Anthems To The Wind - Merry Hell (26/11/18)

• Artist: Merry Hell

• Release Date: 26th November,

• Genre: Folk, Folk-Rock

• Record Label: Mondo Tunes

• Website: http://www.merryhell.co.uk/

It’s always exciting when one of the best live UK folk-rock bands UK releases a new album. ‘Anthems To The Wind’ is a joyful, infectious, uplifting slice of folk and folk-rock with a social conscience. The themes are very timely and on-point. It celebrates community, togetherness & love as antidotes to the current climate of conflict, division and hatred.

The album is born out of a side project ‘Merry Hell Acoustic’, a slimmed-down six-piece version of this multi-award-winning festival favourite. The sound and vibe are perfect for intimate spaces including folk clubs and art centers, where appreciative audiences can get up close and personal. The album was recorded live at Bunbury Village Hall, The Music Projects, Wigan and the Lion Salt Works, Northwich and it wonderfully reflects both the energy and intimacy of the band’s live performances.

Written by Virginia, Bob and John Kettle this 12-track album is a perfect addition to the Merry Hell cannon. It’s full of great uplifting and thought-provoking songs including ‘Drunken Serenade’, ‘The Butcher & The Vegan’, Fear Of Falling’, ‘Satisfied’ and some of my personal favourites ‘Lovin’ The Skin You’re In’ and ‘The War Between Ourselves’,

Also check out their wonderful documentary ‘A Year In the Life of Merry Hell’ filmed in 2018 and early 2019.

Order your album copy below >>>

Hair and Hide - The Trials Of Cato (09/11/18)

• Artist: The Trials Of Cato

• Release Date: 9th November 2018

• Genre: Folk, Folk-Rock, Welsh Language Folk, Tradition Folk

• Record Label: Water Records

• Tracks: 10

• Website: https://www.thetrialsofcato.com

• Review By: Gary Smith (LCM)

One very fastest rising Folk trio are the excellent Welsh based Robin Jones (mandolin, tenor banjo, vocals), William Addison (irish bouzouki, vocals) and Tomos Williams (guitar, vocals) better known as The Trials Of Cato. The band was formed in Beirut in the winter of 2016 and the name is taken from their long-suffering landlord. Originally from North Wales and Yorkshire the band used their time in Lebanon to hone their craft returning to produce their self titled debut EP at the Abbey Road Institute in London.

With a clear nod to the folk revivals of the 60’s and 70’s their excellent debut album is rooted in the folk traditions of Britain and Ireland but with a fresh contemporary twist. It was recorded in the spring of 2018 at Penylan Studios in mid-Wales. The album perfectly balances English and Welsh language traditional and original folk music with a fresh new twist. Their excellent instrumentals showcase their musicianship and arrangements.

The album was mixed by Donald Thompson in Toronto and mastered by john Davis of Metropolis Studios in London.

The album opens with Difyrwch their own arrangement of three traditional melodies (two Welsh and one English) Hen Ferchetan, Difyrrwch Gwyr y Gogledd and The Parson’s Farewell. ‘Kadisha’ takes it’s name from the spectacular valley in Northern Lebanon finds the band exploring and being inspired by a region peppered with monasteries and ancient buildings. The album is as much about characters as it is about places.

One of the album stand-outs is the catchy and uptempo ‘Gloria’. A very human story of an ordinary character trying to deal with extraordinary circumstances. In this case a beheading match with a supernatural character of the green knight. The slightly psychedelic and folk-rock Eastern influenced ‘Gawain’ draws into inspiration from the medieval tale of Sir Gawain and The Green Knight. Watch out for a great version of ‘Tom Paine’s Bones’. ‘My Love’s in Germany’ is a seventeenth tune of a widow’s lament for a a lost soldier love seguing into the vibrant bounce of a stomping drinking and dance tune ‘The Drinkers’.

The Trails of Cato are a fantastic trio going places very fast. Watch out for them either on the festival circuit this year or one of their many sell-out shows.

Highly recommended.

