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Latest folk reviews: Mary Beth Carty, Paul Anderson, John McCusker, Will Pound & Jenn Butterworth, Gillebrìde MacMillan

Album reviews, Folk music, , , , , , , ,

Mary Beth Carty – Crossing The Causeway

Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, Mary Beth Carty, is from Antigonish in Novia Scotia and has been a performer of note on Canada’s traditional music scene for some time now, earning a nomination for Singer of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards back in 2009. The album title takes it name from the causeway that links Antigonish to Cape Breton Island, and helps symbolise the fusion of English, Gaelic and French influences that inspired the album.

Mary Beth Carthy: “Crossing The Causeway is my second solo CD, and it fuses traditional songs, instrumental tunes, and original songs.  The album could be categorized as Canadian Celtic, folk, and world music. I play multiple instruments on the album including accordion, guitar, bass, jaw harp, bones, triangle, shakers, tambourine, feet, cow-bells, and washboard, and the project also features some of Cape Breton’s best Celtic musicians and singers.”

Carty is a strong believer in the therapeutic power of music and from the evidence presented here it is really not hard to see why. A refreshingly joyful, surprisingly varied and hugely entertaining album from an artist I was not previously familiar with, this one is well worth checking out.

Released: 1 March 2023 https://marybethcarty.com/

Paul Anderson – Iona

This album from acclaimed Scottish traditional musician and composer, Paul Anderson, forms part of a multi-media artistic project which celebrates the people, history and landscape of the tiny Scottish island of Iona off the coast of Mull in the Inner Hebrides. The project, In the Footsteps of Colm Cille, features Anderson’s musical compositions alongside work by the painter, John Lowrie Morrison (whose beautiful paintings are incorporated into the album’s artwork), and the poetry of Francy Devine (extracts of which can be heard on the album).

Paul Anderson: “Iona is a special place; few places can rival it for scenic beauty, a sense of the spiritual and for the undeniable weight of Scottish history. Some places just seem to have an intangible feel about them and Iona is certainly one of them.”

With exquisite fiddle-playing from Anderson, a stellar cast of supporting musicians, evocative poetry and beautiful artwork, Iona is a delightful album arising out of a fascinating project.

Released: 9 December 2022 https://www.inthefootstepsofcolmcille.com/

John McCusker – The Best Of

A double-disc CD celebrating the career of celebrated Scottish fiddler, John McCusker, it features thirty stand-out tracks from the past thirty years, including four brand-new tracks, heard here for the first time.

Not only does the album delve deep into McCusker’s own back-catalogue as a solo artist, it also includes work from his many notable collaborations, too, and the album features artists as varied as Billy Connolly, Kris Drever, Graham Coxon and Eddie Reader (below).

John McCusker: “It’s been an incredible three decades making and performing music. I wanted to celebrate this milestone moment by releasing a compilation of the different albums and stages of my career, alongside including recordings from the many fantastic collaborations and wonderful artists I’ve been fortunate enough to work with.”

A cracking album that showcases McCusker’s absolute mastery of the fiddle alongside some of the UK’s most celebrated artists.

Released: 20 January 2023 https://www.johnmccusker.co.uk/

Will Pound & Jenn Butterworth – Volume 1

As a big fan of the harmonica, it’s fair to say that it’s an instrument not heard nearly enough in English folk. Will Pound has been on a mission to change that, of course. After teaming up with acoustic guitarist, Jenn Butterworth, for a series of live shows (after a chance encounter at a 2018 folk session became a viral sensation) the pair have now released their first album as a duo.

There is some great musical interplay between Pound (on melodeon and harmonica) and Butterworth (on guitar) as they work their way through a series of energetic tune-sets that combine traditional material with new compositions in a way that is sure to put a smile on your face. Plus there’s one song two, a beautiful rendering of Peggy Seeger’s anti-nuclear anthem, ‘Better Things’, with Butterworth on vocals.

I really enjoyed Pound’s previous album, A Day Will Come, (which Butterworth also guested on) and we can safely assume from the title of this latest album that the pair are in it for the long haul. They have made a superb start here, for sure.

