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1 Steve Hicks A Thing Made Of Rags (Acoustic Music 319.1562.2). Classy fingerstyle ragtime, interspersing genre staples with clever treatments of evergreens and standards and a healthy quotient of cheekily inventive ‘it shouldn’t work but it does’ transcription-medleys (Brahms and Dixie, Led Zepp and Mozart). Thoroughly likeable virtuosity. hicksandgoulbourn.com


1 Hilary Blythe Paradise Mountain (Prospect Music PM CD 001). An appealingly honest collection of favourite songs – “folk with a country glow” – from this clear-voiced singer more commonly associated with partner Bob Hall. Recorded by, and prominently featuring, pedal-steel man Tony Palmer, imparting a magical ambience to the set. hilaryblythesings@yahoo.co.uk


The albums – good (2), adequate (1) and bad (@) – which didn’t get the full-length treatment, contributed individually by a selection of our various reviewers cowering under the cloak of collective anonymity.


2 The Ian Campbell Folk Group The Complete Transatlantic Recordings (Cherry Red CRTREEBOX016). Unbelievable value! 105 songs – the entire Ian Campbell Folk Group catalogue 1963-1968! Originating from Aberdeen, this influential group formed in Birmingham in 1958. This collection encapsulates the British folk- revival: emotive ballad-singing, passionate socialist commitment, and humorous music hall influences. www.cherryred.co.uk


1 Ponk Postfolklor (Ponk). “Folklore is dead,” say Ponk. “It has been dead for ages despite the best efforts of publicly displaying and worshipping its decorated and embalmed corpse in the pursuit of convincing many of its immortality.” So doom-laden traditional Moravian murder ballads, played with tremendous dexterity and subversive style on cimbalom, violin and double bass. www.ponktrio.com


2 Various Artists Rhythm ‘N’ Bluesin’ By The Bayou – Nights Of Sin, Dirty Deals And Love Sick Souls (ACE CDCHD 1478). Ace Records have again been fishin’ in the backwaters of south Louisiana and southeast Texas netting another tasty catch of rare records. They sure were rockin’ back in the ’50’s and early ’60s when these 28 trackswere recorded and released. No real big names in this set, just a steaming gumbo of hot R&B served on a single silver platter. www.acerecords.com


1 The Craggs Family Family Album (Craggs CR001-3549.) The Craggs Family, headed by former Lindisfarne sax player Marty, bring loads of good time melody to your door with decent pace and much Americana-cum-Cajun influence. Produced neatly by son Andrew, vocals by daughter Beverley and with a raft of chums on melodic backing, they’re aiming for festivals and touring next year. thecraggsfamily.com


@ Jigjam Hello World ( 8 88295 47976 9). Irish bluegrass outfit fronted by technically able singer who has a good voice, but not in the bluegrass idiom one tiny bit. Come to that, neither are any of the original songs. Musically competent but not in any rootsy style. www.jigjam,.ie


1 Whalebone Mirabilia (Two Wild Women TWW287). Important sixth outing for Shropshire acoustic folk rockers, this time they tackle all their own compositions. From reggae tinges to gentle waterfall-like guitar lines and electric undertow, the whole is likeable, agreeable and perfectly suited for nights round a blazing fire with a decent glass of something to hand. Rather nifty! whalebone-music.com


1 George Welch & Christine Jeans Warts And All (Hooky Mat Records HMR 022). This durable musical partnership produces an affectionate and unpretentious disc of gentle, genial covers of songs they love. Neatly managed accompaniment (George’s guitar and Christine’s banjo) emphasises the duo’s rapport and togetherness; no wonder they’re a big hit Tyneside-way. christine.jeans2@gmail.com


2 Furnace Mountain Shadow Of Plenty (8 88295 45790 3). Outstanding acoustic music from Virginia-based quartet with so much to offer. Four good players, three of whom sing with hot mandolin, twin fiddles, guitar filling the gaps with two- and three- part harmony good songs and tunes. furnacemountain.com


2 Hank Williams The Complete Singles As And Bs (Acrobat ACQCD 7104). Four CDs, 103 cuts from the greatest country music singer ever. What more do you want. Willams’ voice epitomised country music. Whatever he sang came out unadorned country. Soul and an Alabama accent you could cut with a knife. acrobamtmusic.net


1 Sea Star Never Go Back (Sea Star SSFW004). Ethereal floaty folk-rock of the ’70s variety meets Celtic/bluegrass/ Americana strands from this Seattle quartet. Some respectful nods to Dolores Keane and Stan Rogers aside, Fay Widenhoeft’s vocals and composite songwriting rules this subtle, deftly picked and melodically impressive roost. www.weareseastar.com