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High Fences - James Edwyn and The Borrowed Band (06/10/17)

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• Artist: James Edwyn & The Borrowed Band

• Release Date: 6th October, 2017

• Genre: Americana, Rock

• Record Label: Dead Records Collective

• Tracks: 10

• Website:

• Review By: Gary Smith (LCM)

Glasgow based Scottish Americana & Folk-Rock band James Edwyn & The Borrowed Band are certainly making waves. After the excitement and critical acclaim surrounding their debut album ‘The Tower’ in 2014, their second album ‘High Fences’ released in October 2017 certainly lives up it’s promise. It’s released on the band’s own Dead Record Collective label and is currently winning them even more attention. The band feature James Edwyn, Emma Joyce, Scott Keenan, Ronnie Gilmour, Ross McLaughlin and Neil McDonald

They thrilled at this years AMA UK conference & showcase and also performed on the main stage of the FATEA’s 30th birthday bash in Bournemouth. They have been very busy this year with a UK tour and many other successful festival appearances.

‘High Fences' is a perfect showcase of the bands unique combination of the finest melody-driven songwriting along with their trademark attention to production and arrangement. The inclusion of pedal steel and horns adding an extra dimension.

There are echoes of The Band too in the interplay and rich grooves in ‘Get Back Up’. It is a album of wonderful contrast and texture including the guitar-driven alt-country of the opening track ‘Passing San Ysidro’ , the gentle flow and reflection of ‘Pushing Statues’ through to the soulful ‘Quoting Sagan’. Soul and heart is what this album has in abundance. There is even the lovely ‘Never In A While’ which strips everything down to just James Edwyn on acoustic guitar. It perfectly suits the intimate nature of the song.

With it’s gentle melodic pop sway, ‘Starlet’ is another particular highlight of mine, with Emma Joyce’s harmony vocals adding to the rich mix. The album closes on two slow waltzers with ‘Burning Man’ and Ronnie Gilmour’s guitar playing perfectly complementing James Edwyn’s soulful and heartfelt delivery in ‘Doubts’ bringing to mind CSNY and The Eagles.

Buy the album here >>>

Mumford and Sons - Delta (16/11/18)

• Artist: Mumford & Sons

• Release Date: 16th November, 2018

• Genre: Folk, Rock, Pop

• Record Label: Island

• Tracks: 14

• Website:

Delta is the upcoming fourth studio album by British band Mumford & Sons. It is set to be released on 16 November 2018 through Gentlemen of the Road and Island Records.The album was recorded at The Church Studios in London with producer Paul Epworth..

The album is supported by the lead single, "Guiding Light", which was premiered on 20 September 2018 on BBC Radio 1. It will also be supported by a 60-date world tour to begin in November 2018

Odyssey - The Accidentals (18/08/17)

• Artist: The Accidentals

• Release Date: 18th August, 2017

• Genre: Indie Folk-Rock, Folk

• Record Label: Masterworks (Colombia/Sony)

• Tracks: 13

• Website:

Treetop Flyers - Treetop Flyers (24/08/18)

• Artist: Treetop Flyers

• Release Date: 24th August, 2018

• Genre: Folk-Rock, Americana

• Record Label: Loose Music

• Tracks: 10

• Website: http://treetopflyers.co.uk/

Words We Mean - Annie Oakley (12/10/18)

• Artist: Annie Oakley

• Release Date: 12th October, 2018

• Genre: Folk, Folk Rock

• Record Label: Clay Paste

• Tracks: 12

• Website: http://www.theannieoakley.com/index.html

All Ashore - Punch Brothers (20/07/18)

• Artist: Punch Brothers

• Release Date: 20th July, 2018

• Genre:

• Record Label: Nonesuch

• Tracks: 9

• Website: https://www.punchbrothers.com/

The excellent new fifth studio album from New York band the Punch Brothers, who are the quintet of mandolinist Chris Thile, guitarist Chris Eldridge, bassist Paul Kowert, banjoist Noam Pikelny and violinist Gabe Witcher. Says the Washington Post, "With enthusiasm and experimentation, Punch Brothers take bluegrass to its next evolutionary stage, drawing equal inspiration from the brain and the heart." Their upcoming album, All Ashore, is out July 20 on Nonesuch Records. ‘All Ashore’ follows Punch Brothers’ critically acclaimed T Bone Burnett–produced 2015 release, The Phosphorescent Blues, of which NPR said, “Punch Brothers sing of distraction and isolation in the digital age...the sound is all their own.” ‘For All Ashore’, the quintet again attempt to make sense of the world around them.

