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f130


2 Me And My Friends Look Up (Split Shift MAMFCD001). Classic don’t judge a book (or in this case a CD) by the cover. With their ill- advised name and cutesy zoo cartoon art- work, it looks like a kids’ record. In fact, it’s actually skilfull and attractive lightweight pan-African-influenced acoustic pop (here a bit of soukous-lite, there a hint of Ethiopian lope) that Paul Simon fans would probably enjoy. meandmyfriends.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 Rosalía El Mal Querer (Sony Spain 90758 87962). Rosalía’s previous album Los Angeles was a new flamenco beauty, just sensational voice and guitar, but this new one is a bona fide Great Leap Forward, effortlessly mixing flamenco with cool R&B production. Lead track Malamente has been a massive YouTube hit – 33 million views and rising – and with two Latin Grammy Awards already, one sens- es a star being born who is nevertheless utterly true to her roots. Major!


@ Fofoulah Daega Rek (Glitterbeat GBCD064). One PR’s “slippery sabar beats, dystopian electronics and echoing shamanic chants” is another reviewer’s “bloke shouting in Wolof over random percussion, keyboard noises and dislocated dubbery”. The end result lies somewhere between sheer excite- ment and a really fucking irritating racket. Straight No Chaser and The Wire will love it. Me, it does me ‘ead in! glitterbeat.com


1 India Electric Co. Tablelands (EP) (Shoelay SHMU33) Final instalment in the duo’s trilogy contrasting city and country themes, their elegant culture-fusing sound- scapes taking in influences from gnawa to Norwegian and sub-Saharan traditions. Replete with bustling energy and conviction, though can’t quite escape an occasional impression of contrivance. indiaelectricco.com


Rosalía


1 Various Come Join My Orchestra (Grapefruit CRSEGBOX049). Titled after Al Jones’ 1969 opening track and sub-titled The British Baroque Pop Sound 1967-73, this 3-CD boxed set with extensive notes on the artists is a feast for people who like unthreateningly fey, often acoustic-inclined and very middle- class Brit-accented pop songwriting with faux-classical tootling. Runs from fringe-folk like Al Jones, Donovan, Bert Jansch, Bridget St John, Ian Campbell and the Humblebums via numerous obscure curiosities to early Gen- esis, Stackridge, Barclay James Harvest etc. I blame McCartney. Has period, patriotic charm, though you do eventually reach for the bottle and/ or London Calling. cherryred.co.uk


2 The Kimberleys The Kimberleys (PopLa Disque) Isobel and Jim Kimberley (erstwhile alt-folk-rockers Bruise) achieve the seemingly impossible on a selection of traditional songs, rendering them genuinely fresh and often very exciting indeed. Well-turned vocals, keen musicianship and enterprising string- based instrumentation confirm the album’s desirability. A keeper. thekimberleys.org


1 Kelly & Woolley Miner’s Eyes (Clunk & Rattle Records CRLP015) The latest offering from Matt Kelly and Gary Woolley features the duo’s original writing (reflecting on coun- try, industry or relationship matters) set to subtle, lyrical playing (fiddle, mandolin, gui- tar), sometimes with distinct tinges of Ameri- cana. kelleyandwoolley.co.uk


1 Skinner & T’witch Everybody’s Grotty (Skinner & T’witch) Steve Skinner and Sandra Twitchett’s third album release concentrates exclusively on the comic and satirical side of their writing. Good-humoured, well-inten- tioned, knowing and playful in approved cabaret, That’s Life-style. Old-fashioned and a touch dated. skinnerandtwitch.com


1 Julu Irvine & Heg Brignall Unfair Maids (EP) (Own label) Teaming of Wolf Cho- rus refugee Brignall and s/s Irvine delivers a debut EP including a decent self-penned orig- inal, an a cappella Blood And Gold and a deli- cately rendered but borderline-twee Wild Mountain Thyme. facebook.com/juluandheg


1 The Willows Through The Wild (Elk ELK014) Cambridge-based outfit again proves itself more than the sum of its parts on album three, with Jade Rhiannon Ward and chums now joined by Katriona Gilmore. Songs are predominantly group-penned, but retain the band’s sensitive folky-newgrass- Americana signature. thewillowsband.com


2 Jon Wilks Midlife (Grizzly Folk) The rules say we don’t review download-only releases but when something’s this good… He may not have the long immersion of your Simp- sons, Morays or Fosters but as a guitar player and arranger of traditional songs he already deserves speaking of in the same breath. This set of carefully researched songs from his native Midlands is a delight: hear one on this issue’s fRoots 71. jonwilks.bandcamp.com


1 Ronn McFarlane The Celtic Lute (Sono Luminus DSL 92225) Largely familiar Scottish and Irish (and O’Carolan) tunes arranged by Grammy-nominated lutenist. Each of the 26 impeccably played and recorded tracks is a delicate gem, but with eveything played at a sedate pace, one’s nodding off before the end. ronnmcfarlane.com


@ The Dodge Brothers Drive Train (Weep- ing Angel DB1004). UK Rockabilly, skiffle, and be-quiffed film pundit Mark Kermode on bass. To be absolutely honest it’s all pretty average and the fake American accents are thoroughly naff. dodgebrothers.co.uk


1 Hò-rò Hex (Own label) Second album from six-piece Scottish Highland folk band features accordeon, bagpipes, fiddle, whis- tles, guitar, keyboards, drums and Gaelic & English vocals. Surging, rhythmic traditional dance sets lift off into full-on folk-rock terri- tory. Well-chosen traditional and contempo- rary songs add contrast and variety. musichoro.com


1 Various The Hooky Mat Project (Hooky Mat Records HMR025) Mainly coal mining and related songs from local hero Ed Pick- ford, sung by a bunch of singers from the North East (of England) including The Wilsons, Pegleg Ferret, Johnny Handle and Pickford himself. Worthy if a little rough- hewn in places. hookymatrecords.uk


1Linsey Aitken & Ken Campbell Shore To Shore (Bridgegrove Music BMCD007) Ideal Band members Aitken (vocals, cello, ukelele) and Campbell (vocals, guitar, Northumbrian pipes) join forces again on more self-penned material with Scottish con- nections past and present. Adding a few friends, the strong cello-led arrangements are noteworthy, the vocals less so. linskenscotland.scot


1The Sturgeons Black And White (The Sturgeons 192914218562) Canadian outfit who mix acoustic-based country rhythms with pedal steel guitar, not bad harmony singing, and a set of original songs. Competent, but by no means outstanding. the-sturgeons.com


2 The Hot Seats Stupid Mountain Too Big (Hot Seats) Quintet from Richmond, Vir- ginia playing old-time country music with skill, originality and humour. Fiddle and banjo lead instrumentally with often tongue- in-cheek vocals and lyrics. So much better than the fossilised versions. thehotseats.com


2 10 String Symphony Generation Frus- tration (Tasty Note) Just two voices and two fiddles have a lot of musical gaps to fill. Chris- tian Sedelmyer and Rachel Baiman succeed in creating interesting musical textures with such sparse resources. Music and songs demand and deserve close listening. 10stringsymphony.com


2 Jerry Wicentowski Thanks Mac! Songs Of Mac Wiseman (700261 45818 2) Nicely performed musical tribute to bluegrass and country stalwart Mac Wiseman. Wicentowski is blessed with a rich voice in the same high range as Wiseman, makes good use of twin fiddles and it all works well. Wizgrass.com


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