Released: 24th February 2023 https://willandjenn.bandcamp.com/album/volume-1

Gillebrìde MacMillan – Sèimh: The State of Calm

This is the second album from Gaelic singer-songwriter, Gillebrìde MacMillan. The songs on the album deal with a range of personal, political and social issues as well as songs in praise of nature and community.

Gillebrìde MacMillan: “It is so important to have new Gaelic songs and this album is part of the resurgence of new Gaelic songwriting.”

If Will Pound and Jenn Butterworth take us on an exhilarating ride then Sèimh: The State of Calm does exactly what it says on the tin and immediately transports us to a place of tranquillity.

MacMillan: “In the modern world our lives are filled with speed and rushing from one thing to the next, so for this album I really wanted to give a sense of calm, space and reflection in the songs and in the arrangements.”

The album certainly achieves that. I particularly loved the soothing whistles of guest player, Fraser Fifield, alongside Mhairi Hall’s equally soothing and reflective piano. Joining MacMillan there’s a range of other guest musicians and vocalists and the album is beautifully packaged with extensive sleeve-notes in both English and Gaelic.

Released: 3 February 2023 http://www.gillebride.com/

Goth without the gloomy bits: five cheerful, upbeat and joy-inducing songs by goth bands

Music culture & history, Rock music, , , , , ,

1. ‘Ziggy Stardust’ Bauhaus (1982)

Bauhaus released the eerily dark ‘Bela Lugosi’s Dead’ as their first single back in 1979, and it’s often said to be the first ever goth record. However, they were not just about gloom and doom and long-deceased vintage horror film actors. Lead vocalist, Pete Murphy, was always clear that the band looked to  early 70s glam as much as the late 70s punk scene and late 1960s garage bands: “I always thought of Bauhaus as the Velvets gone holy, or the Sweet with better haircuts.”

Nowhere is this more evident than on their glorious 1982 cover of David Bowie’s ‘Ziggy Stardust’. As a sixth-former it was constantly on the juke box in our college refectory, so much so that as a teenager I was far more familiar with this raw, thrilling and feedback-laden parcel of joy than Bowie’s original. Just perfection.

2. ‘Dear Prudence’ – Siouxsie and the Banshees (1983)

Formed in London in 1976, Siouxsie and the Banshees were a key part of the emerging punk scene but as punk evolved into post-punk they transformed into something darker, moodier and altogether more interesting. As goth, itself, emerged as a distinct subculture later on in the 1980s, Siouxie and the Banshees were often hailed as key pioneers. They always knew how to turn out a good catchy tune though and were regular fixtures in the Top Forty and frequent visitors to the Top Of The Pops studio. None more so when they decided to cover ‘Dear Prudence’ from the Beatles’ White Album in 1983, taking the wistful, mystical Lennon ballad and reimaging it as a shiny pop classic.

Many times better than the original, the Banshees’ version, in all its jangly gorgeousness went all the way to number 3 in the UK charts in 1983 yet retained enough class and mystique for it never to be regarded as a sell-out. Utterly joyous.

3. ‘Spiritwalker’ – The Cult (1984)

Formed in Bradford in the early 1980s The Cult were previously known as Death Cult, who in turn  emerged out of a band called Southern Death Cult. In terms of impeccable doomy, post-punk, dark gothic credentials, so far, so good. Over time, however, particularly when the prospect of success on the other side of the Atlantic beckoned, The Cult reinvented themselves from being cult indie scenesters in the UK to all-out stadium rockers in the US, where the band have been based ever since.

Even in their early days, however, there was always a glimmer of a rock god persona to their music, which belied their indie club roots. Long before producer, Rick Rubin, came in to help reshape the band’s sound for mainstream success, The Cult’s second single, ‘Spiritwalker’, taken from their 1984 debut album demonstrates a clear ability to turn out a great fist-pumping anthem.

4. ‘This Corrosion’ – Sisters of Mercy (1987)

Formed in Leeds in 1980, apart from a couple of year’s hiatus in the mid-80s, the Sisters of Mercy have been a consistent presence on the UK’s goth scene, albeit that in recent decades they’ve concentrated on live performances rather than new releases. The distinctive deep baritone vocal of frontman and only constant member, Andrew Eldritch makes them the ultimate goth band in many ways. But they, too, have released songs that can inspire untrammelled joy.

