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Akleja of an erotic R&B song that could gently lilting folk sensibility and brio of The SteelDrivers’ ‘There’s five-year stretch before reassembling Wasser und Erde successfully win over a nightclub travelling-man observation of the Whiskey in the Jar’. in 2013. A near decade and a half Akleja (51 mins) dance floor. Marichka and Mark natural world that marks the whole Dervish’s own Cathy Jordan since 2005’s Haven, the follow up HHHHH Marczyk, juggling with musical ideas scene encompassing new folk and takes the lead on two tracks with Ancora finds the fab Anglo-Irish four Nyckelharpa duo are really in and statements, are trying to heal the eco-activism. Naturally enough, the Steve Earle, Imelda May, Vince Gill, returning to flex musical muscles with their element trauma and reclaim their freedom of brothers’ music evokes comparisons Andrea Corr and Abigail Washburn a confidence and élan hard to resist. Akleja are expression, while indeed creating a with Sam Lee – the nightingale- providing piquancy or poetry to a Taking its title from Michelangelo’s nyckelharpa unique piece of art. stalking fireside folkie of the East veritable ‘greatest hits’ collection 87th birthday declaration ‘Ancora players Regina AGNIESZKA UJMA London scene, whom they have of traditional Irish favourites. The impara’ (‘I am yet learning’) – ancora Kunkel and Björn TRACK TO TRY Boom Boom supported on tour. There is also more musical accompaniment is low-key, also translating as ‘hope’ or ‘again’ – it Kaidel (who also than a hint of The Waterboys’ mystical Sinéad O’Connor collaborator Graham serves a vibrant reminder of just how plays guitar and Banter Celtic balladry, such as on the plaintive Henderson’s production stressing the good this crack quartet are. Irish bouzouki). Wasser und Erde Dare whistle airs of ‘Coventina’s Daughter’. mellow and mellifluous. All it needs is The sense of ensemble is even (Water and Earth) is an often Mrs Casey Records (42 mins) The self-penned numbers have a glass of the black stuff and a turf fire. stronger, more elastic and intricate intoxicating set of instrumental folk HHHHH an almost pre-industrial quality, MICHAEL QUINN than before. Brian Finnegan and tunes and melodies, many featuring Mad bants with the world's with a hint of American country. The TRACK TO TRY There’s Whiskey in the Jar Sarah Allen’s twin flutes and whistles, two nyckelharpas together – a rarity smallest big band brothers’ finger-picking guitar, fiddle Ed Boyd’s guitar and the bodhrán of even in the instrument’s home country Featuring Simon and mandolin are complemented Dobranotch John Joe Kelly mesh together with of Sweden. The duo have studied and Care on melodeon by Siannie Moodie’s clarsach (Celtic Merčedes Kolo the mathematical precision of poetry performed in the country often, and and concertina, harp) and percussion from Tim Lane. CPL Music (64 mins) bolstered by bursts of drama. Adding this set was recorded there last with Nina Zella on There’s also a spare, simple take on HHHHH idiosyncratic tones to the already rich November. Comprising 14 tunes, it keyboards and the traditional ‘The Road to Dundee’ Boisterous party klezmer band palette of colours are Mark Tucker’s opens with the not altogether burning vocals, and brass and a cover of Michelle Shocked’s from St Petersburg theremin on the closing pairing of Zoë question: ‘Sind die Rüben Rieb?’ (Are and percussion from Tim Walker, this ‘Blackberry Blossom’. The Finnish Conway’s ‘Ómós Sheamuis’ and John The Turnips Ripe?), a north-east well-connected trio still style The duo’s sound has a consciously harmonica band McSherry’s ‘The Quickenbeam’, Melvin German polonaise extracted from a OFTHETOP themselves as ‘the world’s smallest big cultivated archaic sound and turn of Sväng have made a Ifill’s steel drums on ‘The Coral Castle’ small set of surviving tunes from a WORLD band,’ and, as on their bracing debut phrase. For anyone who remembers a series of and Matthias Loibner’s evocative 19th century player. That’s followed by Cormac Byrne & TRACK 6 Yes, they can make a pretty big noise if time when both folkie sensibilities and photographs on hurdy-gurdy on two tracks. Boyd and two original tunes from Kunkel, and Adam Summerhayes it suits them. They’ve been gigging for eco-activism were distinctly uncool, different modes of Tucker’s production perfectly frames a then more flowing, ebbing polskas, Stone Soup the past 18 months since that striking this fresh young sound is striking, transport – motorbike sidecar, railway veteran outfit doing what they do best. angloise, mazurkas, minuets and Extinct Records/Nimbus Alliance (53 mins) introduction, and when they lay into stirring and hopeful in its idealism. maintenance vehicle, hot air balloon MICHAEL QUINN schottisches, either by Kunkel and HHHHH the traditional dance tunes here, as NATHANIEL HANDY – and Dobranotch create a similar feel TRACK TO TRY Ocean Child Kaidle, or drawn from old tune books. Duo made of strong stock throw ingredients into the pot for a hearty cup of improv they often do, their sheer gusto is TRACK TO TRY Golden One on the cover of Merčedes Kolo, though As such, there are strong parallels with This is an audacious piece of work by they conceived the idea to record an improvised album impressively infectious and enjoyable. the badge has been replaced by a Dick Gaughan contemporary English instrumentalists, two accomplished musicians. Adam over the space of two nights. With its emphasis on the On the other hand, the several Dervish horseshoe, perhaps for luck. Handful of Earth such as Leveret, who mix original and Summerhayes is a classically trained passage of a night and its pace and rhythm, it evokes self-penned tracks tend towards the The Great Irish Songbook Dobranotch (Goodnight) are a Topic Records (45 mins) traditional tunes from ancient sources. fiddler with a rich Northumbrian, both contemporary and Indian classical music. disappointingly underwhelming, Rounder Records (63 mins) Russian band playing klezmer and HHHHH Throughout, the playing is Celtic and Eastern European heritage. Byrne brought a marimbula and berimbau into the straining for lyrical relevance but HHHHH good-time party music with lyrics A classic protest album that beautiful, and packed with almost- Having travelled the world playing studio to add extra texture to this sonic ‘stone soup.’ The mostly just sounding hackneyed, To celebrate 30 years, the Irish mainly in Russian and Yiddish. Their feels as relevant now as ever tactile melodies. Musically, it’s an easy concertos, he has been drawn back to his folk roots. He first tones of fiddle feel Eastern, like a slow alap, before despite their obvious instrumental band head across the Atlantic sound is brassy and boisterous, often When this album place to get lost in, a retreat in sound asked Irish bodhrán percussionist Cormac Byrne to join the rhythm builds, pulling the sound west towards skills and a continuing cheery Dervish mark 30 excessively so. Although they’re was released in that repeatedly works its charms. his latest project, the Gypsy-Celtic-klezmer fusion of something akin to klezmer. The whole is very satisfying. disregard for musical boundaries. years together with from St Petersburg, there’s a touch of November 1981, TIM CUMMING Dodo Street Band, and this is an organic offshoot from NATHANIEL HANDY Unfortunately, any pleasure to be had their first studio underworld Odessa in there. There the year had TRACK TO TRY Herbstastermenuett that meeting. In a Derbyshire kitchen late one night, TRACK TO TRY Arising: Part 1 from its diversity quickly goes astray in album in more are novelties here in ‘Ya Rayah’ already seen riots the face of the collection’s irritating ups than a decade and the Algerian song (by Dahmane El in Brixton, Toxteth The Askew Sisters and downs. Matters could well be very the first to be Harrachi) popularised by Rachid Taha and Moss Side, the death of Bobby Enclosure and power in