@ Napoli Mandolin Orchestre Mandolin Al Cinema (Felmay FY7048). The title tells all! Mandolins make much movie music managing merely moderately. At least the Spaghetti Western selection manages to raise the odd titter. www.felmay.it


1 Gruppo Spontaneo Trallalero Cantö Riöndö (Felmay FY8241). Large community choir of the type that is well established in Genoa and the surrounding Piedmont area gives high quality performances of folk songs in a highly stylised manner with much rumbling of the lower voices to imitate instruments. Before the end the listener is wishing for a bit more light and shade. www.felmay.it


1 Stefano Saletti & Banda Ikona Sound City: Suoni Dalle Città Di Frontiera (Finisterre FT67). Stephano’s songs written in a mixture of Mediterranean languages examine the situation in that part of the world starting and ending in Lampedusa. Clearly, this is the work of a person of superior musical, linguistic and intellectual ability with considerable political insight. www.finisterre.it


1 The McCalmans Lost Tracks (Greentrax CSTRAX 393). Retired but not gone forever: nineteen tracks that never quite made it onto any of their 26 albums. Spanning their 46 year history, the studio, live and rehearsal recordings are nicely cleaned up and presented. Probably for fans only, though. www.greentrax.com


1 The RidgeRiders The Very Best Of (Talking Elephant TECD333). TV soundtrack to series which saw Nick Knowles riding the high ridgeways of Britain on a motorbike if I recall. Ashley Hutchings, Chris While and Phil Beer provide suitable folksy support with tracks that relate and often use stories or the landscape to give focus. Something very appealing and English. talkingelephant.co.uk


@ Marc Block Brisk And Breezy (Glasspool Music GLASSPOOL001). After his encouraging 2013 debut, this Nottingham- based singer-songwriter’s followup collection is a disappointment, the all-purpose jaunty, exuberant ]acoustipop] styling of its title rendering his own writing sadly rather anonymous. The trad/covers fare a little better. www.marcblock.co.uk


2 Donald Macneill & Roberto Diana Timelines (SSMCD005). Colonsay singer and songwriter teams up with a multi-instrumental Sardinian accompanist for another captivating collection of personal observations about living and growing up in the remote Hebrides and Highlands post-WWII. His arresting vocals are engagingly gentle and absolutely delightful. donaldmacneill.altervista.org


2 Charlie Grey And Joseph Peach Waves Rise From Quiet Water (Braw Sailin’ Records, CD002BSR). Stylish, beguiling debut album from Highland Scottish folk- jazz duo bringing lyrical fiddle, expressive piano, tenor guitar, accordeon, Fender Rhodes and vocals to a mix of original composition and traditional material. This is mellow, contemporary music inspired by Scottish tradition. www.cgjpmusic.com


2 Louise Bichan Out Of My Own Light – The Margaret S Tait Project (Swanbister, SWAN001CD). Inspired by Orkney’s folk music and her grandmother’s extraordinary life, Orkney fiddler Bichan composed this haunting, evocative chamber-folk suite for fiddles, piano, cello, double-bass, moog, guitar, vocals. If you like the work of Jenna Reid or Rant you’ll enjoy this. www.louisebichan.co.uk


1 Graham Mackenzie Crossing Borders (Blue Door Music, BDM001CD). Mackenzie’s elegant debut album fuses classical and traditional music, drawing on Scottish, Irish and Cape Breton styles. Composed for a nine- piece ensemble of fiddles, piano, viola, cello, double-bass, harp, whistles, pipes, guitar, it reminds me of William Jackson’s folk suites. www.grahammackenziemusic.com


2 Pete Coutts Northern Sky (Fitlike records, FITLIKE 012). Debut album of original songs and tunes from Aberdeen singer/mandoliner, with support on pipes, whistles, guitars, fiddle, accordeon. Coutts uses the Doric dialect and musical idiom of Aberdeenshire while creating a rhythmic, funky, contemporary vibe. Aberdeen’s answer to The Proclaimers. petecoutts.bandcamp.com


1 Aidan Coffey With Frankie Gavin, Alec Finn & Colm Murphy The Corner House Set (Riverboat Records/World Music Network, TUGCD1094). Inspired by a famous session pub in Cork, these virtuoso Irish traditional musicians combine accordeon, fiddle, bouzouki and bodhrán to deliver a toe-tapping, old-timey session of traditional Irish jigs, reels, slides, polkas, hornpipes and marches that fairly zips along. www.worldmusic.net


1 Dougie MacDougall Of Alturlie & Special Friends At The End Of A Perfect Day (Brechin All CDBAR028). Inverness ceilidh-band stalwart and button-accordeon maestro releases his debut album at the age of 88. With friends on piano accordeons, banjos, keyboard, double bass, guitars, fiddles, whistle and drums, his big band performs Scottish jigs, reels, polkas, waltzes, marches. brechin-all-records.com


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