‘This Corrosion’ is the lead single from the band’s 1987 album, Floodland. The lyrics are a snark at former members, following a split in the band’s ranks. So far, so doom-laden, but we know from when Steve Harley released ‘(Make Me Smile) Come Up And See Me’ on an almost identical premise that songs snarking at former band members can still sound infectiously joyous. With it’s catchy, sing-along chorus and more ‘heys’ in it than the average Glitter Band single, ‘This Corrosion’ is another song to put a smile on your face and reached a well-deserved number 7 in 1987.

5. ‘Friday I’m In Love’ – The Cure (1992)

The Cure were formed in Crawley in 1978, fronted by the irrepressible Robert Smith who has remained their only constant member over the past 45 years. Certainly, both the band’s look and sound was a hit with the uber-cool alternative crowd when I was at sixth form. Smith’s instantly-recognisable look made him the ultimate goth godfather. Over time, however, he began bringing more mainstream pop sensibilities into the band’s music. This reached a pinnacle with ‘Friday I’m In Love’. When it came out in 1992 Smith described it as both a “throw your hands in the air, ‘let’s get happy’-kind of record” and “a very naïve, happy type of pop song.”

Indeed, attending Glastonbury in 2019, when The Cure were headlining, so moved was I by the happy, life-affirming, upbeat nature of this song that I ended up leading off a impromptu mass conga as ‘Friday I’m In Love’ was blasted out from the Pyramid Stage.

Notes from the Lust For Life Tour – Feb/Mar 2023

Rock music, Live reviews, , , , , , , ,

The recent Lust For Life tour brought together Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols, Iggy Pop), Clem Burke (Blondie, Iggy Pop), Katie Puckrik (Pet Shop Boys, Sparks), Kevin Armstrong (Iggy Pop, David Bowie), Luis Correia (Earl Slick) and Florence Sabeva (Heaven 17).

Having had the immense privilege of spending the past few months working on the PR campaign for the tour it was a joy to finally witness the band live, not just in a professional capacity but most importantly as a fan, of both that glorious Iggy Pop album and of the individual players in the band, too.

Why Lust For Life? In the run-up to the tour and following a last-minute change in personnel, Kevin Armstrong explained the thinking behind celebrating the album in this way:

“Well, it’s 45 years since the release of Lust For Life and it just seemed like a great way to celebrate these fantastic landmarks in music with some of the people who were there and some of us who have an Iggy connection. So that was the initial idea and Tony Sales, who played on Lust For Life, was up for it initially. But due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control he’s unable to complete the process. But luckily for us we’ve got Glen Matlock who’s similarly imbued with a connection to Iggy.”

By any criteria this was going to be an impressively strong line-up of musicians but the key test was always going to be how it would all gel together on stage. And what of Katie Puckrik? Many of us seeing this tour would know her from her impressive broadcasting career and would have some very fond memories of Katie bringing some all-American sass to the offbeat and very British irreverence of The Word back in the 1990s. But what would she bring as lead vocalist fronting such an esteemed collection of musical egos?

Both of those questions would be answered pretty conclusively by pretty much everyone witnessing the tour within the opening minutes of the first song (track one, side one of the original album, of course): an absolute triumph. Puckrik instantly proved herself as a compelling, energetic and gloriously charismatic frontwoman. Surely, a late career surge now beckons as an uncompromising rock ‘n’ roll goddess? As Clem Burke told his Twitter followers ahead of the final date on the tour:

“Katie is fantastic and it’s just occurred to me she has joined the ranks of the other brilliant women I’ve been fortunate to play with: Debbie, Annie, Nancy, Wanda, The Go Go’s , & Joan!”

For the first part of the performance the band powered through the Lust For Life album from start to finish. Clem Burke’s rhythmic powerhouse drumming and Glen Matlock’s mean and dirty bass, a joy to witness. Seeing legends like this up on small stages in tiny, intimate venues just a few meters away is a real ‘pinch-me’ experience for many of us. Kevin Armstrong and Luis Correia are both exceptional guitarists and classically-trained Florence Sabeva is an incredibly versatile player as she takes on Bowie’s keyboard parts on the original album. After we’ve all sung along with them to anthems like ‘Some Weird Sin’, The Passenger’ and ‘Success’ before we know it we’re on to the band’s rendition of album’s final track, ‘Fall In Love With Me’, and it’s time for some introductions.

