f138
2 Vesselil Vesselil (GO’ Danish GO1318) Impressive debut from Danish violin, viola, cello and vocal trio: Elisabeth Dichmann, Clara Tesch and Maja Aarøe Freese. Originals and from unusual Danish, Swedish and Bel- gian trad sources, a nice variety of well- arranged tunes and calm, unmannered singing. Pleasingly melodious and un- showoffy.
vesselil.dk
2 Night Tree Dedications (Night Tree NTR 02) Random elements of classical, acid folk, traditional and baroque strains permeate the eclectic brew that is Night Tree. Some intrigu- ing results between the Incredible String Band and The Kronos Quartet with surpris- ingly accurate takes on folk balladry and eth- nic nuances.
nighttreemusic.com
2 Cuig The Theory of Chaos (Cuig) Fourth album from youthful Northern Irish outfit sees them come of age. Solid performances and diversely angular composition marry tra- ditional roots with contemporary realism. Cool languid vocal tracks add to the stirringly realised sound, confirming their earlier promise.
cuigmusic.com
1 Bob Devereux & Clive Palmer The Archive Tapes (Rainyday) CD transfer of 1982 cassette (sourced from 1977/78 demos) enshrining a creative words-and-music collab- oration between Cornish poet Devereux and erstwhile ISB/COB/FJB-ite Palmer (vocals/ banjo/ Northumbrian pipes). A true curio; strangely appealing too, although occasional- ly sounding mastered at a slightly incorrect speed.
rainydaygallery.co.uk
@ John Rogers Prosser & Paul Vile The Girl Always Wins (P & V Music P&V010018) Debut joint offering from this long-time col- laboration between s/s John and singer Paul. But competent guitar playing, a supportive rhythm section and easy soft acoustic rock styling can’t redeem the distinctly ordinary writing. Anonymous and unmemorable.
facebook.com/johnprosserandpaulvile
2 M’Toro Chamou Sika Mila (Believe) The distinctive voice and enticing grooves of this fine Comorien songwriter/ guitarist ride again. Local Indian Ocean roots blended with hints of reggae and an occasional dash of beefburger rock guitar. Deserves wider recog- nition: if he were West African he’d have got it a long time ago.
mtorochamou.com
M’Toro Chamou
2 The Oldham Tinkers An Introduction To The Oldham Tinkers (Topic TICD013) Compilation of 1970s material from well- loved and still extant Lancastrian institution, mixing humour, whimsy, nostalgia and indus- trial grit, the latter exemplified by John Howarth’s impressive Four-Loom Weaver. Of it’s time but brings a warm glow to this Northerner.
topicrecords.co.uk
1 Cimbalom Brothers Testveriseg + Brotherhood (Fono FA 416-2) Wow. Cym- balom virtuosity. Think hammer dulcimer but with more strings and accidentals. There is no doubt these guys can play but the style is just too decorative for me at times: often fast, furious and astounding playing.
fono.hu
2 Various Artists A Woman’s World: Songs Of Resilience And Hope (ARC EUCD2815) A good compilation of some of the finest female singers and writers from around the world. It follows the themes of strength, peace, hardships and triumphs, and would make a great playlist for any world music festival.
arcmusic.co.uk
2 Jamie MacDonald & Christian Gamauf The Pipe Slang (Own Label JMCG01) Austri- an Gamauf discovered Scottish piping, moved to Uist, and met fiddler MacDonald from Tiree. Playing tunes and a couple of songs from thereabouts with a few local guests, this is quintessential Hebridean piping and fid- dling, pretty hardcore, and downright excel- lent.
pipeslang.com
1 Almir Meskovic & Daniel Lazar Roots (Etnisk Musikklubb EM122) Influenced by Mozart, the Roma and traditional music from the Balkans and Russia, this is a spirited set of dances, wedding tunes, and particularly fine and highly wrought sevdah. Accordeon and violin dominate a quietly kinetic sequence of loose chamber miniatures. Beautifully played, but nothing new.
