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2Doug MacLeod There’s A Time (Refer- ence Recordings RR-130). Cool and easy, bluesy and contemporary, Doug MacLeod’s new album finds him relaxing in the company of bassist Denny Croy and drummer Jimi Bott who leave MacLeod plenty of room to spin his well-spun story songs and pick his (always excellent) National Reso-Phonic guitar accom- paniments.
www.ReferenceRecordings.com
1Mamud Band Afro Future Funk (Felmay fy8200). Previous CD was Fela covers. Now, these highly-energised jazzers from Italy play their own afrobeat/funk/fusion (and obliga- tory bit of reggae). Tight and clever, full bore all the way, with ultra-busy bass and lots of hand drums. But not much in the way of soul or surprise.
www.mamudband.com
1Various Artists Fado: Coimbra-Lis- bonne 1949–1961 (Fremeaux & Associés FA 5399, UK distribution by Discovery Records). This two-CD set looks beyond fado icon Amália Rodrigues to present the genre’s other definitive mid-20th Century legendary singers, including Lucília do Carmo, the Coim- bra Quintet, Fernando Farinha, Alfredo Marceneiro, Maria Teresa de Noronha, Carlos Ramos and Herminia Silva.
www.discovery-records.com
2 Congo Dia Notila Seben Steps To Heaven (GLP GLP035). Pretty fine soukous from Leeds-based UK/Congolese band. Bassist Mulele Matongo – who has just released a good solo album – and John Kelly on guitar impress with fluent invention and solid exe- cution. Vocals also convince, both in gentle and rousing dance modes.
www.congodiantotila.com
2 Various Artists Sportsmen, Seafarers, Scumbags & Psychos (Thames Delta Recording Co MUD006CD). Leigh Folk Festival fund-raiser which stands as a beautifully realised artefact in its own right. Previously unreleased tracks from Alasdair Roberts, Josi- enne Clarke & Ben Walker and more, and a Velvet Underground song performed with hurdy-gurdy. Brilliant stuff!
www.leighfolkfestival.com
1Betse Ellis High Moon Order (Free Dirt Records, no cat no). Known for her associa- tion with the Kansas City-based honkytonk bluegrass band The Wilders, fiddler Betse Ellis goes solo, with some original compositions arranged in a folk-country-Americana for- mat. Sometimes that works, sometimes it just feels overwrought. The songs as such are gen- erally decent, but it’s Ellis’ masterly approach to hoary fiddle tunes that, ironically, feels fresh.
www.fiddlebetse.com
2 Various Artists Classic Banjo (Smithso- nian Folkways SFWCD40209). Thirty essential recordings of Pete Seeger, Dock Boggs, Eliza- beth Cotten, Roscoe Holcomb, Ola Belle Reed, Frank Proffit and more, enhanced by a superb 44-page booklet. Wonderful, eclectic American music that only an especially hate- ful banjophobe could fail to love.
www.folkways.si.edu/
@ Rich And Famous Beginners Luck (Yeti Boy 001). Wayne Evans on guitar, banjo, singing, writing the songs, backed by just per- cussion. Full frontal, wordy songs reminds me of an acoustic Half Man Half Biscuit but with less wit.
www.yetiboyrecords.com
2 Steve Martin and Edie Brickell Love Has Come For You (Rounder
00111661915022). Martin is really taking his music seriously and teams up with Brickell to perform thirteen of his songs. High quality songs, performance and production. So much more rewarding than his Pink Panther remake.
www.rounder.com.
1Various Artists The Rough Guide To Flamenco (World Music Network RGNET1301CD). Apart from a nod to classic Andalusian artists such as Carmen Linares, this compilation contemporary mix includes Son de la Frontera, Mayte Martín, the theatri- cal Martirio, hip-hop-influenced Lenacay, Sephardic interpreter Yasmin Levy, and France’s Gitano Family, with a bonus CD by Argentina’s Al Toque Flamenco.
www.worldmusic.net
1Various Artists The Flooers O’ The For- est – Songs and Music of Flodden (Green- trax, CDTRAX1513). Songs and poems about Scotland’s catastrophic military defeat at Flodden in 1513. Standout tracks are Lau & Karine Polwart’s Lord Yester, Dick Gaughan’s Flooers O The Forest, and Robin Laing’s The Ears Of The Wolf (recorded specially for this album).
www.greentrax.com
2 Emerald Rae If Only I Could Fly (9 864501 83487 2). A difficult project to pull off. One woman, her fiddle, guitar, foot per- cussion, voice and songs. Works well and fid- dle playing particularly notable. www.emer-
aldrae.com
2Zingaros Gitango (Arc Records EUCD 2444). In which “Gypsy meets Tango”, in this case meaning that both rapture and melan- choly are played with élan against a sparse, atmospheric production polish that showcas- es the subtly experimental accordeon playing of Basque music expert (but long time resi- dent of Argentina) Alexander Garate.
www.arcmusic.co.uk
@ The Wagon Tales Introducing (Own label, no cat no). English outfit playing ver- sion of overkill bluegrass. Nothing subtle here. Playing better than singing ,but need to use shade as well as bright lights. www.wag-
ontales.co.uk
2 Whalebone Runes (Two Wild Women Records TWW280). Decent, moody cover holds within rolling acoustic selection of material from the rather clever pairing of Paint it Black/Devil In The Kitchen to the trad staple Scarce O’ Tatties. In all, a romp on the unplugged side.
www.whalebone-music.com
2 Long Lankin In The Moss (Tarnished Folk TRN001). Five-track EP featuring excel- lent three-part vocal harmonies and inventive instrumental arrangements across an eclectic repertoire from Scots balladry to cowboy song, via Norsk fiddle tunes. Staves and First Aid Kit fans seeking something a bit more trad arr should investigate with haste.
www.longlankin.net
1Anto Morra Never Had To Shout (Amma 001). Good-hearted singer-songwriter exhibiting discernible Comrade Billy Bragg and Uncle Joe Strummer influences. Nice enough, but a tougher band could potential- ly elevate songs like London Irish into Saw Doctors-style anthems. Mandola player Tim Chipping isn’t the fRoots columnist.
www.antomorra.com
@ Sarah Alden Fists of Violets (7 00261 36576 3). Singing fiddle player with original material and tunes like Ida Red and Cousin Emmy’s Ruby. Fails to really take off. Not helped by arrangements or support musi- cians.
www.Sarahalden.com
2 The Celtic Fiddle Festival Live in Brit- tany (Loftus Music LM006). The buoyant Irish/ Breton/Québecois fiddle front-line of Kevin Burke, André Brunet and Christian Lemaître and guitarist Nicolas Quémener cel- ebrate 20 years vivaciously exploring three Celtic traditions with what sounds like a bliss- ful live concert. Flowing beauty and stomping tunes meld naturally together though some of their live majesty is lost in transference.
www.celticfiddlefestival.com
1Wingin’ It For the Many (Own Label WIR0001). Debut from Scottish guitar/man- dolin duo Adam Bulley and Chas Mackenzie. Sparkling playing plus excellent musicians but strong Pat Metheny influences. Wordless vocals, nods to Pink Floyd, bluegrass and musique concrète combine to form a jazz- folk ambience that fails to satisfy.
www.winginitduo.com
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