the Irish immigration. The singer’s pure, expressive voice is well complemented by the accompaniment of her fellow musicians Kent Thompson (keyboards), Christine Bock (viola and violin), Orrin Star, Gil Moore, Regan Thompson, Danny Green and Tim Delaney.

THE COMPLETE SONGS OF ROBERT BURNS       LINN CKD 213

Robert Burns, author of  Auld Lang Syne and My Luve’s Like a Red, Red, Rose, remains Scotland’s most celebrated writer. Born the son of a gardener at Alloway, near Ayr, in 1759, he worked at a succession of labouring jobs and was inspired by his first love, Nelly Kirkpatrick, to begin writing poetry. He later moved to Edinburgh and worked on editing a collection of Scottish folk songs. Called ‘The Scots Musical Museum’, it was published in 5 volumes over sixteen years and Burns himself contributed over 150 songs, including Auld Lang Syne, a reworking of an earlier folk song. This superbly produced box set of 12 CDs is the culmination of seven years of ambitious artistic endeavour by Linn Records and a wide range of outstanding Scottish performers, bringing these timeless songs to life for a new audience. The first complete, definitive archive of its kind, this collection comprises over 360 songs recorded by some of Scotland’s finest traditional musicians, including members of Battlefield Band, The Cast, The Corries, Deaf Shepherd, MacAlias, Malinky and Old Blind Dogs. This is an essential series of recordings that will delight any admirer of the ‘ploughman poet’ and his work.

STEPPING UP       TOPIC TSCD752

Compiled and annotated by lan Anderson, the editor of fRoots magazine, Stepping Up is a rousing anthology of the distinctive English folk musical movement from its beginnings to the present day. The album is a greatly expanded version of a vinyl LP first assembled by fRoots magazine in 1988 under the title Tap Roots. The entertaining repertoire features polkas, jigs, hornpipes, step dance tunes and waltzes, and the varied instrumentation includes melodeons, hammered dulcimers, concertinas and tambourines. There are 44 tunes drawn from the English tradition, performed by 23 English roots dance bands, including the Morris Motors Band, Walter & Daisy Bulwer, Oak, The Leeds Band, Webb’s Wonders, The Old Swan Band, Flowers & Frolics, Ashley Hutchings, The New Victory Band, Umps and Dumps, The English Country Blues Band, Oysterband (Kentish Cricketers), The Cock and Bull Band, Gas Mark 5, Tiger Moth, The Old Hat Dance Band, The Geckoes, The Posh Band (Duke of Cornwall’s Reel), Mark Bazeley & Jason Rice, Dr Faustus, Grand Union, Eliza Carthy Band (No Man’s Jig/Three Jolly Sheepskins) and Whapweasel. ‘Energy, commitment and imagination’ - fRoots magazine.

THE TRUE LOVER’S FAREWELL - CUSTER LARUE         DORIAN  DOR-90213

Custer LaRue was born in the Allegheny Highlands of Virginia and, though best known for her her early music performances as a member of the Baltimore Consort, she maintains an active interest in traditional song. Her unique style is heard to great effect here as she and the Baltimore Consort perform a selection of Appalachian folk ballads, mostly taken from those collected by Cecil Sharp in his English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians. Outstanding among the 16 tracks are the solidly rhythmic Soldier Boy for Me, Lord Bateman, an irresistibly feisty Berayna, The Outlandish Knight, Johnny Home from the Sea, a lilting version of The Nightingale, The Rebel Soldier and the well-known True Lover’s Farewell. This outstanding disc brings these wonderfully evocative songs to life in a series of sensitive and beguiling arrangements.

CARA DILLON - SWEET LIBERTY       ROUGH TRADE RTRADECD123

Ever since her eponymous debut album (see below), Cara Dillon has been acclaimed as one of the outstanding new voices in folk music. As well as winning two BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards (for Horizon and Best Traditional Track) she also won the Best Traditional Album at the Hot Press Awards and was voted ninth in the HMV Choice Magazine Critic’s Poll. The mostly traditional music featured here is impressive and lyrical, with tracks that include The Winding River Roe, The Gem Of The Roe (a traditional song from County Derry), Erin The Green, Standing On The Shore (made famous by Anne Briggs) and The Emigrant’s Farewell (which gives the album its title). Cara Dillon’s voice is enthralling and the excellent band lineup consists of Sam Lakeman (keyboards), Ben Nicholls (double bass), Calum MacColl (guitar), James O’Grady (Uilian pipes) and Liam Bradley (drums). ‘...amongst the very finest to be heard today’ - Folk Roots Magazine.