etniskmusikklubb.no
1 Clarke Camilleri Traditional Tunes And Songs Volume 1 (Clarke Camilleri) Youthful South-East London folk club activist delivers dextrous and distinctive solo voice and guitar versions of traditional staples like North Country Maid, Willy O’ Winsbury and Lovely Joan. A terrific CD, sold short by a slap- dash DIY cover.
clarkecamilleri.co.uk
1 David Ian Roberts Travelling Bright (Cambrian CAM014) For all the arrangements and undoubted talent here, this sounds not much more than a homage to Nick Drake and the jazzy-folky end of the 1960s; if that’s your bag, you’ll enjoy it.
cambrianrecords.com
2 Rich Krueger Now Then (Rockin K Music RKM005) The leader of Chicago weirdos The Dysfunctionells returns with an eclectic album of hook-laden, articulate and memo- rable songs. Friends including R. Crumb and Peter Stampfel variously contribute to an excellent album. Outsider Americana of the wittiest and wisest kind.
richkrueger.com
1 William Elliot Whitmore Kilonova (Bloodshot BS265) Iowan rural punk banjo and guitar maverick covers ten songs from diverse core influences, including Bill Withers and Bad Religion. Whitmore raises goose- bumps with an unaccompanied version of Dock Boggs’ Country Blues, and smiles with Captain Beefheart’s Bat Chain Puller.
williamelliottwhitmore.com
1 Tony Skinner The Acoustic Composer (Highpoint HPR99548) Very accomplished set of originals by guitar teacher and author of many instruction books. Lots of space and strong melodies; a little one-paced until the end, but overall a nice selection.
TonySkinnerMusic.com
1 Ciaran O’Kane Round And Round (Cia- ran O’Kane) Northern Irish singer and accordeonist O’Kane offers a motley collec- tion of traditional, self-composed and cover songs. A strong warm voice with an agile accordeon technique, the set resounds in a comfortable ease of approach and wizened application.
facebook.com/Ciaranokanemusic
@ John Blek Thistle And Thorn (WARR 010) An Irish singer-songwriter with a sweet voice and lush production. The connection with roots music varies between zero and tenuous.
johnblek.com
1 Tagelfar Murbräckan (Tagelfar SEZ01) Johan Lång on the usual modern form of nyckelharpa, Einar Zethelius on the older kontrabasharpa, with fellow Stockholm Royal College of Music alumnus guitarist Anton Larsson, in mostly originals. The community of skilled nyckelharping and Tallroth-style guitaring ever widens.
tagelfar.music@
gmail.com
1 Camilla Barbarito Sentimento Popo- lare (Felmay FY7060) From Milano, Barbarito, a versatile theatre performer and singer, blends Ecuadorian folk, Argentine tango, rebetika, Macedonian, Senegalese folk, Ital- ian traditional and show numbers, Nina Rota (Amarcord) and her own compositions with equal feeling and compassion. Notes in Ital- ian and English.
felmay.it
@ Dan O’Farrell & The Difference Engine These Dark Ages Are Hurting All The Peo- ple That We Love (Humph CD20) S/s and his band (guitar, double bass and drums plus a host of guest musicians) return with a second album. Exquisitely catchy melodies and classy instrumentation combine with socially aware but clumsily delivered lyrics and vocals that are definitely an acquired taste.
1 Heather Cameron Never Land (Own Label WFM03) Nova Scotian Cameron writes songs, sings, plays fiddle, guitar, piano all splendidly (and pipes as well apparently), mix- ing influences from the Scottish tradition, bluegrass and elsewhere, and maybe that’s the problem – individual tracks are fine, but the album never quite gels.
heathercameron.ca
2 Martyn Joseph Here Come The Young (Pipe PRCD028) Strong new set from the acclaimed Welsh s/s, comprising 11 insightful songs that explore the uncertainties of our age and provide encouragement, empower- ment and a welcome optimism. Typically stylish, impassioned, soulful performances, encased within an intelligent Gerry Diver pro- duction.
martynjoseph.net
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