Gem Andrews – North- Album Review 2018
An enticing mix of light and darkness tied together in a package of exploratory, urban Tyneside Country. BAND Gem Andrews: Vocals, Guitar Nicky Rushton: Piano, Accordion, Electric Guitar, Harmony Vocals Sarah Van Jellie: Double Bass, Harmony Vocals Bernard Wright: Violin, Mandolin, Harmony vocals Susanne Lambert: Drums, Percussion, Shells and Harmony vocals Sue McLaren: Harmony vocals […]
Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman – Personae (2018) Album Review
“Sharp, witty and accomplished there is a class to Roberts & Lakeman’s new album that cannot be measured on any known scientific apparatus” Album: Personae Producer: Sean Lakeman Tracks: 10 Iscream Music Records (2018) Released 9th March 2018 Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman are indeed a famous duo. Maybe the best known in folk circles […]
Peter Knight’s Gigspanner “The Wife of Urban Law” Review
“An album that greets old friends with a warm handshake which has arrived with a zest for life and a sense of adventure” Picking up Peter Knight’s Gigspanner’s “The Wife of Urban Law” you might think that the soul of this disc is wrapped up warm in a coat of high reputation. Like a […]
Bella Gaffney- Heaven Knows – Album Review
Album: Heaven Knows With: Bella Gaffney (Vocals and guitars, concertina, and more) Lauren Deakin Davies (Bass guitar, keys and percussion) Nick Hall (Backing vocals and lead guitar) Tim Spencer (Drums) Chris Elliott (Fiddle) Heather Sirret (Bass Guitar) James Gaffney (Piano) Tracks: 11 Produced by: Lauren Deakin Davies FOLKSTOCK RECORDS […]
The Twisted Twenty (Debut Album) Review
THE TWISTED TWENTY From: Penny Fiddle Records Tracks: 8 With: Holly Harman (baroque violin, vocals), Alexis Bennett (baroque violin, guitar, bodhran, electronics), James O’Toole, David Rabinovici (baroque violin), Ewan Macdonald (Cittern), Lucia Capellaro (baroque cello), Carina Cosgrave (baroque double bass Producer: Sam Proctor Zesty yet focused, the Twisted Twenty’s Debut is a fantastic window […]
Kim Lowings and the Greenwood – Wild & Wicked Youth – A Review
FANCOURT MUSIC Album Release: 8 September 2017 I continue to wade through folk CD reviews as there are many. The next artist I would like to talk about is Kim Lowings and the Greenwood and their release “Wild & Wicked Youth.” Let me just say to start and paint a picture; Kim Lowings has a […]
Oka Vanga -Dance of the Copper Trail – An Album Review
Hot on the heels of their previous entry “Tales from Eyam” the latest album from the acoustic duo, Oka Vanga, has arrived. In fact it arrived 31 March but let us not dwell on the time that has passed. As Spring has undoubtedly turned to Autumn with the hints of amber leaves blowing in delightful […]
Elfin Bow – A Debut Album Review
Elfin Bow – (Elfin Bow) Elfin Bow Music Recorded at: Hound Dog Studios, Liverpool www.elfinbow.co.uk Released 18th March 2017 Elfin Bow is very much the ringmaster in this positively creative and interesting debut that takes the best elements of her musical inspirations and fuses them with the mysteries and wonders of folk music. […]
Roving Crows – “Bury Me Naked” Album Review
It was a few years ago I saw the Roving Crows now. I remember in Bromsgrove. Not far from Ledbury (their home turf) andalso not far from where I spent my youngest years (in Kidderminster); it was an interesting experience when I was relatively new to folk. It was not just an introduction to the […]
Geoff Lakeman – After All The Years – A Review
Observational and considered, Lakeman collects a squad of influencing folk artists that bring his rich imagination and celebratory character to life Released 3rd February 2017 Geoff Lakeman, in a rather circular and interesting path has recorded his debut solo entitled “After All These Years.” What I mean of course is that Geoff is known to […]