Underlining the gold standard of the musical CVs of the musicians standing in front of us we have filmed segments, both old and new, introducing each member in turn, courtesy of Glen Gregory, Sparks, Steve Norman, David Bowie, Iggy Pop and Debbie Harry.

Then it’s on to an extended ‘career highlights’ package with a brilliantly chosen set of songs from across the individual band members’ careers: Iggy Pop covers like ‘Nightclubbing’ and ‘Ambition’ (the latter with Matlock on vocals); Stooges covers like ‘I Wanna Be Your Dog’ and ‘No Fun’, Blondie’s ‘Rip Her To Shreds’ and a truly life-affirming version of the Pistol’s ‘Pretty Vacant’. Unforgettable performances from an unforgettable tour.

Although a number of those performing had worked with one another in various guises prior to this, both the tour and the band was initially conceived a one-off project, but let’s just hope this is the start rather than the end of something bigger.  It truly deserves to be. A brilliant way to celebrate one of the truly iconic albums of the past fifty years with an incredible cast of musicians who more than do it justice and then some.  

Photo credits: all live images taken at Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh courtesy of John Scott, Upstage Photography

Website: https://www.lustforlifetour.com/

Book review: ‘Undercover – 500 Rolling Stones Cover Versions That You Must Hear!’ by Peter Checksfield

Book reviews, Music culture & history, Rock music, , , ,

Following his two recent books cataloguing the glory years of Top Of The Pops, music wrier, Peter Checksfield, has turned his attention to those perennial rock gods, the Rolling Stones. More accurately, those artists who have chosen at some point in their careers to cover songs by the Rolling Stones. This bumper tome takes an in depth look at five hundred cover versions of Rolling Stones songs recorded by a vastly varied selection of artists.

‘Undercover’ not only includes the obvious Stones standards, like ‘Brown Sugar’ (covered by everyone from Little Richard to Ken Boothe to Thunder); ‘Honky Tonk Women’ (Ike & Tina Turner, Waylon Jennings, Elton John) and ‘Satisfaction’ (Otis Redding, The Supremes, Devo); but the book also covers many lesser-known songs and some lesser-known artists, too. Coventry band, The Mighty Avengers, recorded three (as then) unreleased Jagger-Richards compositions which resulted in some minor, albeit fleeting, chart success.

It could be argued that in these days of ever-expanding Wikipedia entries there’s less of a need for weighty rock encyclopaedias of this type. However, where ‘Undercover’ really comes into its own is in the 130 exclusive interviews that Checksfield carried out with many of those artists recording the cover versions featured in the book. We get fascinating insights from musicians as varied as Justin Sullivan of New Model Army; Bob Bradbury of glam almost-heroes, Hello;  Gale Paridjanian of Turin Brakes; Steve ‘Lips’ Kudlow of Anvil; Dick Taylor of The Pretty Things, Marc Almond and Sandie Shaw.

‘Undercover: 500 Rolling Stones Cover Versions That You Must Hear!’ is a fascinating reference work on both the songwriting and the enduring influence of one of the world’s greatest rock and roll bands and will probably be something I’ll keep on dipping into.

Published: November 2022 – visit Peter Checksfield’s website here

Related posts:

Book review: ‘Top Of The Pops: The Punk & New Romantic Years 1976-1986’ by Peter Checksfield

Book review: ‘Top Of The Pops: The Lost Years Rediscovered 1964-1975’ by Peter Checksfield

‘Look Wot They Dun! – The ultimate guide to UK glam rock on TV in the 70s’ by Peter Checksfield

Review: The Rolling Stones ‘Exhibitionism’ at The Saatchi Gallery

Live review: the Rolling Stones at Hyde Park 3/7/22

Original lead singer of glam metal pioneers, Wrathchild, finally wins right to the band’s name

Glam rock, Music news, new wave of British heavy metal, Rock music, , , , ,

Like a number of bands riven by personnel disputes, artistic differences or simply shafted by the music industry, early 1980s glam metal pioneers, Wrathchild, were one of those outfits that had long ago divided into rival factions, each touring with their own version of the band and a series of long-running disputes about use of the name.