the present age. The Balaklava Blues Fly, their debut long play, is filled different in the live arena, of course. released on American roots label and ‘Son’, a Latin-flavoured Russian Sands, the birth of the SDP and Oakmere Music (48 mins) opener, ‘I Wandered by the Brookside’, Fly with monumental, energetic beats Quite what a virtually unreconstructed Rounder Records, home to luminaries song by Alec Kopyt of the Amsterdam Murdoch’s purchasing of The Times HHHHH focuses on internal disconnections Six Degrees (59 mins) and haunting, white-voiced singing take on The Police’s always dubious such as Alison Krauss, Gregg Allman Klezmer Band. Fun though this is, newspapers – all indicators of the I know why the caged sisters sing while ‘Goose & Common’ tackles the HHHHH by Marichka Marczyk in both English ‘Roxanne’ is doing here, let alone and Steve Martin. Dobranotch’s 2018 album, 20 Years, tumultuous socio-political battles that The Askews have privatisation of place and resources. Ukrainian folk tunes take flight and Ukrainian. The album echoes closing the album on a faintly Not surprisingly, the accent had more variety. would be lost and won, carving deep released some of A lovely account of ‘Georgie’ is bound in support of revolution with works of Nicola Cruz and Gooral desperate note, is anybody’s guess. here – on a baker’s dozen of songs SIMON BROUGHTON channels that our society still flows the most striking up in the social enclosures of class, Marichka and and it speaks with an honesty and KEVIN BOURKE culled from the Irish songbook – is TRACK TO TRY Son down today. As such, the politics and folk music of recent while ‘My Father Built Me a Pretty Mark Marczyk’s emotiveness that would be understood TRACK TO TRY Candlelight Fisherman decidedly transatlantic, Dervish protest, as well as the storytelling and years, from Hazel’s Little Tower’ (a variant of ‘The Famous Balaklava Blues and admired by both the audience at a staying discreetly in the background to Flook passion embedded in Gaughan’s involvement in Flower of Serving Men’) and ‘Castle by was realised on the folk music festival and at a warehouse The Brothers Gillespie support an eclectic array of vocalists, Ancora Handful of Earth, remains a potent Lady Maisery and Coven; Emily’s the Sea’ both explore the enclosures barricades during all-night rave. Fly showcases the The Fell some more persuasive than others. Flatfish Records (50 mins) force, not a museum curiosity, at a time folk-meets-early-music album Alchemy, of gender, power, life and death. The the 2014 Ukrainian interesting versatility of the musicians: The Brothers Gillespie (42 mins) The joker in the pack is actor Brendan HHHHH when our politics, in the broadest sense, her fiddle trio Alma, and work for closing ‘Moorfields’ is a Bedlam song, revolution. Inspired by the traditional ‘Boom Boom’ is embroidered with HHHHH Gleeson’s ‘The Rocky Road to Dublin’, Flook alive! Anglo-Irish quartet seem on the poise of significant change. Shakespeare’s Globe; as well as their voiced by a woman incarcerated for folk music from the part of Ukraine intricate, detailed production Folk from Northumberland, which manages to be simultaneously are back after almost 15 years As for the music and the three albums as a duo, including the love across class divides, complete afflicted by war and dedicated to and delicate vocal arrangements, steeped in the natural world spirited and underplayed. There’s After early success performance, it’s among the best and Spiral Earth Best Traditional Album of with errant floating verses – from supporting those still fighting for ‘Underground’ shouts out an a Bosky and fecund, curiosity value, too, in David Gray’s with three albums most successful of all his releases. 