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Benjamin Howarth - Reviews


John Howard


To The Left Of The Moon's Reflection
Contemplative, experimental and highly rewarding seventeenth album from singer-songwriter, pianist and writer John Howard


Apartments


In and Out of the Light
On his second ‘comeback’ album after 2015’s acclaimed ‘‘No Song, No Spell, No Madrigal’, Peter Milton Walsh offers up a collection of songs that rival any since his band the Apartments’ first releases in 1978


Ben Bedford


Portraits
Storytelling folksinger Ben Bedford compiles some of the best tracks from his first three albums, which serves as a reminder of just how compelling a songwriter he is


GF Patrick


One Town Over
Americana singer-songwriter GF Patrick and his band pack everything they have into this compelling debut collection, which appears to be structured like a live show, with the best songs left until last


Matt Hill


Savage Pilgrims
Compelling fifth album and first under his his own name from former Quiet Loner frontman and 'storytelling singer-songwriter' Matt Hill which finds him moving away from the alt. country of his past recordings and into folk


Imbeciles


The Imbeciles
Underdeveloped but fiery post-punk/hardcore on debut album from enigmatic group the Imbeciles


Basia Bulat


Are You in Love?
Memorable and distinctive folk pop on first album in four years from Canadian singer-songwriter Basia Bulat


Della Mae


Headlight
Fabulous combination of anger and rock on new album from feminist bluegrass trio Della Mae


Salt House


Huam
Spellbinding third album from folk trio Salt House which combines original material with reworkings of poems


Robert Rotifer


About Us
Bleak but passionate reflection on Brexit from Robert Rotifer, who although Austrian-born has spent the last two decades living in the UK


Unthanks


Lines
Extraordinary three CD latest album which combines elements of jazz and modern classical music as well as traditional folk and sets to music the work of several poets


John Howard


Cut the Wire
John Howard's twelfth album since his 2005 comeback finds him merging his many influences into an assured and consistent set of songs


Mozes and the Firstborn


Dadcore
Enjoyable album of 90s-influenced indie rock aimed at the paternal demographic from Eindhoven four piece Mozes and the Firstborn


Raoul Vignal


Oak Leaf
Enthralling second album from French acoustic singer-songwriter Raoul Vignal which is influenced by jazz and ambient music


Julia Kent


Temporal
Impressive combination of classical music, post-rock and ambience from New York-based cellist Julia Kent


Austin Lucas


Immortal Americans
First-rate new album from Indiana-based singer-songwriter Austin Lucas which proves to be one of the best folk/Americana records in recent memory


Eric Bachmann


No Recover
Minimalist but haunting second solo album from ex-Crooked Fingetrs frontman and Americian producer and musician Eric Bachmann


Marla and David Celia


Daydreamers
Appealing country rock on third album from German/Canadian singer-songwriter duo, Marla and David Celia


Picturebox


Escapes
Unpredictable and psychedelic-influenced latest album from Canterbury-based cult band Picturebox


Robert Rotifer


They Don’t Love You Back
Remarkable solo album from Robert Rotifer, one of the records in WIAIWYA's new 77 project each consisting of a 77 minute track, upon which the Austrian-born singer-songwriter who has been Kent-based for the last 20 years reflects how post-Brexit he no longer has guaranteed status in the UK


Papernut Cambridge


Outstairs Instairs
Fourth album from Ian Button’s indie supergroup Papernut Cambridge plays back-to-front and finds him fleshing out the band’s glam-pop with a piano based-sound


Wave Pictures


Brushes With Happiness
The ever-reliable Wave Pictures are back with the first of two albums planned for release in 2018. This was recorded in a single all-night session and is none-the-worse for that.


Blue Rose Code


The Water of Leith
Optimistic and uplifting fourth album from Blue Rose Code, the project of often melancholic Edinburgh-born and now Manchester-based folk artist and singer-songwriter Ross Wilson


Eskies


And Don’t Spare the Horses
Richly entertaining mix of gypsy-folk, show tunes and Springsteen-esque classic rock on second album from Irish five-piece the Eskies


Howe Gelb and Lonna Kelly


Further Standards
Excellent album from Giant Sand's Howe Gelb which finds him revisiting and reworking with female singer Lonna Kelly 'Future Standards', an album of early 50's-influenced songs that he originally recorded last year


Len Price 3


Kentish Longtails
Confrontational 60's and 70's-influenced pop on fifth album from Medway-based band the Len Price 3


Hayman Kupa Band


The Hayman Kupa Band
Back to basics yet vibrant and successful collaboration between two of the indie scene’s favourite songwriters, Darren Hayman and Emma Kupa


Bella Gaffney


Heaven Knows
On her second album Bella Gaffney presents a carefully produced selection of folk and blues, honed after years playing in Yorkshire folk clubs