CARA DILLON - CARA DILLON           ROUGH TRADE RECORDS RTRADECD019

The debut solo album of Co. Derry-born Cara Dillon, formerly of Equation, features mostly traditional music subtly arranged by the charismatic singer and Sam Lakeman, who also here plays piano, harmonium and organ. Dillon’s beautiful, dreamy voice explores the songs with great poignancy and she is backed by a fine band of musicians who include Justin Adams (electric guitar), Seth Lakeman (violin, viola, tenor guitar, mandolin) and Mary Dillon (harmony vocals). Among the most outstanding tracks are Craigie Hill, Lark In The Clear Air, a melancholic Maid Of Culmore and the touching Green Grows The Laurel. This is an irresistible album that should appeal to folk purists as well as a much wider audience.

COLIN REID - SWIM         TOPIC TSCD541

Colin Reid’s new album features 12 self-penned tracks of music that include a number of ensemble pieces on which he is joined by Liam Bradley (kit), Brian Connor (piano, Wurlitzer, Hammond organ), Becky Joslin and Neil Martin (cellos), Buffy North (violin) and Alan Shields (double bass). Colin Reid is a virtuoso guitarist, acclaimed as such by no less than Bert Jansch, and on these recordings he shows that as composer he can folk, jazz and blues into a unique blend of music that defies classification. Standout tracks include Samson And Delilah, Small Steps, Tilt, The Secretive Agent, The Fool's Bridge, This Broken Rapture, Say Goodbye To The Riverbed, Chase Tea and New England House. ‘Both as a performer and composer he is a huge talent’ - The Independent.

IF NOT NOW - e2K             TOPIC TSCD538

One of the most exciting bands on the UK folk scene, e2K has an enviable reputation as a live act and festival favourite, having re-invented itself from its previous incarnation as EII and the Red Hot Polkas. The original band was primarily a dance outfit but the addition of Kellie While on vocals has produced a unique fusion of folk, world, jazz and dance influences. As well as Kellie, the band’s line up consists of Neil Yates (trumpet, bodhran, whistles, etc.), Kwame Yeboah (keyboards, guitars), Neil Fairclough (bass), Paul Francis (drums), Andy Morel (saxes), Gareth Warren (melodion), and Jon Moore (guitars, mandolin). Special gusts include Mike McGoldrick (uilian pipes) and John McCusker (fiddle). ‘Superb instrumentalists performing in multi-layered tapestry are complemented by the beautiful voice of Kellie While’ - www.rootsreview.co.uk.

RIGHTEOUSNESS & HUMIDITY - MARTIN SIMPSON             TOPIC TSCD540

This latest album by guitar virtuoso Martin Simpson was mostly recorded in New Orleans and uniquely combines British folk music with blues and ballads from the American South. As well as acoustic guitar, Simpson plays ukulele, electric guitar, lap-steel, percussion, 5-string banjo and stunning slide guitar. He also sings with sensitivity and writes great tunes, many of which can be heard here along with his arrangements of traditional songs. Highlights include a moving version of Blind Willie Johnson’s I Can’t Keep from Crying (singing with his wife, Jessica Simpson), John Hardy, the traditional ballad Georgie, the delicate instrumental Horn Island, a rousing Rollin’ and Tumblin’ and Wild Bill Jones (with its spooky thunderstorm conclusion). Among the fine acompanying musicians are Steeleye Span’s Rick Kemp (electric bass, percussion), Carl Budo (drums), Amassa Miller (organ), Dave Malone (electric guitar) and Mike Skinkus (percussion). The songs have all clearly been chosen with love and care and are superbly recorded, making this a worthy follow-up to Simpson’s award-winning Bramble Briar. ‘The nearest thing this country has to Ry Cooder’ - The Big Issue.