However, in a statement this week on his Facebook page, original lead singer and over-the-top mascaraed frontman, Rocky Shades, posted a statement to say his own version of the band had finally won the right to use the Wrathchild name:

“Rocky Shades Wrathchild will now be officially known as “Wrathchild” since the ownership of the much disputed and controversial trademark and legacy has been returned to its co creator and motormouth frontman Rocky Shades.“

“The new Wrathchild is the five-piece band that should have been since day one and is considerably heavier than its older incarnation. The original members have either retired or turned their back on the genre that made them.“

The band were originally formed in Evesham, Worcestershire, in 1980, with the debut album Stakk Attakk coming out in 1984.

The current line-up of the band is now original vocalist, Rocky Shades, accompanied by Gaz Wilde (drums), Jonny Suicide (bass), Oz Paul (guitar) and Bret Patrucci (guitar).

In the band statement, Rocky Shades adds: “Wrathchild are currently in talks with a major American management company and a few interested record labels but are set to release their own single imminently called ‘Still Here In The Freak Show. This will be uploaded to a brand new pending website and a video will follow later. The B-side of said single is a reworked rerecorded version of fan favourite ‘Trash Queen’.“

The band are currently rehearsing for appearances at:

Hard Rock Hell – Great Yarmouth – Saturday 11th March 2023

The Billsley Rock Club – Birmingham – Saturday 8th April 2023

Indie-folk/Americana: EP review – Mist & Wing ‘Step Into The Light’

Album reviews, americana, Folk music, , , , , ,

Mist & Wing are a Scottish musical duo made up of Alan and Grace Murray and their debut EP, Step Into The Light, was released at the back-end of last year.

Hailing from the Isle of Skye and growing up with a stammer, Alan Murray found music to be a way of connecting with others that, for him, was easier than speaking.

The EP comprises five tracks of Americana-tinged indie-folk, four songs written by Alan plus a self-composed instrumental. Joining Alan Murray (vocals, guitar, fiddle, mandolin) and Grace Murray (vocals, piano, acoustic guitar) are Jack Henderson (guitars, bass, keyboards, percussion) who also produced the album, Donal McCruden (drums) and Calum Munroe (accordion).

Lead single ‘Country Mile’ (with accompanying video filmed on the Isle of Skye) is a classic driving song, all about wanting to escape the city and take off to the coast.

The duo’s name is inspired by Gaelic words for the Isle of Skye and the influence of the island’s landscape and heritage runs deep through the music. It’s not the only influence, however, by any stretch of the imagination. For a start, they are more indie-folk than trad- folk but the duo also look west from Skye right across the Atlantic for other inspiration and the country influences of the United States very much seep into their songs. Add in a gift for some good old-fashioned storytelling, some catchy choruses and some easy-on-the-ear melodies and you have a compelling combination that makes Step Into The Light an extremely likeable debut.  

Released: 18th November 2022

https://mistandwing.com/

‘Magic Carpet Ride’ the new single from punk legend, Glen Matlock – album due 28th April

Rock music, Music news, , , , , , ,

Legendary Sex Pistols bass-man, Glen Matlock, has this week released a second single as another taster from his long-awaited new solo album, Consequences Coming, which will be released in April.

Glen Matlock: “Magic Carpet Ride, with its fingers crossed Instant Karma-esque groove, is part of a quartet of songs from my forthcoming album, Consequences Coming. It attempts to deal with the road to nowhere journey we are being whisked on, to who knows where, who knows how and who the blinking flip knows why and is a sincere pleading that it is not the cul de sac that it promises to be, with the only escape route being the garden gate installed for a laugh by the flat earth society.”

He adds: “It also has a great slide guitar by Earl Slick.”

The original bassist and songwriter of the Sex Pistols, Matlock is responsible for co-penning some of history’s most iconic songs, “Anarchy In The UK,” “God Save The Queen” and “Pretty Vacant”.  After his time with The Sex Pistols, Matlock went on to form several well-regarded bands including Rich Kids (with Midge Ure).  He has collaborated with such artists as Iggy Pop, and Primal Scream, and is also a highly in-demand player, playing live with the likes of the legendary reformed Faces.

Matlock’s new deal with the Cooking Vinyl label will additionally see re-releases of two of his previous solo albums: 2010’s Born Running, and 2018’s critically-acclaimed Good To Go.

