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.

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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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Glass Heart - Mel Parsons (30/11/18)

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• Artist: Mel Parsons

• Release Date: 30th November, 2018

• Genre:

• Record Label: Cape Road Recordings

• Tracks: 10

• Website:

‘Glass Heart’ is a bold and beautifully crafted body of work, which sees Mel Parsons revealing a darker and fuller sound, while still retaining her trademark poignant storytelling.

The album was recorded in Los Angeles with legendary American producer Mitchell Froom (Lindsey Buckingham Christine McVie, Crowded House, Missy Higgins, Randy Newman, Richard Thompson, Suzanne Vega) and an incredible cast of US-based musicians, including guitarist Adam Levy (Norah Jones), bass player Kaveh Rastegar (John Legend, Sia), drummer Ted Poor (Andrew Bird) and Froom on keyboards.

"I had been wanting to work with Mitchell for a few years, so when our schedules finally aligned things happened pretty quickly," says Mel. "Mitchell and I had first been in touch back about working together back in 2015, but I've admired his work for a long time - he has produced some of my favourite albums."

"You hear about how amazing these people are - and obviously by reputation you know that they're operating at a really high level - but it wasn't until we started working on the songs and got into the studio that I experienced Mitchell's quiet genius firsthand."

Mel Parsons is arguably one of New Zealand's most prolific touring acts, and is excited to be taking Glass Heart directly to her fans this December.

Voices of Equilibrium EP - Wildwood Kin (30/11/18)

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• Artist: Wildwood Kin

• Release date: 30th November, 2018

• Genre: Folk, Pop, Rock

• Record Label: Silvertone

• Tracks: 4

• Website:

A brand new covers EP from the very talented West Country family trio Wildwood Kin.

Wild Angels Sweet Demons EP - Fiona Bevan (15/11/18)

• Artist: Fiona Bevan

• Release Date: 15th November, 2018

• Record Label: Venus Climbing Ltd

• Tracks: 4

• Website:

After spending a couple of years writing for other artists, the excellent singer-songwriter Fiona Bevan releases her brand new EP ‘Wild Angels Sweet Demons’. It's an EP of four songs of love, life, death, sex, imperfection, obsession and lush widescreen cinematic joy!

It was produced by Fiona’s longtime friend and Grammy-winning engineer Robin Baynton who has worked with Isaac Gracie, Mumford And Sons, Laura Marling, Coldplay, Florence, Arcade Fire. He also produced Fiona’s first EP 'Us And The Darkness'.

The new EP is available digitally and on vinyl today, with the CD available soon. All photos are polaroids taken by Chris Almeida

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

The Unfinished Violin - Sam Sweeney (02/11/18)

• Artist: Sam Sweeney

• Release Date: 2nd November, 2018

• Genre: Folk

• Record Label: Island

• Tracks: 16

• Website:

Interstate Gospel - Pistol Annies (02/11/18)

• Artist: Pistol Annies

• Release Date: 2nd November. 2018

• Genre: Country, Pop

• Record Label: RCA Records Label Nashville

• Tracks: 14

• Website:

The Pistol Annies, the acclaimed side project of Angaleena Presley, Ashley Monroe and Miranda Lambert, have set November 2nd as the release date for their excellent third album ‘Interstate Gospel’. The album is the follow-up to 2013’s ’Annie Up’ and features songs written by all three artists together. With one exception, the album’s closing track “This Too Shall Pass,” written by Ashley and Angaleena.

The platinum-selling supergroup, whose members are also multi talented and very successful solo artists, initially revealed the track listing for the new project through postcards mailed directly to fans. From the riotous, harmony-soaked “Got My Name Changed Back,” to the ironic and poignant “Best Years of My Life,” the album spotlights the trio’s emphasis on classic-country storytelling from a modern female perspective.

Venom and Faith - Larkin Poe (09/11/18)

• Artist: Larkin Poe
• Release Date: 9th November, 2018
• Genre: Blues, Rock
• Record Label: Ticki-Woo Records
• Tracks: 10
• Website: http://www.larkinpoe.com/