Pedair – Mae’na Olau (There’s a Light)
Five years on from their first gig comes their first album. An album inspired by the current state of the world, the resilience of nature, the folk traditions of Wales and the simple virtues of friendship and hope. Pedair are Siân James, Gwyneth Glyn, Meinir Gwilym and Gwenan Gibbard. They are ably supported by Aled Wyn Hughes (bass) and Dafydd Hughes (drums and percussion).
Their sweeping harmonies, fresh interpretations of the Welsh folk tradition, and intimacy of songwriting are a source of comfort and hope. With arrangements on harps, guitar, piano, accordion and percussion, they bring to life traditional
material whilst at the same time form their own, new songs of experience. Five songs recorded at home during lockdown and eight new songs provide a unified collection of folk and original songs in the Welsh language, displaying Pedair’s unique gifts as song-tellers and their deftness as songwriters. Ethereal.
Bob Bradshaw – The Art of Feeling Blue
This is the Irish-born long-time US resident’s tenth album recorded October 21 to October 22 with Boston musicians: guitarists Andrew Stern and Andy Santospago, bass-player John Sheeran and drummer Mike Connors, as well as frequent collaborators Kris Delmhorst on vocals, James Rohr on keyboards and Chad Manning on fiddle among others.
What you’ll hear is journeyman moody song-writer uptempo or balladic rock – first track ‘Waiting’ has definite Tom Petty vibe for example. Bradshaw himself references artist he likes such as Nick Lowe, John Hiatt and Guy Clark, and they are good references. A published short-story writer and a failed novelist (his own description) He spins a good 3-4 minute yarn, creates a good mood, and writes a good song. Recorded after the passing of his wife Connie, Bradshaw says “I’m a lifer…Trends don’t really matter. I’m not chasing commercial success. I want to go deeper, not wider.” Go deep Bob, go deep.
www.facebook.com/BobBradshawmusic
Anna Elizabeth Laube – Wild Outside
Americana-folk-pop singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer. This fifth release is supported by Aaron Sterling on drums and percussion (John Mayer, Lana Del Rey), Chris Joyner on keys (Sheryl Crow, Amos Lee, Heart), and Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer Adrianne Gonzalez among others. Her songwriting efforts have been compared in the past to Joni Mitchell’s (No Depression), and I’d add Sheryl Crow to that.
It’s an eclectic collection of songs showcasing Laube’s unique sound and sensibility, touching on themes of friendship, family, perseverance, and reverence for the natural world. Its strength is a seamless blend of genres and influences, with slight elements of pop, folk, and electronic music throughout but never overpowering. Five cover songs is a significant number but she reworks them in an original way, making them indelibly her own – the Beatles’ “I Will” is better for it’s dark moodiness, for example. Quirky.
www.facebook.com/AnnaElizabethLaube
Malcolm Holcombe – Bits & Pieces
Malcolm Holcombe is a survivor. Most recently, a cancer survivor after diagnosis in 2022, he and Jared Tyler decided to get these songs for his 18th album recorded, just the two of them, not knowing what the future held. Jared provided harmonies, guitars, mandola, dobro, banjo and also produced this album, along with Brian Brinkerhoff.
The title track epitomises it all. No click track. No smooth production. Musically tight as a proverbial nut yet overflowing with natural honesty. Reality bites. Raw, to the bone, a realistic album of life with all its flaws. It’s an album of brilliant vignettes and expressive musicianship sung by a voice that’s dusty and life-worn, but gruff and tough enough to handle anything. Malcolm Holcombe is a singer, songwriter, survivor. He survives thanks in part to the fire and passion and conscience that we witness in his craft. Real.
www.facebook.com/malcolmholcombe
www.twitter.com/@malcolmholcombe
Andrew Hawkey – Hindsight
This is a 50-year career overview by veteran Cornish-born multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter Andrew Hawkey, the 17-track chronological compilation drawn from fifty years as a writer, solo performer, band member, producer and promoter. Personal recordings get as best a polish they can, and mark developments through to his most recent recordings, which meld folk, blues, and Americana with more than a hint of the Celtic influence of his Cornish roots and his chosen upland home environment in mid-Wales.
It is fascinating to see the musical journey of one individual set out so starkly, from an enthusiasm for US folk/country, through a sixties vibe, then burgeoning ’70-’80’s solo ventures before Pat Grover’ s Blue Zeros in the ’90’s. His choice is nicely eclectic with a cinematic instrumental and another 1983 studio collaboration with a mysterious South Walian songwriter, Jane Gilbert: the risqué ‘Take Me’ breaches convention and defies categorisation. It’s a totally honest, totally individual, audio and textual story of one self-taught musician and songwriter’s journey through five decades. Honest.
David Edward Booth – All My Days
David Edward Booth is a songwriter, singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer, based in
rural Suffolk. This album features Texas founding guitarist Ally Mcerlaine, Kelly Bayfield (also co-producer) and Ian Stephenson (double bass and production experience). David’s distinctive musical identity is shaped by a childhood playing cornet in brass bands, a ‘misspent’ youth playing drums, and finally the guitars that later brought his songwriting to life.
Recorded between 2021 and 2023, the grief of the recent loss of his Mum brought motivation to finish the album and to grasp life that bit tighter – a subject touched on more than once in the album. David’s voice tells weathered, atmospheric and honest stories. With down-tuned guitar and folk leanings audible, his songs now flow as much from the worlds of Neil Finn and David Gray as they do from Nick Drake and Kris Drever. The finished sound is polished with a reverence for classic songwriters and the experience of two decades as a producer. Quality.
https://davidedwardbooth.co.uk/
Annie Keating – Hard Frost
Annie Keating’s last album was in 2021 and we’ve once again got Steve Williams on drums and percussion (Sade, David Byrne), Richard Hammond (Joan Osborne, & the musical Hamilton original bassist) on electric and acoustic bass and backing vocals, Todd Caldwell (Crosby, Stills & Nash) on piano, keyboards and accordion and Teddy Kumpel on guitars. As with Bristol County Tides, Teddy has also handled the production duties.
There’s much that will be familiar – songs like Lovesick Blues, Looking For Trouble and Lies And Dynamite have been in the live repertoire, and Sunshine Parade, Belly of the Beast and Wrong Guy’s Girl were previewed on Twenty-22 Tour EP a mini album only available to her 2022 audiences. Annie Keating is a lady of many moods, and I mean that in the nicest sense. Her music can cook, it can funk, it can be richly tender and vulnerable, it can go to steamy, sleazy places. There is grit throughout, but as we know grit helps make a pearl. There’s grace, humour and heartache. The late, great songwriter, John Prine who sadly left us in April 2020 is probably Annie’s most constant inspiration. Cooking.
Spirit of Progressive Rock 