Credit Danny Clifford

Matlock makes no apologies for the politically-charged flavour of this latest album:

“The album was written and recorded in Britain over the last 18 months or so with a posse of seasoned but on point performers. All done during the debacle that is Brexit and the rise and fall of the turgid Trump episode in the US. These songs reflect my take on the whole sorry mess that has ensued.”

“Now the wheels of the music business can sometimes move at a lugubrious, glacial pace, and sometimes the moment might be lost but seeing no break in the clouds or clear light at the end of the tunnel, surely the only demand on people’s lips should be that there are ‘Consequences Coming’ for the fat headed oafs who have foisted their asinine warped sensibilities on us.”

“The tunes are pretty catchy too…”

It’s a busy month for Glen Matlock who, in addition to his solo work, is also currently touring the UK and Ireland in a celebration of Iggy Pop’s Lust For Life album. Stepping up at the eleventh hour to replace original Lust For Life bassist, Tony Fox Sales, who was unable to tour, Matlock joins legendary Blondie drummer, Clem Burke; broadcaster and Pet Shop Boys dancer, Katie Puckrik on vocals; Iggy Pop and David Bowie collaborator, Kevin Armstrong on guitar;  Luis Correia, who’s toured internationally with Earl Slick on second guitar together with classical pianist, composer, and touring member of Heaven 17, Florence Sabeva on keyboards.

On the eve of the Lust For Life tour, Matlock commented:

“It will be a bit of a challenge stepping into the top player and gentleman Tony Sales’ shoes at the last minute but challenges put hairs on your chest and are not to be shirked. To be on stage with these fellow like-minded guys and gals and celebrate our collective musical ancestries should be a pleasure, so come on down and let’s all hit the roof together.”

The Lust For Life Tour runs from 28th February and until 12th March https://www.lustforlifetour.com/

Consequences Coming is released on 28th April in CD and digital formats http://www.glenmatlock.co.uk/

Header photo credit: Danny Clifford

Related posts:

Glen Matlock, Clem Burke and Katie Puckrik celebrate 45 years of the Lust For Life album with UK tour

Live review: Glen Matlock headlines Hastings Fat Tuesday 2019

Songwriters’ Circle: four acclaimed singer-songwriters hit the road for March 2023 tour

Folk music, Music news, , , , , , , , ,

Annie Dressner, Lucy Grubb, Dan Wilde and Luke James Williams set out this month on a six-date tour to perform as part of their songwriters’ circle. Bound by a shared love of classic songwriting, these four acclaimed singer-songwriters present an evening of song, performed both individually and in collaboration.

Between them they have amassed appearances at some of the UK’s biggest festivals, including
Glastonbury, Cambridge Folk, Green Man and Black Deer, garnered rave reviews from the likes of Folk Radio, Maverick and Paste Magazine and received airplay on BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 6 Music.

Annie Dressner tells Darren’s Music Blog: “I am very excited for this tour, going on the road with three of my favorite songwriters.  The first half is going to be a songwriters’ circle situation, where we take turns singing our stuff solo — and the second half is going to be us playing each others’ songs, but as a band.  I have learned bass, a (literal) drum and am playing keys for the first time in many years on stage.  It’s not to be missed!”

Dan Wilde adds: “As solo singer-songwriters we’re all used to heading out on tour and being on stage alone and that this tour gives us a chance to feel like a band.”

Tour dates:

18th March 2023 – Trowbridge – The Pump
19th March 2023 – Stroud – The Prince Albert
20th March 2023 – Cambridge – Junction 2
21st March 2023 – Maidenhead – Norden Farm Arts Centre
22nd March 2023 – Manchester – Gullivers
23rd March 2023 – Birmingham – Kitchen Garden Cafe

Tickets via: http://anniedressner.com/tour

Latest folk reviews: Eliza Delf, Mike Vass, Rachel Walker & Aaron Jones, Trials Of Cato, Ian Walker Band

Album reviews, Folk music, , , , , , , , , , ,

Eliza Delf – Into The Wilderness

I was in two minds whether to include this in my latest round-up of folk releases, not because I don’t thing it’s a strong album – it’s excellent – but the term folk barely covers what Into The Wilderness is about. This boundary-defying debut album spans indie, folk, prog, singer-songwriter and much more besides.