Careless - Fred's House (26/10/18)

• Artist: Fred's House
• Release Date: 26th October, 2018
• Genre: Folk-Rock, Pop
• Record Label: Cracking Tunes
• Tracks: 11
• Website: https://fredshousemusic.co.uk

The exciting third album for the multi-award winning Fred's House featuring 11 tracks, presented in a scrapbook style packaging with lyric booklet.

Tearing At The Seams - Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats (09/03/18)

• Artist: Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
• Release Date: 9th March, 2018
• Genre: Folk Rock, Soul, Americana, Vintage R&B
• Record Label: Caroline International P&D
• Tracks: 12
• Website: http://www.nathanielrateliff.com/

Wild Silence - The Wandering Hearts (09/02/18)

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• Artist: The Wandering Hearts
• Release Date: 9th February, 2017
• Genre: Country, Folk-Rock
• Record Label: Decca
• Tracks: 11
• Website: http://www.thewanderinghearts.com/

There’s no doubt that 2017 has been a whirlwind year for folk-Americana group The Wandering Hearts. Having released their first EP Burning Bridges in November, and with a string of high profile performances under their belt, The Wandering Hearts are now kicking off 2018 with their debut album Wild Silence, out on Decca Records on 9 February 2018.

Wild Silence promises to be a thrilling debut album from the quartet. With their seamless vocal harmonies, The Wandering Hearts are reminiscent of First Aid Kit and Of Monsters and Men, whilst channelling Fleetwood Mac’s pop sensibility and the storytelling of Chris Stapleton, all the while keeping their British roots at their heart. Band members AJ, Chess, Tim and Tara are all grafters – working hard to hone their skills as musicians and songwriters, and the standard is there to be seen. Their debut album showcases the band’s knack for telling heartfelt stories through their lyrics, and is a perfect balance of catchy, up-tempo numbers, such as ‘Fire & Water’ and ’Rattle’, and flawless harmony-led ballads, such as ‘If I Fall’ and ‘Laid In The Ground’, for which the band have become renowned. The album features previous releases ‘Wish I Could’, ‘Devil’ and ‘Burning Bridges’ which have become rapturously received favourites during the band’s live shows this year.

Tracks
1    Rattle     
2    Wish I Could     
3    Fire and Water     
4    If I Fall     
5    Change For The Good     
6    Devil     
7    Biting Through The Wires     
8    Wild Silence     
9    Laid In The Ground     
10    Burning Bridges     
11    Heartbreak Hotel     
12    Iona

Thea Gilmore - The Counterweight (02/06/17)

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• Artist: Thea Gilmore
• Genre: Folk, Rock, Pop
• Release Date: 2nd June, 2017
• Record Label: Cooking Vinyl
• Tracks: 13
• Website: https://theagilmore.net/

Sound Of The Sirens - For All Our Sins (26/05/17)

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• Artist: Sound Of The Sirens
• Genre: Acoustic Folk-Rock
• Release Date: 26th May, 2017
• Record Label: Dmf Records
• Tracks: 10
• Website: http://www.soundofthesirens.net/

There's a certain transcendent magic that happens when two contrasting voices coalesce in perfect harmony - think The Everly Brothers, Simon & Garfunkel or George Jones and Tammy Wynette. Imperceptibly, they can raise you from the temporal to the spiritual in the breath of a song, and set you floating among the firmament infused with a sense of wonder - just like Sound of the Sirens. Exeter-based duo Abbe Martin and Hannah Wood dovetail beautifully on their debut album, For All Our Sins, a beguiling acoustic pop collection replete with lyrical sensibility. Already championed by Chris Evans - who declared himself "blown away" when he heard Sound of the Sirens for the first time, and subsequently invited them to perform alongside U2 and Take That on TFI Friday last year - they're certain to broaden a burgeoning fan base on the back of For All Our Sins. It's a fan base built up not just over several sublime EP releases - but also through their live shows, which combine a natural facility for connecting with their audiences and unforgettable performances predicated on energy, warmth, humour and, above all, real conviction. Sound of the Sirens want to both enlighten and entertain, and they want to do it with euphony. For All Our Sins accomplishes all of the above.