Julie Abbé – Out Of The Ashes
Hailing from France, steeped in theatre and her native Poitou bal folk tradition, Julie moved to England in her twenties where she studied vocal jazz and immersed herself in English and Irish folk music. Her first album, Numberless Dreams (2020) was recorded with Sid Goldsmith and Dominie Hooper and enriched with 3-part harmonies, warm cello, and concertina, an album full of beautifully-crafted arrangements of Irish traditional songs as well as original renditions of Yeats poetry.
This time round it’s a new, bolder, original sound reflecting the rich variety of her influences. Recorded in spring 2022 with James Grunwell (from the band “Me And My Friends”) as producer and guitarist, Ubuntu label-signee Sam Quintana on double bass, swing ambassador Ewan Bleach on reeds, and Shakespeare’s Globe player Paul Johnson on percussion and bamboo flute, Out of the Ashes is a collection of 12 original compositions oozing with the earthy, warm and deeply moving melodies that characterise her exciting sound.
Infused with a rare sensitivity and emotional depth reminiscent of Sandy Denny, Julie’s voice is full of feelings and simply spell-binding. Here’s what Julie herself says: ” “This album takes the listener on a journey around a full cycle of love, celebrating the beauty of what once was, and honouring the different stages of the grieving and healing process that needed to happen for my heart to open again.” This is a compelling blend of folk, swing and old-time blues, accompanied by some fine musicians from the jazz and world music scene.
Session A9 – The Magic Roundabout
“Scottish Supergroup” Session A9 are previous winners of “Best Live Act” at MG Alba’s Scottish Traditional Music Awards. Fiddle players Kevin Henderson, Adam Sutherland, Gordon Gunn and Charlie Mckerron are joined as always by David “Chimp” Robertson on percussion, Marc Clement on guitar and vocals and Brian McAlpine on piano. Each member of Session A9 can also be seen performing on stage with many of traditional music’s most respected bands, including Capercaillie, The Treacherous Orchestra, The Nordic Fiddlers Bloc, as well as their own individual ensembles. The Magic Roundabout was recorded at The House of Newe in Strathdon, recorded and engineered by Marc Clement, arranged and produced by Session A9. It is an album of 8 tracks made up of mostly self penned compositions but more of that later.
You don’t get to be this good without a veritable lifetime of gigging and musical experience, as well as a serious amount of talent, honed and refined. This is a glorious collection of reels, jigs, waltzes and songs, with one lovingly re-worked classic of Tom Waits, ‘The heart of Saturday night’ featuring such sweet backing vocals, and ‘Twilight’, a heartfelt homage to the The Band’s Robbie Robertson. They often say it is hard to recreate live music, but this album grabs you by the lapels, shakes you out of your stupour, and sends you on your way with a smile, a jig and an infectious warm, happy feeling.
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Ruth Moody – Wanderer
Ruth Moody is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Winnipeg, Manitoba, a solo artist and a founding and current member of The Wailin’ Jennys. Ruth collaborated with Mark Knopfler on Privateering and Tracker both as support act and in Mark’s band. Then came motherhood, and this album is a chronicle of her life’s journey over the last ten years: the emotional journey of motherhood, the joy and pain of life, the mysterious and complicated dance of love, and ultimately, the longing we all feel for home, wherever that might be.
From the start, the listener is immersed in a lush and intimate world, welcomed by sounds at once classic, mysterious, and enchanting: open-tuned guitars inspired by Moody’s heroes, Joni Mitchell and Laura Marling; soaring pedal steel; otherworldly vocals; intricate harmonies; and the rich echo-chamber reverb of the legendary Nashville studio. There’s restless, nostalgic energy of ‘Seventeen’, a true-life story of unrequited love and an homage to Moody’s hometown of Winnipeg, to the beautiful duet with fellow Canadian roots music standout Joey Landreth on ‘The Spell of the Lilac Bloom’ it is a mesmerizing journey through time and space. The climactic title track, ‘Wanderer’, embodies the true spirit of love and belonging that we all seek. Her otherworldly soprano voice and her inspired songwriting are to be admired. Wander no more.
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Good Habits – Quarter Life
Working with producer and close friend Benji Marrington-Reeve (Heron Music), Bonnie Schwarz and Pete Shaw have intricately woven Good Habits’ notably unique cello-accordion instrumentation into broader textures, allowing them to indulge in indie-folk sound worlds by bringing their classical and jazz influences in with them. Together, they bring a range of influences to the table: The Unthanks, Kate Bush, The Olllam, Bon Iver, Sylvan Esso, Monique Clare, and The Police, and all seemed to have found their way into this genre-fusing folk album.