THE LEGENDARY STORY OF SUN RECORDS   UNION SQUARE METRO  METRDCD501

Sam Phillips opened his Memphis Recording Service at 706 Union Avenue in 1950 and this double CD gathers together a cleverly chosen selection of the marvellous music recorded there in the following ten or twelve years. Phillips had an uncanny knack for finding talent and this album features electric bluesmen such as Howlin’ Wolf, B.B.King, Little Junior Parker and Ike Turner, plus the artists who helped change the face of the twentieth century by inventing rock’n’roll. These include Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison and the underrated Charlie Rich, heard here to great effect on three outstanding tracks. Among the lesser-known but highly enjoyable performers featured are The Miller Sisters, Charlie Feathers, Harold Jenkins (later Conway Twitty), Barbara Pittman and the splendidly named Narvel Felts. This generous 60-track collection makes a fine tribute to one of the greatest record labels ever.

EDDI READER - THE SONGS OF ROBERT BURNS       ROUGH TRADE  RTRADECD097

Eddi Reader Sings the Songs of Robert Burns finds the former Fairground Attraction vocalist in beguiling folk music mode with sensitive performances of Jacobite rebel songs, romantic tragedies and tender love songs, including a wonderfully touching version of My Love Is Like a Red Red Rose. Reader’s voice admirably interprets the lively and often bawdy songs of Robert Burns, Scotland’s great 18th Century ‘ploughman poet’. The singer is joined by some prestigious names in the contemporary British folk world - John McCusker, Colin Reid, Boo Hewerdine and Kate Rusby, who duets memorably on Wild Mountainside. Kevin McCrae's string arrangements with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra also serve to make this is an album that impresses with its musicality and charm.

COME WRITE ME DOWN - THE COPPER FAMILY         TOPIC TSCD534

The inspirational Copper Family of Rottingdean in Sussex has roots in traditional song that are at least two hundred years old, and their style of southern English harmony singing has influenced many groups such as The Watersons and The Young Tradition.. The classic recordings in this outstanding collection date from from the 1950s and early '60s, when Bob and Ron Copper came to prominence during the early part of the folk revival. As well as newly remastered recordings, the CD also features earlier recordings involving Bob and Ron's fathers, Jim and John, which are available for the first time. The generously packaged album includes fascinating historic photographs, a 60-page booklet of  history, biography and social context as well as a 36-page booklet of song texts. ‘Educational and inspirational - Time Out.

ANGLICANA - ELIZA CARTHY             TOPIC TSCD539.

Eliza Carthy's brilliant new album, Anglicana, is an expression of Englishness as felt by her - ‘with people who were around at the time, no border checkpoints, nobody pushed out, just what it is’. The music remains true to its traditional sources yet features performances in fine contemporary style. Highlights include excellent arrangemants of Worcester City, Pretty Plowboy and Bold Privateer, as well as Dr MCMBE (written for father Martin Carthy’s 60th birthday and featuring him on guitar). The musicians are Eliza Carthy (fiddle, singing, one-row accordion, keyboards), Martin Green (piano accordion, keyboards), Barnaby Stradling (electric & acoustic bass, percussion, Moog), Sam Thomas (drums, percussion, Moog), Ed Boyd (acoustic guitar), Olly Knight (electric guitar), Lucy Adams (backing vocals), Rory McLeod (harmonica) and Andy Thorburn (guest keyboards). ‘faultless’ - Amazon.co.uk.

NOTES FROM A HEBRIDEAN ISLAND           LINN  AKD 197

Brilliant multi-instrumentalist William Jackson and the wonderfully pure voices of the Mackenzie sisters (Eilidh, Gillian and Fiona) from Lewis perform evocative Scottish and Gaelic singing and instrumental music. Jackson plays harp, whistles, laud and piano, and the album also features guest musicians James Macintosh (percussion), Iain MacInnes (pipes), Tony McManus (guitar), Aidan O'Rourke (fiddle) Ian Lowthian (accordion) and the recording’s producer Calum Malcolm (bass and keyboards). Among the spellbinding Gaelic songs is a stunning interpretation of Ba Mo Leanabh (O My Baby) which is a Canadian version of Griogal Cridhe. The instrumental tracks are played with assured musicianship rather than reckless speed, much to the advantage of the melodies. ‘The crystal clear voices ... steal the show’ - The Observer.

