67 f

@ Soap Kills Best Of (Crammed Discs Cram 260P). Drawn from the three albums which the trip-hop influenced Lebanese duo record- ed between 2000 and 2005, on which ambi- ent electronics and Arabic folk melodies mix to middling effect. Nothing on here sounds as distinctive as the music singer Yasmine Ham- dan has gone on to make in her subsequent solo career. www.crammed.be

1 Pat Knowles Standard Settings (Epona EPO 015). Resurrection of near-forgotten 1980 Fellside curio wherein classically-trained pianist Pat indulges her ‘music is music’ dic- tum in ‘switched-on’ (albeit sometimes eccen- tric) performances of British music (jigs, airs and other delights) on sundry keyboards, ably assisted by Brian McNeill et al. www.eponarecords.com

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 Various Artists Land Of Hope And Fury (Union Music Store UMS009). A host of roots singer-songwriters swiftly volunteering to donate (and/or specially record) their incredulous responses to May’s election result. Gems from Mark Chadwick, Lucy Ward, Moulettes, Luke Jackson, Grace Petrie et al, emphatically proving that protest song ain’t dead. www.landofhopeandfury.uk

1 Daby Touré Amonafi (Cumbancha CMB- CD-35). After two albums with Peter Gabriel’s Real World, the smooth-voiced Mauritanian turns up on Cumbancha with a (French) home-recorded CD. He has been compared to Cat Stevens, which makes a certain sense, and Nick Drake, which doesn’t. Light pop; no angst. www.dabytoure.com

1 Kuku Ballads & Blasphemy (Buda 860274). Open your eyes as you pray – Kuku sings, and there’s the meat of the meal. Relapsed man of religion, he stands as a free- thinking troubadour with a lively voice, gui- tar and a neat, inventive band. Born in the USA, grew up in Lagos. www.kukulive.com

1 Twomanting Say What? (2Boot Music 2BM00023). Perky Bristol-based duo. Thanks to chatty vocals, the discreet use of loops, a generally happy vibe, and some deft soukous touches, guitarist John Lewis and percussion- ist Jah-Man Aggrey put on a convincingly big show. Goes to show what a small outfit can achieve. www.twomanting.co.uk

1 Kelly & Woolley Papers In My Shoe (Clunk & Rattle Records CRLP 008). Cam- bridge-based fiddle-and-guitar duo turns in enthusiastic, assured, stylish (and pretty con- vincing) recreations of classic Cajun inter- spersed with pleasingly individual renditions of songs from a folkier repertoire. www.kellyandwoolley.co.uk

2 Tampa Red Dynamite! The Unsung King Of The Blues (Ace CDTOP2 1440). Excellent two-CD set of Hudson Whittaker’s sides from 1942 to 1953. The man himself is in great voice, and blistering blues piano from Johnnie Jones and Maceo Merriweather gives credence to the title. www.acerecords.com

@ Jerusalem In My Heart If He Dies If If If If If If (Constellation no cat no). Arabic music mashed up with an early Cabaret Voltaire bank of effects. A bit short on musical ideas. David Byrne and Mike Cooper were doing better things 30 years ago. cstrecords.com

1 Mec Yek Super Diver City (Choux De Bruxelles CHOU 1502). More of the same on this second collaboration between brassy Bel- gian ethno-rockers Juane Toujours and the singing Slovakian Roma Pohlodkova sisters. Enjoyable enough, if not quite as fresh sounding as its predecessor. www.choux.net

1 Tom Shepley’s Band How Do You Do? (Epona EPO 014). First time on CD reissue of 1978 Traditional Sound Recordings LP on which the worthy quartet turned the spot- light on tunes and songs from Lancashire and Cheshire that had been newly researched by fiddle player Jamie Knowles. Spirited, if sometimes a touch quaint. www.eponarecords.com

1 Old Man Luedecke Domestic Eccentric (True North T ND 605). Unusual songs, lyrical- ly, tunefully performed to his own excellent old time banjo accompaniment. Aided by Tim O’Brien a perfect partner, but 45 minutes is a long time to listen to music that varies little in pace and texture. oldmanluedecke.ca

2 Incredible String Band Wee Tam And The Big Huge (BGO BGOCD 1191). Further CD reissue for ISB’s artistic pinnacle, iconic 1968-vintage double whose sheer eclecticism and spirit-beautiful inventiveness unashamedly embraced all (folk, country, gospel, esoteric mysticism), influencing a host of minds in the process. Every Desert Island should have this one. www.bgo-records.com

1 The Albion Band Under The Rose (Talk- ing Elephant TECD294). A lesser Albion pro- ject from 1984, several fine songs dominated by a guitar and keyboards production which pushes their sound towards the mainstream and loses distinction. Numbers like Tomorrow And Tomorrow And Tomorrow, Woodlands Of England retain their lyrical elegance; the former exists in superior live guise as part of the Vintage Albion series. www.talkingelephant.co.uk

1 Shankar Tucker Filament (Own label no cat no). Clarinettist Tucker’s debut finds him working with US and Indian musicians on a set combining jazz with Asian traditional music. Smooth and well performed, if that’s what you’re after. www.shankartucker.com

The Gothard Sisters

2 We Banjo Three Live In Galway (WB3CD 003). Stacked with guests and laid down over two fun-packed nights at the Roisin Dubh, obviously located in Galway, We Banjo Three cement their reputation for trad Irish Americana crossover done with taste and verve. Rich testament to their skill and challenging agenda. Great craic! www.webanjo3.com

2 Seamus Begley The Bold Kerryman (IRL IRL 093). First full vocal album from the famed Kerry singer/accordeon player. A mus- cular singer with a choice selection of tradi- tional and contemporary material rendered with authoritative conviction and command of subtle phrasing and ornamentation, com- plete with equally sumptuous backing. www.seamusbegley.com

2 Seasons Seasons (Own label no cat no). Family group from Harrisburg PA, the Lee sib- lings deliver mostly original material mixing elements of Americana, Celtic styles and folk rock, betimes sounding Incredible String Bandy. Wayward and spindly yet rooted in strong traditional codes and foundations. Strongly recommended. www.seasonsmusic.com

2 Geir Sundstøl Furulund (HubroCD2533). Lovely, atmospheric mix of ancient-sounding slide guitars, pedal steel, keyboards and per- cussion by ubiquitous Norwegian musician. At times it sounds like The Henrys crossed with the soundtrack to the best Nordic noir film you haven’t seen yet – high praise! www.hubromusic.com

1 Baked A La Ska Gas Mark 3 (The Slow Burner) (Linefield Records LFCD022). Pun- loving bunch mixing ska, music hall and unlikely covers (Black Sabbath, Blancmange) like a Mancunian Madness. Intermittently entertaining. www.bakedalaska.biz

@ The Crossings Band The Crossings Band (Own label no cat no). Newcastle-based group coming out of a project designed to promote racial harmony through music, by supporting refugees and asylum seekers to work with local musicians. Such a laudable cause, but such indifferent music. I very much wanted to like it a lot more than I did. www.crossings.org.uk

1 The Gothard Sisters Mountain Rose (Own label no cat no). Three Seattle-based sisters kicking the American Celtic trail since 2006 and Mountain Rose is their third album. Their musical abilities far outshine their vocal shortcomings. Highly evocative instrumental arrangements and accomplished playing make for some interesting moments. www.gothardsisters.com