Frankie Armstrong: Cats of Coven Lawn review – at 80, still as intimate as ever The Natural Voice authority marks her 80th year with an album of politics, yearning and otherworldliness, always stretching her sound
Burd Ellen: Says the Never Beyond review – brilliant wintersongs make an eerie snowglobe of sound Debbie Armour and Gayle Brogan harmonise beautifully and add unnerving sounds to British seasonal songs
Katy Carr: Providence review – Anglo-Polish ballads of freedom The Nottingham-born singer returns to her roots, with a more personal edge
Gwenifer Raymond: Strange Lights Over Garth Mountain review – eerily tangled roots music Raymond’s accomplished guitar playing, inspired on her second album by her Welsh upbringing, makes for horror-tinged blues full of atmosphere
Emmy the Great: April / 月音 review – a quest for belonging The artist’s lush fourth album, written between New York and Hong Kong, is a stirring exploration of different homes
Linda Buckley: From Ocean’s Floor review – folk to take you from the sea to the stars The Irish composer combines traditional séan-nos singing with an electronic soundscape, connecting past and future
I Will Walk With My Love review – gifted soprano finds depth and dancing in folk-classical debut Paula Murrihy’s debut is a collection of folk-leaning music from Brahms, Debussy and Mahler, plus traditional songs
Diana Jones: Song to a Refugee review – tender testimony to bruised lives Jones’s sorrowful vocals bear witness to the dreams and hardships of those crossing the US-Mexico border
Richard and Linda Thompson: Hard Luck Stories 1972–1982 review – a tempestuous tale worth retelling The highlight of this eight-CD box set is 31 previously unreleased tracks
Bróna McVittie: The Man in the Mountain review – eerie ambience and visionary space Mc Vittie’s new album tempers her soft folk in collaborations with electronic duo Isan and trumpeter Arve Henriksen
Stick in the Wheel: Hold Fast review – Anglo Saxon Auto-Tune, anyone? The London duo’s third album is trying too hard
Kath Bloom: Bye Bye These Are the Days review – beguiling, defiant folk The Mary Oliver of folk sings of love and determination in a vital album that addresses the state of America
Alula Down: Postcards from Godley Moor, Summer 2020 review – a hazy lockdown in Weirdshire Kate Gathercole and Mark Waters mark the shape-shifting effects of Covid in rural Britain, mixing traditional music with post-rock and ambience
Emma Swift: Blonde on the Tracks review – illuminating, intimate Bob Dylan covers Nobody has ever sung Dylan quite like this Nashville-based Australian singer-songwriter, nor with such a rare interpretive gift
Shirley Collins: Heart’s Ease review – the voice of a benevolent God The folk veteran’s past, present and future come together on this full-hearted record