Eliza Delf: “The songs that appear on the Into the Wilderness album share a common thread. Each explores the wilderness that lies outside, and the wilderness that exists inside – sometimes mysterious, sometimes scary, sometimes enchanting. But always a place where you can find the truth if you’re willing to look for it.”

Comparisons have been made with everyone from Sandy Denny to Kate Bush, with some degree of justification in both of those cases. Delf is very much her own woman though and with this impressive debut release she demonstrates her talent and inventiveness as a singer-songwriter, and an ability to appeal across a range of genres.

Released: 13 June 2022 https://elizadelf.com/

Mike Vass – Decemberwell Decade

Decemberwell Decade is a winter-themed album where Scottish folk multi-instrumentalist, Mike Vass, returns to ruminate on those often harsh Scottish winters that inspired his 2012 solo album, Decemberwell, coming up with a completely new body of work. I might be coming to this a little late in the season but it’s February and even down here on the English south coast, there’s a definite chill in the air still.

The original Decemberwell album originated when Vass found his teaching work cancelled at short notice due to the vast quantities of snow clogging up the Scottish road network.

Mike Vass: “Rather than rewatch the same box sets I set myself a challenge – to spend December writing and recording some Scottish winter-themed music and record a daily video diary of the whole process.”

The follow-up is every bit as breath-taking. The largely instrumental album (all newly-composed by Vass save for two reworkings of traditional material) beautifully evokes the wintery weather conditions and seasonal traditions of the final month of the year. While the original album was very much a showcase for Vass as multi-instrumentalist, this one sees him stepping right back from playing and acting as composer and  producer for a gifted team of musicians. Mesmerising.

Released: 18 November 2022 https://www.mikevass.com/

Rachel Walker & Aaron Jones – Despite The Wind And Rain

You could be forgiven for thinking that Despite The Wind And The Rain was another winter-themed release. But the debut duo album from Rachel Walker and  Aaron Jones is all about celebrating the role of women in Scottish history.

Rachel Walker: “We have both worked in the traditional music scene for many years, and in that time we’ve become aware of the lack of songs that celebrate Scottish women for their success or achievements. There are plenty of tracks out there which will detail a woman’s beauty, or her broken heart, but few which acknowledge her intelligence, sense of adventure or courage. We sought to rectify that with this album.”

With ten original compositions, the duo celebrate the lives of women as diverse as Sgàthach, the mythical warrior queen of Scottish legend, to the nineteenth-century astronomer, Mary Somerville, to two leading figures in the women’s suffrage movement, Flora Murray and Elsie Inglis, whose contributions to Scottish political life are commemorated in the song, ‘Sunflowers’.

Both Walker and Jones are in fine voice, with lead vocals shared out between the two across the album’s ten tracks. Moreover, the sensitive storytelling, poignant melodies and beautifully-executed instrumentation all do justice to the women whose lives the album sets out to celebrate.

Released: 25 November 2022 https://www.rachelwalkerandaaronjones.com/

The Trials Of Cato – Gog Magog

When I reviewed The Trials of Cato’s debut album, Hide And Hair, for the now-defunct fRoots magazine back in 2018, I  enthused that few debuts exhibited as much vitality as this one and predicted, like many, that we’d be seeing a lot more of them. We certainly did that. Their rise in the folk sphere was meteoric, yet it would be four years from the release of Hide And Hair before we had the chance to hear a follow-up.

Robin Jones: “Lockdown gave us a chance to really look at what we are about as a band and what music we wanted to create. We wiped the slate clean and challenged ourselves to create as much as we could without outside influences. Our beautiful and sometimes mysterious Fenland surroundings helped to realise this album and although we’re now delighted to be back on the road, this was a space in time that certainly helped us to create this music.”

That wiping the slate clean has seen a change in line-up, with Polly Bolton coming in to replace original member, Will Addison, and bringing a female vocal into the mix for the first time. There’s still plenty that’s familiar on Gog Magog though, from the reworking of Welsh language poetry to Robin Jones’ distinctive tenor banjo – and the band remain as captivating as ever. The only track I was slightly underwhelmed by was ‘Bedlam Boys’ but that’s only because I don’t think anyone can beat Gigspanner’s version for its sheer manic inventiveness. Overall a very welcome return from some of folk’s real innovators.

