Joan Shelley: Like the River Loves the Sea review – magnificent love-and-loss songs
Shelley’s fifth album was recorded in Iceland and her music seems more timeless, steely, sad and resolute than ever
Thirty Pounds of Bone & Philip Reeder: Still Every Year They Went review – come aboard
An evocative album of softly shined shanties and folk songs recorded on a working fishing boat, with added atmosphere supplied by the waves and gulls
Hiss Golden Messenger review – songwriter is an anchor in a rudderless world
Playing solo and acoustic, MC Taylor delves into his sizeable back catalogue to deliver redemptive ‘sad folk songs’
Rufus and Martha Wainwright review – quirky, magnificent festive blowout
Chrissie Hynde, Neil Tennant and Sophie Ellis-Bextor joyously topped up the Wainwright siblings’ big-hearted Christmas fundraiser, A Not So Silent Night
Jeremy Warmsley: A Year review – genre-hopping folk-pop for all seasons
The London singer-songwriter – and one half of Summer Camp – released a new song per month during 2019, tracing the ups and downs of a relationship
Richard Dawson review – dispatches from the breadline
A tender but challenging tour of broken Britain
Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy: I Made a Place review – older, wiser and happier
“Looking for a recommendation for an artist residency that takes small families with two working artist parents?” tweeted Will Oldham recently. The Americana outrider with the shining pate is now coupled up, with small fry on board. His newest album … Continue reading
Sound Portraits from Bulgaria: A Journey to a Vanished World review – songs rescued from the edge of history
Martin Koenig’s wonderful collection, recorded in rural Bulgaria between 1966 and 1979, is quietly heroic
Son of Town Hall: The Adventures of Son of Town Hall review – folk fun with a steampunk twist
Being overearnest is an occupational hazard for folkies, but one that doesn’t afflict Ben Parker and David Berkeley. The pair are accomplished musicians (from London and Santa Fe respectively) but believe a little theatre doesn’t go amiss, dressing like extras … Continue reading
Land of Kush: Sand Enigma review – the disorientating sound of Egypt
Sam Shalabi’s ambitious project offers up a heady mix of free jazz, Arabic classical, postpunk and panglobal folk music
Lankum: The Livelong Day review – the Irish folk songbook uprooted
Folk standards get extreme makeovers on the Dublin four-piece’s latest, cementing their place at the forefront of the form
Maz O’Connor: Chosen Daughter review – fine, female-focused folk
(Restless Head/Hudson)
Black String: Karma review – elegant South Korean folk jazz
South Korean music is on something of a roll. From popular boy bands such as Super Junior to the array of improvisational acts at this year’s forthcoming K-Music festival in London, there’s a newfound confidence in play. Black String are … Continue reading
Hiss Golden Messenger: Terms of Surrender review – songs of despair turned to hope
MC Taylor’s 11th album was written in depression but finds notes of hope – and a musical sound that fuses old with new