2015, In the Air or the Earth. outside the enclosures of the song – democracy and freedom, they started capella manifesto and ‘Balloons’ is the second characteristically morose take on that positioned His guitar and vocals are as powerful Enclosure takes its themes from that cast a new dimension and even a singing and performing together, a bittersweet waltz ballad. ‘Sex’, a album from Andy Irvine’s classic ‘The West Coast them as a force to instruments as any – you can imagine the land enclosures of the 18th and glimmer of freedom and hope. creating one of the most innovative track tucked in the middle of these Northumberland’s of Clare’, Kate Rusby’s gorgeously be reckoned with, the bite and anger of ‘The World 19th centuries, and is a metaphor TIM CUMMING and emotionally powerful projects on musical and political explorations, is Brothers Gillespie melancholic ‘Down by the Sally Flook went silent in Turned Upside Down’ tearing down for disconnection, captivity, place TRACK TO TRY Georgie the European music scene. an unexpected, humorous pastiche is steeped in the Gardens’ and the bluegrass bite and the studio and disbanded for a the walls of social iniquity as if they

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were paper-thin. Alas, those walls still is the culmination of some time taken Nick Hart this young chap’s in the midst of his Earth is Waiting), which suggest Sandy stand. But so does the passion and the to develop as a band, write, and record Nick Hart Sings Nine frolics, the molecatcher caught him Denny-era Fairport Convention in tenderness of his wonderful account some favourite tunes. English Folk Songs right square by the shoulder.’ their jollier moments. of Burns’ ‘Now Westlin’ Winds’ or the The cover of David Francey’s ‘The Roebuck Records (40 mins) Hart’s rough, unrefined voice WIF STENGER pairing of ‘Lough Erne’ and ‘First Kiss Waking Hour’ is delivered with a HHHHH sounds straight out of a field recording TRACK TO TRY Marken Väntar at Parting’. nice tone and a sweet voice by Aidan Singing traditional tunes from some sawdust-strewn public TIM CUMMING Moodie, while ‘Sea Widow’ makes straight from the Hart house. It’s almost a time capsule voice, Mary Ann Kennedy TRACK TO TRY The World Turned effective use of the poetry of Orkney’s With a Ronseal evidence of many years poring over Glaschu: Home Town Upside Down George Mackay Brown. As a band, they matter-of-factness, the archives. His liner notes emphasise Love Song are strongest in their instrumental this second album that these songs would traditionally ARC Music (53 mins) Gnoss pieces. ‘Hasse A’s’ demonstrates some from have been sung unaccompanied. As HHHHH Drawn from Deep Water fiery fiddle work, while ‘Voodoo’ is Cambridgeshire such, he is at pains to avoid muddying A tribute to the urban Gael's Blackfly Records (43 mins) a sweaty piece of whistle and flute. folk singer Nick nuances of mode and meter with too home city of Glasgow

HHHHH ‘The Duchess’ is a soft, atmospheric Hart does exactly what it says on the much instrumentation. Gaelic songstress The Orbital Strangers Project Acoustic group deliver a cracking toe-tapper and Orkney fairy-tale ‘The tin. He’s a folk music purist who has His guitar style is spare and Mary Ann Kennedy set of contemporary folk Peeriefool’ is a sprightly little tune. trawled the recordings made by plucked. His whole delivery harks returns with 16 First formed as a Sweeping melodies, accomplished collectors throughout the 20th century not only to the venerable old man of tracks inspired by duo in 2015, Gnoss musicianship and a fine ear for tunes not only for these songs, but more English folk, Martin Carthy, but also her home town – (now a quartet) characterise this album. Perhaps not importantly, for the way they were to the rough-hewn manner of another and a real labour of have been steadily distinctive enough to gather new performed. There’s something of a south-east English folk singer, Chris love it is too. This urban Gael, brought making a name for audiences, it’s a fine release nonetheless. bygone era to it all, especially in such Wood. Tim Moore, who produced the up in the multicultural diaspora of TOP themselves on the BILLY ROUGH innocent little japes as the implied