Folk Round-up (PerKelt, Kevin Fowley and more)

We kick off with sizzling London-based European folk band PerKelt and White Wolf (PerKelt ★★★★) their fifth studio album. It’s an exciting and thoroughly invigorating release from the self-proclaimed ‘speed folk’ specialists. A mix of medieval and Celtic influences hailing from Czechia, Scotland, England and Mexico, and combining whistle, guitar, fiddle, drums and sliding didgeridoo, PerKelt ensure a dynamic listening experience. Fiery fiddle, shamanic chants, psychedelic vocals, animalistic didgeridoo, all tightly wrapped in a percussive, dynamic rhythm, White Wolf is an irresistible thrill. The band’s energetic spirit is palpably felt in the title-track and the scorching ‘Beltane’ but check out ‘Mitote’ too – a much gentler and more mellow affair. The shadow of prog folk looms long here but that’s certainly no bad thing. Guaranteed to be a festival favourite in 2024.

Irish singer songwriter Kevin Fowley’s French upbringing comes to the fore in his chilled À Feu Doux (Basin Rock ★★★★). It’s a beautiful set of French lullabies with a slightly jazzy, new-folk vibe all cushioned with simple accompaniment, such as double bass and guitar, which mesmerises and soothes. The four lullabies tie back to Fowley’s own childhood but also connect to the present day having been rediscovered, for Fowley, when his grandparents compiled them for his nieces. Consequently, À Feu Doux is a dreamy piece of timelessness – of forgotten and imagined memories – of feelings lost and those yet to be found. Slip on final track ‘Aux Marches du Palais’, close your eyes and let yourself drift away into Fowley’s gentle soundscape.

Derek Shaw’s An Outbreak of Cats (WildGoose ★★) is a more traditional set of new compositions of English folk and social dances written by Shaw and performed by Becky Price, Richard Heacock, Matt Coatsworth and Richard Cox-Smith. It’s fun, with nice nods to tradition but always tongue-in-cheek. If you like your folk with a smile then you won’t go wrong here – although a shame Shaw’s melodeon doesn’t feature.

Naomi Bedford & Paul Simmonds’ Strange News Has Come to Town (Dusty Willow Recordings / Proper Distribution ★★★) develops the English duo’s love for Appalachian ballads and Americana. Brooding guitar and banjos feature heavily and Bedford’s yearning voice remains a standout. Check out their evocative interpretation of ‘A Blacksmith Courted Me’.

Finally, the melodeons of Simon Care & Gareth Turner feature on double release Two’s Up Two (Talking Elephant Records ★★★★) which includes a remaster of the duo’s 1997 release Two’s Up. It’s a beautiful collection of tunes from the English Morris tradition with some new self-penned tunes. Those familiar with Care and Turner will know the quality of musicianship here, but there is a tragic note too. The album was recorded during the last year of Turner’s life making it a rather bittersweet listen. The album’s second portion, following the 1997 record, opens with a superb arrangement of trad favourite ‘Princess Royal’ before showcasing several tunes written, or co-written, by the duo, including the fun ‘Snowchains / Burning Bridges’ and ‘The Gaslight March’. ‘Eliza’s Waltz’, written by Turner, is a sweetly poignant close, quietly drifting off unfinished.

This column originally appeared in the August/September 2024 issue of Songlines. Never miss an issue – subscribe to Songlines today