RETURN TO ME - EQUATION             ROUGH TRADE RECORDS  RTRADECD083

Equation's long-lost debut recording was shelved by the original record company (Warner) in the mid-1990s, but is now thankfully released on Rough Trade. Cara Dillon’s wonderful voice is heard on standout tracks such as He Loves Me, Song Of The Well and No Goodbyes, as well as the traditional Golden Bird and Cloths Of Heaven (words by W B Yeats, no less). The other outstanding musicians featured are Cara Dillon (vocals, low whistle), Sam Lakeman (piano, keyboards), Sean Lakeman (guitars), Seth Lakeman (violins, vocals), Kathryn Roberts (vocals) and Darren Edwards (bass).

I’M ON MY JOURNEY HOME             NEW WORLD RECORDS 80223-2

This rewarding album is from the admirable New World Records label, which specialises in documenting American music mostly ignored by commercial recording companies. I'm On My Journey Home: Vocal Styles and Resources in Folk Music is a loosely structured survey of different types of vocal styles and resources found in rural Anglo-American lower- and middle-class communities. Some of the modes of performance, such as hollering and solo ballad singing, have almost died out. Others, such as Sacred Harp singing, formal duet singing and square-dance calling, continue to flourish. This well chosen and  sequenced collection demonstrates once again the extraordinarily rich musical legacy of the ‘old, weird America.’ Highlights include Hollerin’ (Leonard Emanuel); Whooping (“Red” Buck Estes); Tobacco Auctioneering (Two unknown auctioneers); Bold McCarthy, or The City of Baltimore (Bill Cramp); The Black Sheep (Darby and Tarlton) and I’m On My Journey Home (The Denson Quartet). Essential listening for lovers of American folk music.

OPEN - COWBOY JUNKIES                   COOKING VINYL   COOKCD 216.

The expressive voice of Margo Timmins again leads Cowboy Junkies on  their 11th CD, together with the other core members, including Michael and Margo’s brother Peter Timmins on drums and Alan Anton on bass. This album is their heaviest recording so far, adding dark, brooding guitar sounds to the band’s usual hypnotic/reflective/quiet character. Open is about growing old: and all that this entails death, birth, faith, betrayal, love and, hopefully, revelation. Outstanding tracks include the lamenting ‘Thousand Year Prayer’, ‘I'm so Open’ and the lovely, mournful ‘Bread & Wine’.

HOME - JOHN TAMS           TOPIC TSCD533.

John Tams’ follow up to his award winning ‘Unity’ again shows him to be one of the finest writers of English songs on the contemporary folk scene. His performances are always intelligent and his voice expressive on these outstanding new songs. The band is the same one assembled for the previous album are now even more assured in performance. As well as John Tams (acoustic & electric guitar, keyboard, melodeon, vocal) the album features Graeme Taylor (acoustic & electric guitar, mandolin, lap steel), Barry Coope (keyboards, string synth, crematorium organ, harmonium, vocal), Andy Seward (electric bass), Alan Dunn (hammond organ, piano accordion, keyboards, whistle, anglo concertina), Keith Angel (drums, marimba, mbira, surdo, congas, djembi, tambourine, percussion) and Rosie Tams (backing vocals). ‘one of the best UK folk albums of the last decade’ - MOJO.

INTO THE LIGHT - CHRISTINE COLLISTER         TOPIC TSCD1002.

Christine Collister’s second solo album for Topic finds her great voice as this fine recording captures the live quality and personality of an outstanding singer. Its style is more acoustic than her previous release, An Equal Love, but it again it features her songwriting skills alongside a selection of excellent covers of classic contemporary songs. Christine Collister (vocals and acoustic guitar) is joined by Steve Lima (acoustic guitar, bass, drums, percussion, piano, organ), Misha Nikolic (guitars, bass), Dave Armstrong (bass, keyboards, percussion), Roger Leece (drums), George Hughs (electric guitar), Anglin Buttimore (organ, piano) and Charles Guard (celtic harp). ‘Collister's effect is transfixing’ - fROOTS.