album, brings a mournful viola to Scotland’s most vibrant city, Glasgow, OFTHE live scene and Drawn from Deep Water TRACK TO TRY Hasse A’s rhyming of ‘The Molecatcher’ – ‘while several tracks, while Dominie Hooper has delivered a timeless, evocative, WORLD joins Hart with harmony vocals. smoky epic to the city of her birth. Söndörgő TRACK 8 NATHANIEL HANDY There is something slightly ethereal Nyolc 8 Nyolc TRACK TO TRY The Molecatcher in its mix of spoken word, blues, SNDRG Music (53 mins) bluegrass and Gaelic song. It feels very HHHHH traditional sources. ‘Tines’ features Dávid Eredics Järventaus | Dluzewski much part of the west coast (mainly The band of brothers creating on kaval (flute), playing over asymmetric Bulgarian Jorden Svart Glasgow) folk scene of the early 1970s a new Hungarian tradition rhythms. ‘Merakolo’ is a mercurial dash of kolo dances Nordic Notes (42 mins) – and that’s no bad thing. ‘Òran don Söndörgő are Hungary’s super-lively with Salamon Eredics on shepherd’s flute. Two of the HHHHH ‘Clutha’’ (Song for the ‘Clutha’) is a case tambura band, fizzing in their music tracks clock in at over ten minutes. ‘Riba’ begins with Dark, elegant Swedish folk in point; it is a tribute to the Clyde but and breathtaking to watch on stage. drums and brass, and suggests something ritualistic. This is timeless reminiscent of the sound of the Clutha Members of the Eredics family play In the middle it becomes delicate and melancholy, and Scandinavian Bar, a regular haunt of Billy Connolly instrumental music from the Serbian then rushes to a virtuoso tambura finish. A couple of simplicity itself: the in his Humblebums days. and Croatian communities in Hungary tunes on the album will be familiar to those that know dark-edged voice of Actors Bill Paterson and Wilma on plucked mandolin-like tamburas, and Macedonian their Bartók, taking melodies he used in the 44 Duos for Maria Järventaus Kennedy provide spoken-word tunes with wind, brass, accordion and percussion. This Violins and the Romanian Folk Dances, the latter in ‘Kind set against the contributions on four of the tracks, album is their eighth (nyolc in Hungarian). of Bela’. All in all, a very satisfying and accomplished set. virtuosic strings of Gabbi Dluzewski. including the odes to Glasgow’s Produced by Ben Mandelson, what’s impressive SIMON BROUGHTON These songs are mostly sad but not shopping thoroughfares ‘Sauchiehall here is the way Söndörgő create new music from their TRACK TO TRY Merakolo depressing, brightened by Dluzewski’s Street, Friday Morning’ and ‘Sràid sparkling fingerwork on mandolin Bhochanan (Buchanan Street)’. and Swedish bouzouki, also known as It’s a beautifully produced album, and Miles Davis, recorded with Herbie evidence of a long career defined by Dedicated to his artist brother José, the a Nordic mandola or octave mandolin. rich in atmospheric arrangements Hancock and, ahem, had a UK top ten serious commitment to an instrument, album is intimately inspired by art, Tom Howard A veteran of the Swedish-Estonian accompanying the stunning voice of hit with ‘Love Theme from The Thorn gimmick-free and quite glorious in people and places dear to Niebla. string band Fränder, he’s occasionally Kennedy, and a genuine and sincere Birds’; an hombre has got to eat. its way. Niebla’s playing is crisp and joined by brother and bandmate expression of love for her home town. Recorded between 1974 and 2015, CHRIS MOSS flawless throughout, demonstrating OFTHETOP Daniel Dluzewski on double bass. BILLY ROUGH this box of fine music showcases a TRACK TO TRY Taconeos his considerable range and versatility. WORLD Besides the odd multi-tracked vocal, TRACK TO TRY Òran do Ghlaschu life dedicated to the bulerías, soleá, Although some of the raw immediacy Eliza Carthy TRACK 9 there are no gimmicks here, or great sevillana and other palos you could Eduardo Niebla of his earlier flamenco playing can be Restitute innovations either. Juan Martín mention – and some you might Las Olas de Niebla heard on