‘Quarter-Life’ is Good Habits’ existentially optimistic look at life in their 20s as they reflect on themselves, their influences, and their future. It kicks off in indie-folk style and goes on a daring journey of versatility that the instrumentation of cello and accordion lends itself to. The album visits the rocking, folkified 80s; Scandinavian-influenced folk string quartet; and gentle acoustic cello moments before returning to a joyous folk-pop finale with all collaborators singing on the final song. Within a varied sound world that pushes the boundaries of folk, the music and lyric writing are uplifting and light, despite themes of imposter syndrome, anxieties, and burnout. These themes are cushioned by energizing instrumental tunes, songs of optimism, and even silliness. It is bold, reflective and collaborative.
https://www.goodhabitsband.com
Bart Moore – Wild Flora
This is Bart Moore’s third album, and his approach to the songs and arrangements was driven by his insatiable desire to poke and prod at his chosen genre. As he said on one podcast: “There’s altogether too much introspective naval-gazing and self-affirmation in modern folk and acoustic music…no one’s writing songs about flying dinosaurs. Or loose women on the Dublin streets. Or girls dancing on clocks. All that territory has been ceded to me, as if it has no value….”
Bart Moore’s album chronicles his passions for baseball and trains, God and dreams, distant stars, and Ireland in the spring. His music weds the native influences of the Pogues, Warren Zevon, and Basement Tapes-era Dylan to a head-full full of images and impressions that are singularly his own. Musically, it pays homage to the afore-mentioned Pogues, the Beatles and perhaps the Sam Bush-New Grass Revival collaborations of days gone by. Engrossing.
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Ray Cooper – Even for a Shadow
This is former Oysterband man Ray Cooper’s fifth album and features duets with Emma Härdelin (Garmarna, Triakel), Sunniva Bondesson (Baskery) and Kathryn Roberts as well as other musicians from Sweden, Germany and England, including Ben Paley on fiddle and Anders Peev on nyckelharpa. Ray plays cello, guitars, bass, harmonium, piano, harmonica, mandolin, percussion and kantele. If you hadn’t guessed, this story-based singer/songwriter lives in Sweden now.
Here’s how Ray describes the album: “A journey, and a long one, over forty solo tours and a lot of time to think. I get many of my song ideas when I am driving. These songs are my memories, imagined conversations and thoughts. This album is like a car journey and the kind of radio I would like to hear, but rarely find.” This album is sure to captivate fans of folk music as well as those who appreciate thoughtful song-writing and masterful musicianship. There is something in Ray Cooper’s songs reminiscent of singers such as Leonard Cohen and Ralph McTell but he definitely has his own voice and opinion. Captivating.
Pete Morton – Fair Freedom
Fair Freedom was recorded by Paul Yarrow at Maude Studios, Leek, with the same band of musicians who joined Pete on 2020’s ‘A Golden Thread’. They are: Sarah Matthews (Viola, Fiddle & Vocals), George Sansome (Guitar), Mark Woolley (Percussion and Low Whistle), Justin Twigg (Bass), Matt Quinn (Mandolin & Vocals), and Paul Yarrow (Keyboards), plus a rousing chorus by the St Mary’s Academy Choir, Leek on ‘The Rivers Of The Isle’. All ten tracks are originals, but feature two older re-worked songs.
The material spans a wide array of current issues from a celebration of Great British rivers (The Rivers Of The Isle), to the dangers of social media (The Genuine You) and the Middle East (Sharing The Land), not forgetting the possible extinction of the human race (Newton’s Parakeet). There is a humorous talkin’ blues (The Ghost of a Sailor) and other thought provoking ballads amongst the personal love songs. Pete Morton is a singer and entertainer with self-penned songs that express everything from the highly personal to the international. The old time troubadour delivers an unruly mix of humanism, politics, love, social commentary and humour, all wrapped around the folk tradition. With his powerful, euphonious voice, storytelling and presence, he continues his merry way, singing songs of peace, justice and global inclusion with a fun loving and approachable style. Niche.
OTHER RELEASES
The Buffalo Skinners – Picking up what you’re putting down
From a roots-rock & roll busking band in Scarborough to now, their live experience has evolved to numerous music festivals and multiple other country tours. Similarly the music has electrified (in both main meanings). Lyrically the album goes on to sing of reckless living , the daily grind of work, and the coming of age into parenthood. Fiddle player James Nicholls’ harmonic arrangements and ‘wall of sound’ layering define the musical landscape, all the while sitting alongside melodic creativity and spontaneity. This band of multi-instrumentalists use the studio and live instrumentation in whatever way serves the song, without any hoo-hah about who plays what. Fluid.
Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog – Mynd â’r tŷ am dro’(Taking the house for a walk)
Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog are a Welsh alternative country/folk/rock band consisting of three brothers with accompanying musicians. They experiment with country, folk and rock music. Most of their lyrics are in Welsh. Iwan Hughes (vocals, guitars, keyboards),Dafydd Hughes (drums) and Aled Hughes (bass guitar, guitars, vocals) formed the group in 2006 and have released four studio albums and a live album in 2020. Whatever your thoughts on language, this is a wonderfully put-together album with catching vocals, and a rich and varied compositional heart and soul. Arbennig (splendid).
Spirit of Progressive Rock 