OLD & IN THE GRAY                ACOUSTIC DISC ACD-51.

This vibrant CD reunites Peter Rowan, David Grisman and Vassar Clements from the original bluegrass boundary-breakers, Old & In The Way. These three outstanding musicians have combined with veteran banjo player and vocalist Herb Pedersen, who takes over the slot left by the late Jerry Garcia. Brynn Bright plays an inspired upright bass, replacing the late John Kahn. Together the group produces joyful bluegrass music that includes great versions of Bill Monroe’s On the Old Kentucky Shore, Flatt and Scruggs’ Let Those Brown Eyes Smile at Me, John Hartford’s Good Old Boys, and a masterly Pancho & Lefty, written by the legendary Townes Van Zandt.

HOME - JAMES KEELAGHAN         APPLESEED APR CD 1059.

The outstanding Canadian singer songwriter James Keelaghan returns to his undisguised folk roots, using spare instrumentation on ten compelling songs which show that his idea of ‘Home’ covers his own state of mind as well as the lives and situations of other people, today and in the past. The subject matter ranges from the plight of a British convict sent to Tasmania in the 1820s (the traditional Henry's Downfall) to the reconstruction of Canada's Parliament buildings in the late 1900s (Stonecutter) and separatist terrorism in Quebec (October 70), plus tributes to nature (David Francey's Red-Winged Blackbird, The Flower of Magherally), love (You Know Me) and longing (Sing My Heart Home, Woodsmoke and Oranges). Keelaghan's intimate renderings of these diverse stories are accompanied mostly by his own guitar and by multi-instrumentalists Oliver Schroer and Hugh McMillan. ‘He displays a genius for finding his way deep inside big stories, building them outward from palpably intimate moments’- The Boston Globe.

FASHIONABLY LATE - LINDA THOMPSON           TOPIC TSCD821.

Although Linda Thompson hasn't made a recording for seventeen years, the pure, fragile beauty of her voice remains intact and time has increased the emotional quality of her performance. This marvellous comeback album features nine songs written or co-written by Linda Thompson, plus one by Lal Waterson. Among the dazzling array of performers are Teddy Thompson, Van Dyke Parks, Kate Rusby, Kathryn Tickell, Eliza Carthy, Rufus Wainwright, Kamila Thompson, Richard Thompson, Danny Thompson and Martin Carthy. ‘Linda Thompson may be rock's best woman singer’ - Time Magazine.

SILVERY MOON - AOIFE CLANCY           APPLESEED APR CD 1065.

Aoife (pronounced ‘Ee-fa’) Clancy, daughter of Bobby Clancy (a member of the Brothers for the last quarter century) resumes a solo career after five years as lead vocalist with the NewYork-based Cherish the Ladies. On this immaculate new CD she explores the world of Irish, Scottish, English, Appalachian and contemporary folk music in a most assured and beguiling manner. There are traditional ballads (Banks of Sweet Primroses, Across the Blue Mountains, Silvery Moon) and apt arrangements of poetry (Are You Sleepin', Maggie, The Sliprails and the Spur) as well as modern compositions by modern folk musicians such as Mark Simos. Among the fine musicians here are Donal and Bobby Clancy, percussionist Liam Bradley, bassist James Blennerhassett, fiddler/solo artist Lissa Schneckenburger and flutist Larry Nugent.

OJO DE TIBURON - MICHELE GREENE          APPLESEED APR CD 1064.

Michele Greene, the actress best known as Abby Perkins in the television drama, L A Law, has made a stunning CD that travels across styles, languages and cultures. Ojo de Tiburón (‘Eye of the Shark’) was produced by the brilliant Peruvian guitarist Ciro Hurtado and reflects the singer’s Mexican/Nicaraguan roots with six of the nine songs sung in Spanish, accompanied by a rich, fluid fusion of traditional and contemporary Latin sounds and North American folk influences. Most of the songs, all co-written by Michele Greene, are delicately sung reflections on the joys and sorrows of love (Siempre Volvemos, Somos Iguales, Destino), interspersed with understated social comment about poverty (Ojo de Tiburon) and cultural dislocation (La Tierra del Alma, The Ballad of Robert Martin). With intimate instrumental backing by Hurtado and a group of Mexican, Peruvian and American musicians, Greene achieves an entrancing mix of folk and pop, Español and Ingles. ‘She has the voice of an angel’ - Don Was.

