Reviews

Rooted

Martin Simpson

After 2017's Trails & Tribulations, Rooted again boasts contributions from Nancy Kerr, John Smith and Andy Cutting and also includes...

Reviewed in issue December/2019

The Outlander

Jim Moray

On his first album, Sweet England, Jim Moray included ‘The Seeds of Love’, the first folk song Cecil Sharp collected....

Reviewed in issue December/2019

Do You Love

Otava Yo

Otava Yo are a slightly eccentric Russian folk band from St Petersburg who like to play with the traditions and...

Reviewed in issue December/2019

9Bach

9Bach

I reviewed 9Bach's debut for a national newspaper back in 2009 and it remains my favourite album of theirs. Ten...

Reviewed in issue November/2019

Barcelone

Les Violons de Bruxelles

Judging by recent releases, choro – the Afro-European progenitor of samba – is making a comeback, especially outside its native...

Reviewed in issue November/2019

The Woman and Her Words

Hannah James & The JigDoll Ensemble

Accordionist, singer and dancer Hannah James has been an adventurous and much-admired figure on the folk scene through her many...

Reviewed in issue November/2019

Gharnata

Luis de la Carrasca

Gharnata takes its name from the Arabic for Granada, capital city of flamenco. Singer Luis de la Carrasca has long...

Reviewed in issue November/2019

Handmade Tales

Tradish

Based in Denmark but with roots in traditional Irish music, Manchester-born John Pilkington (guitar, bouzouki and vocals), with Danes Louise...

Reviewed in issue November/2019

Gold of Scar & Shale

Jack Rutter

For his second solo album, the highly regarded West Yorkshire singer and multi-instrumentalist Jack Rutter recorded the whole set live...

Reviewed in issue November/2019

Kodu

Leana & Hartwin

Leana & Hartwin are a folk duo based on Saaremaa, an Estonian island in the Baltic Sea.Leana Vapper-Dhoore was born...

Reviewed in issue November/2019