Released: 25 November 2022 https://www.thetrialsofcato.com/

The Ian Walker Band – We Come To Sing

Ian Walker is an accomplished songwriter and performer, recording over twenty albums and having his songs covered worldwide. Joining Walker (vocals, banjo, guitar, autoharp), his band comprises Jimmy Scott (vocals, guitar), and Moe Walker (vocals), who are supported on this album by some legendary veteran musicians: John Graham (The Clydesiders, John Graham & Jim Jack), Alan Reid (Battlefield Band, Alan Reid & Rob van Sante), Stevie Lawrence (Red Hot Chilli Pipers, Rallion, Iron Horse) and acclaimed blues harmonica player, Fraser Speirs.

We Come To Sing  is a highly entertaining and song-packed album. Its eighteen tracks span an eclectic mix of both Walker’s own material (songs like ‘We Come To Sing’, ‘Rammy In The Glen’ and a re-recording of his anti-apartheid anthem, ‘Hawks And Eagles Fly Like Doves’ – which originally appeared on Walker’s 1985 solo album); alongside covers of classics from the likes of Richard Thompson, Sandy Denny and Tom Paxton; as well as popular traditional songs like ‘The Water Is Wide’. Definitely an album to put a smile on your face.

Released 16 January 2023 http://www.ianwalkeronline.com/

Glen Matlock, Clem Burke and Katie Puckrik celebrate 45 years of the Lust For Life album with UK tour

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Feb/Mar 2023: full UK tour plus Dublin date

An all-star line-up will celebrate the forty-fifth anniversary of the release of Iggy Pop’s classic Lust For Life album with a tour of the UK plus a special one-off date in Dublin.

Legendary Blondie drummer, Clem Burke, will be joined by former Sex Pistol and punk pioneer,  Glen Matlock on bass; broadcaster and Pet Shop Boys dancer, Katie Puckrik on vocals; Iggy Pop and David Bowie collaborator, Kevin Armstrong on guitar;  Luis Correia, who’s toured internationally with Earl Slick on second guitar together with classical pianist, composer, and touring member of Heaven 17, Florence Sabeva on keyboards.

The band will perform the Lust For Life album in full, as well as revisiting songs from across the individual band members’ careers with legendary artists including Blondie, David Bowie and the Sex Pistols.

Glen Matlock steps up at the last minute to replace Tony Fox Sales.

Glen Matlock: “It will be a bit of a challenge stepping into the top player and gentleman Tony Sales’ shoes at the last minute but challenges put hairs on your chest and are not to be shirked. To be on stage with these fellow like-minded guys and gals and celebrate our collective musical ancestries should be a pleasure, so come on down and let’s all hit the roof together.”

Clem Burke: “Due to Tony’s unfortunate  last minute unavailability we’ve decided to soldier on with my mate and current Blondie bass player Glen Matlock . Everyone in the group is looking forward to a great night of Rock ‘n’ Roll with a few extra surprises in store .”

Three of the band members, Glen Matlock, Clem Burke and Kevin Armstrong have toured with Iggy Pop and each has made an album with him: Glen Matlock (Soldier) in 1980, Clem Burke (Zombie Birdhouse) in 1982 and Kevin Armstrong (Blah Blah Blah) in 1986.

Katie Puckrik adds: “I’m a show pony from way back: along with my broadcast career covering pop culture, I toured the world dancing with Pet Shop Boys, I performed at Sadler’s Wells with The Fall and Michael Clark Company, and I sang in Sparks’ opera The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman, both on the original cast recording and onstage. I have worked with towering icons of music, but taking on the magnificent Iggy Pop’s vocal duties for this Lust for Life re-make/re-model is an electrifying opportunity like no other. Not only do I get to sing anthems like ‘Lust for Life’ and ‘The Passenger’ (as well as my personal fave from the album, ‘Success’), but I’m surrounded by some of Iggy, The Sex Pistols, Bowie and Blondie’s key players, including Glen Matlock, Clem Burke and Kevin Armstrong. So strap on your horse tails and join me in celebrating Lust for Life.”

All tickets available via: https://lustforlifetour.com/