THE ACOUSTIC FOLK BOX          TOPIC TSFCD4001

This exciting CD box set is a journey through four decades of the folk revival in Britain. A rich acoustic tradition is explored through the work of dozens of fine artists, from Lonnie Donegan and Ewan MacColl, via Richard Thompson and Emmylou Harris, to modern icons such as Kate Rusby and Eliza Carthy. The 85 tracks, many of which have not been heard on CD before, are in chronological order and come with a 56 page booklet containing photographs, illustrations and notes. The producer, David Suff, describes the music and puts it all in context. An unmissable treat for folk music fans and sure to bring back warm memories. ‘Definitive stuff’ - The Observer Review.

A DARK LIGHT - WATERSON:CARTHY         TOPIC TSCD536.

England's finest folk group return with the trio of Martin Carthy, Norma Waterson and Eliza Carthy joined by new member Tim van Eyken on vocals and melodeons. Also featured are Martin Simpson (guitar), Ben Ivitsky (fiddle) and Barnaby Stradling (acoustic bass guitar). This spellbinding album reflects the influence on the group of some of our greatest traditional singers and includes songs from The Copper Family, Packie Byrne, Seamus Ennis and Sam Larner. Among the highlights are the sombre ballad Death and the Lady, Crystal Spring (a love song that includes a vocal duet between Norma and her daughter Eliza) and the jaunty old Morris dance tune, Balancy Straw.

FAIRPORT CONVENTION - ENCORE ENCORE          FOLKPRINT FP001CD.

After 12 years recording and playing, Fairport Convention split up in 1979 after virtuoso fiddle player Dave Swarbrick was told to ‘give up playing live or go deaf’. The rest of the band played a farewell tour in 1979 and this release was the final souvenir (originally released on vinyl by Woodworm Records). Now remastered and re-issued with three previously unreleased bonus tracks, it includes such standout tracks as Matty Groves, Orange Blossom Special, Sir Patrick Spens and Meet on the Ledge.

SHINING BRIGHT - THE SONGS OF LAL & MIKE WATERSON           TOPIC TSCD 519.

In 1972, Mike and Lal Waterson released an amazing album of original songs, Bright Phoebus, on the Leader Records label. Tribute is paid to that classic collection of quintessentially English songs on this fine new recording, Shining Bright, which features songs recorded for Bright Phoebus as well as others written at the same time but not previously recorded. The making of this album was prompted by the untimely death of Lal Waterson and it is a worthy homage to some of the greatest songs to emerge from the British folk revival. The outstanding performers include Maddy Prior (Winifer Odd), Norma Waterson (Song for Thirza), Dayteller, Richard Thompson (Red Wine Promises), Eliza Carthy, Blue Murder, Dick Gaughan, Linda & Teddy Thompson, Helen Watson, Billy Bragg (Danny Rose), Martin Carthy (Never the Same), Christy Moore, Jody Stecher & Kate Brislin, Christine Collister and Oliver Knight.

THE SONG MAKERS PROJECT, VOL. 1          NESTA RECORDS NC1001.

The Song Makers Project is a collection of songs from outstanding, unsung artists as well as some more familiar performers such as Billy Bragg, Eric Bibb, Bert Jansch and Ted Hawkins. The album spans the fields of folk, roots and acoustic music performed by, among others, Emily Slade, Jezz Hall and Sam Genders (voted the class of 2001 by the excellent Folk Roots magazine). The music is melodic and soulful, especially the inspired tracks by Maureen Monroe (the seductive Damned Understanding), Ted Hawkins (a great version of Please come to Boston) and Buick 6 (Get Real). 10% of the profits from this album will be donated to the Charity Shelter. ‘A tasty compilation of some of the best singer songwriters currently on the scene’ - Get Rhythm.

LOOKING FOR THE MOON - TOM PAXTON         APPLESEED APR CD 1069.

