Review by Stephen Taylor

It has long been established that the nearer to a pole you live the madder you are. It’s the magnetotron rays that do it. Eskimos build houses out of snow and throat sing at each other until they summon the aurora borealis. Scandinavians split neatly into groups that venerate either Black [...]

Review by Max Wallis

When You’re Real is John McKeown’s ‘official’ debut album to be released in August 2010. In 2009 he released an unofficial debut album. I’m just as confused as the rest of you. It’s annoying to have to always have age mentioned, but it’s a valid point that [...]

Review by Glen Liddle

Traditional yet thoroughly contemporary, The Northern Road is an accomplished album with much to brag about. Jack McNeill and Charlie Heys’ follow-up to their 2008 debut, Light Up All the Beacons, offers a mature collection that oozes warmth and honesty through its sparse and uncluttered arrangements.

Jack’s uniquely percussive guitar [...]

Review by Hazel Davis

Hotly anticipated doesn’t quite do it. Eagerly awaited? So-longed-for-it-actually-hurt? And that’s just in my house. Ever since Johnny Flynn’s debut album, A Larum, landed in my CD player, life hasn’t quite been the same. It spoiled all other modern folk music and kickstarted the overused phrase, “Hmmm it’s good but it’s [...]

Review by Stephen Taylor

People will say ‘It’s like Marmite. You either love it or hate it.’ Which is fine, except for the fact that the Marmite love/hate split is roughly 50/50. Jude Cowan will not hang the jury in quite the same way. You’d be better off saying ‘It’s like gently lowering yourself [...]