Almost Charlie


A Different Kind of Here
Transatlantic Berlin and New York-based songwriting partnership Almost Charlie deliver their fourth album of wistful pop


Ani DiFranco


Binary
Essential new album from New York State-based singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco, which is by a distance the most ambitious and inspiring record to have been released this year


Viper Central


The Spirit of God And Madness
First rate showcase of bluegrass and old-time styles from Viper Central, within which lead singer Kathleen Nisbet emerges as the writer of truly memorable original songs


Andrew Combs


Canyons of My Mind
Excellent 70's-influenced second album from melancholic Nashville-based singer-songwriter Andrew Combs


Unthanks


Diversions Vol 4 –The Songs and Poems of Molly Drake
Atmospheric new album from acclaimed English folk group the Unthanks who have set to music the poems and home recordings of Molly Drake, the mother of Nick Drake


Port Erin


Ocean Grey
Enthralling jazz and post rock-influenced third album from Port Erin who spent last year working as Nick Harper's backing band


Sean Taylor


Flood and Burn
Riveting folk-infused blues on confident eighth album from hard-touring UK singer-songwriter Sean Taylor


Sadies


Northern Passage
Melodic and lo-fi power pop on tenth album and first in four years from Toronto-based band the Sadies, which they recorded in their parents' basement


Frontier Ruckus


Enter the Kingdom
Brooding and lyrical Americana on fifth album from critically acclaimed Michigan-based group Frontier Ruckus


White Ape


Drones Clones Ramones
Sarcastic but infectious new EP from London alternative rock four-piece White Ape


Nick Ellis


Daylight Ghosts
Undefinable debut album from promising young Liverpool-based singer-songwriter Nick Ellis


Karen Jonas


Country Songs
Authentic and classic country on second album from remarkable Virginia-based singer-songwriter Karen Jonas


Rob Richings


Parkas and Boots
Optimistic debut album from acoustic guitarist and singer-songwriter Rob Richings, written and recorded after he had recovered from major surgery and illness


Martin Harley and Daniel Kimbro


Static in the Wires
Appealing and versatile second joint album from blues guitarist Martin Harley and double bassist DanieL Kimbro


Wave Pictures


Bamboo Diner in the Rain
Latest vinyl-only album from the prolific London-based trio the Wave Pictures finds the band exploring their love of blues to astonishing effect


John Howard


Across the Door Sill
Intimate approach on hauntingly compelling set of longform pop from rediscovered 1970's singer-songwriter John Howard


Seth Faergolzia


High Diver
The best so far of an ongoing project to write and record a hundred new song from New York antifolk musician Seth Faergolzia which is a good introduction to an unpredictable talent


Rats on Rafts/De Kift


Rats on Rafts/De Kift
Unlikely but highly successful collaboration between two very different Dutch groups Rats On Rafts and De Kift which proves a must for lovers of experimental post-punk


Session Americana with Jefferson Hamer


Great Shakes
Appealing tenth album from sprawling folk/Americana collective, Session Americana


Seth Lakeman


Ballads of the Broken Few
Ambitious new album from violin-playing folk artist and multi-instrumentalist, Seth Lakeman


Robert Rotifer


Not Your Door
Extraordinary new album from Vienna-born but now Canterbury-based singer-songwriter, Robert Rotifer


Dan Michaelson and the Coastguards


Memory
Melancholic but haunting mini-album from London-based singer-songwriter, Dan Michaelson and his band the Coastguards


John Howard


Songs For Randall
Exceptional EP of Randy Newman covers from rediscovered lost 70's musician, John Howard


Papernut Cambridge


Love the Things Your Lover Loves
Irresistible 60's and 70's-influenced third album from bedroom act-turned-live band, the project of ex-Death in Vegas and current Rotifer member, Ian Button


Wave Pictures


A Season in Hull
Immensely appealing vinyl-only acoustic album, recorded around one microphone, from indie act, the Wave Pictures


Shearwater


Jet Plane and Oxbow
Assured eighth album from undervalued Texan-based experimental band, Shearwatar


Darren Hayman


Florence
Modest but appealing album from the ever-productive Darren Hayman, which he recorded entirely solo while staying in Florence in Italy


Low Cut Connie


Hi Honey
Raucous and unpretentious third album from American rock and roll outfit, Low Cut Connie


Glen Hansard


Didn’t He Ramble
Infectious and enjoyable second solo album from former Frames front man, Glen Hansard


Gilmore and Roberts


Conflict Tourism
Appealing second album from harmony-laden British folk duo, Gilmore and Roberts


John Howard and the Night Mail


John Howard and the Night Mail
Backed by a credited band for the first time in his career, John Howard has made the natural successor to his debut album, forty years after that first release


David Celia


Double Mind
On his fourth album, Canadian singer-guitarist David Celia finds a way to bridge the gap between his studio songcraft and his often improvised live shows







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