This is the first solo studio album from the great singer-songwriter Tom Paxton since 1994 but the wait has been well worthwhile. The thirteen original songs on this CD emphasise personal themes and reflect on modern day life, often concerned with the inevitable march of progress and aging and their effects on the average citizen. Tom Paxton may be in the fifth decade of his illustrious career but his voice is as fine and expressive as always, heard here to wonderful effect on songs with evocative, personal lyrics and titles such as ‘Looking for the Moon’, ‘My Pony Knows the Way’ and ‘Homebound Train’. ‘Tom Paxton embodies the spirit of folk music...He’s the coolest’ - Ani DiFranco.

SKIRTING THE RIVER ROAD - ROBIN WILLIAMSON           ECM 016 372-2.

Subtitled ‘Songs and Settings of Whitman, Blake and Vaughan’, the legendary Scottish singer/songwriter Robin Williamson’s latest album brings together sung poetry, jazz, improvisation and aspects of world folklore. The result is a highly original, idiosyncratic form of chamber music in which his unmistakable voice is supported by the American viola player Mat Maneri, Swedish multi-instrumentalist Ale Möller, and two English jazzmen: Paul Dunmall (reeds and bagpipes) and Mick Hutton (double-bass). Highlights include settings of Walt Whiman’s ‘Dalliance of Eagles’ and ‘Crossing Brooklyn Ferry’, and ‘The Four points Are Thus beheld’ (inspired by William Blake’s ‘Jerusalem’. Those who recall Williamson's avant-folk group, the Incredible String Band, will find references here as well as evidence of further inspired experimentation.

ROSA MUNDI - JUNE TABOR            TOPIC TSCD532.

Rosa Mundi is June Tabor's tender celebration of the rose - an eclectic programme of material material that ranges from Tchaikovsky (The Crown of Roses) to Robert Burns (O My Luve’s Like a Red Red Rose), and from the 15th Century to the present. All the music relates to the rose; whether sacred, secular or as a symbol of love. June Tabor's graceful singing brings a unique purity and transcendent beauty to these delightful and often moving songs. ‘A subtle masterpiece’ - The Guardian.

MYSTERIOUS DAY - OLIVER KNIGHT         TOPIC TSCD528.

The brilliant guitarist Oliver Knight has recorded an outstanding debut solo album that features mostly his own excellent compositions. His fine array of vocalists include Christine Collister (Mysterious Day), Eliza Carthy (From My Window), Norma Waterson (Once In A Blue Moon), John Tams (Hush), Barry Cope (Summer Lightning) and Maria Gilhooley (My Sweet Lullaby). Oliver Knight plays acoustic, electric and bass guitars as well as mandolin, and does a fine job on the production and recording side.

COME WRITE ME DOWN - THE COPPER FAMILY             TOPIC TSCD534.

The Copper Family of Rottingdean in Sussex has roots in traditional song that are at least two hundred years old. These outstanding classic performances are from the 1950s and early '60s, when Bob and Ron Copper became a vital part of the folk revival scene. These newly remastered recordings are included in their entirety, together with earlier recordings involving Bob and Ron's fathers - Jim and John - available for the first time. The excellent accompanying booklet provides extensive history, biography and social context as well as the song texts and historic photographs. ‘Resonates with a weird primitivism’ - Sunday Times.

ABELARD AND HELOISE - THIRD EAR BAND           BLUEPRINT BP310

This recording from 1970 is the soundtrack for a film made for German Television, retelling Alexander Pope’s tragic medieval love story about the French philosopher Abelard (1079 - 1142) and the niece of Canon Fulbert, Heloise. Third Ear Band were formed in 1969 and were a regular feature of the free concerts in Hyde Park during the late sixties and early seventies, and this is the first time that this recording has been available on compact disc. The hypnotic drone like quality of their songs, in this context can best be described as medieval chamber music.

THE STARBOARD LIST         ADELPHI GCD 1025/27.

The rousing songs on this CD are those of the sailors who served on merchants ships over the last few hundred years, and include working shanties, songs of bravery and sentimental ballads. Wherever there is hard work and hard times there are song to lighten the labor, coordinate the muscles of dozens of men and often give working men their only opportunity to express their feelings about the hard masters they served. The performers’ style is in sympathy with the traditional origins of the music and shows a considerable experience and the love of the sea. Starboard List members are Charles O'Hegarty, David Jones and Peter Marston, assisted by friends Brian Brooks, Dan Milner, John Townley, Christine Townley, Jerry Epstein, Tom Cerone, Sylven Seid and John Kilgore.

A CHESAPEAKE SAILOR’S COMPANION            ADELPHI GCD 1032.

European exploration of and expansion into North America was made possible by three important elements: beef bouillon, sauerkraut and melody. The latter has been lovingly recreated on this fine recording by the Press Gang with a selection from ‘Four Centuries of Maritime Music on the Chesapeake Bay’. The music ranges from traditional songs dating back to the reigns of Elizabeth and James I to Tin Pan Alley numbers of the early 20th Century. The Sailor’s Companion charts the history of a fascinating musical journey that has been meticulously researched by John Townley, who leads the Press Gang - a group of friends and fellow musicians ‘shanghaied’ into a recording studio for these sessions. Among them are the cellist Anne Waple, pianist Blanton Bradley and brilliant Scots fiddler John Turner. The CD comes complete with informative liner notes and evocative vintage maritime illustrations.

SOFIA KARLSSON - FOLK SONGS            AMIGO MUSIK AMCD 748.

On this entrancing CD the gloriously pure voice of Stockholm-born Sofia Karlsson brings a sensitive beauty to a selection of traditional Swedish folk songs, religious hymns and chorales. Unobtrusive accompaniment by a fine group of musicians ensures the music’s integrity is maintained throughout.  The other performers include Esbjorn Hazelius (citern, violin and voice), Leo Svensson (cello), Harald Haugaard (viola, violin) and special guest Johan Hedin (tenor kee fiddle).

SWAP - MOSQUITO HUNTER             AMIGO MUSIK AMCD 750.

The brilliant Swap’s music successfully blends Celtic and Swedish traditional influences with their own compositions to produce a highly individual sound. This lively, energetic music has become increasingly popular around the world, including England, the USA, Germany and Japan. The group consists of Ola Backstrom (violin), Ian Carr (guitar), Carina Normansson (violin and voice) and Kren Tweed (accordion). Highly recommended.

JOURNEY OF THE CELTS               CHACRA CHACD 056.

Will Millar, together with fellow musician Paul Horn, perform a blend of music in Celtic tradition, a fusion of music and history that draws on memories of Ireland, old family tales and historical records telling of the devastation and mass emigration that lay in the wake of the Irish Potato Famine of the mid 1800's. Spirited jigs, reels and melancholy ballads recall a time when the boats left Ireland behind for a chance at a better life in Canada, America, Australia and New Zealand. Instruments on this evocative recording include flutes, tin whistles, goatskin bodhran drums, lute, banjo, guitar, mandolin, keyboards, Irish harp, fiddle, coronet, fluegel horn, hammered dulcimer, conga drums, accordion and Uillean pipes.

GOING & STAYING - BRASS MONKEY             TOPIC TSCD531.

This latest recording from Brass Monkey features folk standards together with 14th century compositions and the poetry of Thomas Hardy and William Blake. The unique instrumentation incorporates trumpet and trombone as well as squeezeboxes, mouth organ, percussion and guitar, giving the band an instantly recognisable sound. The fine musicians involved are Martin Carthy, John Kirkpatrick, Howard Evans, Richard Cheetham and Martin Brinsford. ‘...a vitality about the whole thing ... lending majesty and a refreshingly different landscape on which to place these songs’ - fRoots Magazine.

JUNE BABIES - REBECCA HOLLWEG            EMU RECORDS EMU 02.

Rebecca Hollweg is a British singer and songwriter among whose influences are James Taylor, Alannis Morissette and, inevitably, Joni Mitchell. There are also touches of Suzanne Vega on her more intimate songs and the music is a winning blend of melodic pop, jazz and folk. The ten self-penned songs on June Babies are all perceptive and well observed and Rebecca Hollweg is at her best on the most intimate of them, such as Sorry and Is It Me You’re Looking For? The album features an excellent band, some fine string arrangements and a guest appearance by Jeb Loy Nichols. ‘...exquisite vocals’ - The Guardian.