the opening title-track, he has Topic Records (46 mins) Järventaus sings with a restrained, Guitar Maestro not, such as the rarely used (outside LMR Records (49 mins) largely traded this for a smoother, more HHHHH courtly elegance, underpinned by Flamencovision (4 CDs, 295 mins) dancing) zapateado and the 2/4 HHHHH considered sound with rich chamber Singer and fiddle player releases a solo album to help her band a melancholy Celtic tinge. She hails HHHHH garrotín. Crisp, plain recordings mean Chamber music flamenco from orchestrations and dense textures. In 2016, the Wayward Band, the curses capitalists with Leon Rosselson’s ‘The Man Who from the northern Swedish town of Guitarist's career to date: all the the early material is for the purist, guitarist and composer While Niebla’s lead guitar is to the fore ensemble of gifted musicians Eliza Puffs the Big Cigar’, lampoons lawyers with her setting of Kalix, near the Finnish border and flamenco you could possibly Juan showing Martín forge his own style Virtuoso guitar for most of the album, some of the Carthy first assembled in 2013, Jonathan Swift’s poem ‘Helter Skelter’ and sings ‘Dream the Torne Valley, where some of these Known as much for away from that of his early mentors. player and most beautiful moments surface in the suffered what she describes as a of Napoleon’, one of a body of English traditional songs songs originate, including the lullaby his books on guitar The third CD is perhaps the composer Eduardo composed interplay between violin, ‘monumental con’ and lost the radically admiring of Bonaparte. ‘Tussiko Lussiko’. The closing ballad is playing as his odd one out, featuring crossover, Niebla has a viola, cello and guitar on tracks such funding for their ambitious Big Carthy sings with absolute conviction, scraping a jagged the exception – a Swedish take on the virtuosity, Spanish classical-tinged work with the Royal 40-year history of as ‘Virginia Renshaw’. This vibrant, Machine album. Carthy was moved to record Restitute, her accompaniment from her violin. But it isn’t all furious: old Appalachian lament ‘The Blackest maestro Juan Philharmonic and non-flamenco genre-crossing colourful and melodic journey is first solo album for 14 years, in her bedroom and sell it to ‘Lady All Skin and Bone’ is a comedic contemplation Crow’, here as ‘Svartaste Korpen’. Martín possesses collaborations with keyboard player collaboration behind him and his superbly recorded, demonstrating raise money to pay the band. It has now been released by of death, and the album closes with ‘The Last Rose of Järventaus wrote or arranged many quite a lineage. He studied flamenco Todd Cochran and saxophonist Mark latest offering is no different. Las Olas Niebla’s self-taught lyrical guitar Topic as part of the label’s 80th birthday celebrations. Summer’, expressing the necessity of friendship. of the other tunes, including the under Niño Ricardo and Paco de Isham. In all, 18 albums are dipped de Niebla sees Niebla’s flamenco- mastery, an accomplishment of genre- Restitute opens with ‘Friendship’ but, unsurprisingly, JULIAN MAY album’s liveliest moments: the nearly- Lucía, worked the club circuit, played into over the four CDs. It’s easy to be infused guitar style interwoven with defying composition and musicianship. anger at injustice and corruption runs through it. She TRACK TO TRY The Slave's Lament rock’n’roll ‘Käre Far’ (Dear Papa) and for Picasso’s 90th birthday celebrations impressed by new takes and novel chamber music and ever deeper DOUGLAS MACGREGOR the seafaring ‘Marken Väntar’ (The and performed with Rory Gallagher fusions, but this collection is solid explorations into modern jazz. TRACK TO TRY Virginia Renshaw

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accordion, apart from the final track Pauanne Accordion and joik Pauanne ‘Stomping Clogs (Remix)’ – Thatcher’s duo Vildá Nordic Notes (47 mins) known for her deft clog dancing, too. HHHHH One musician, one instrument, but The eccentric side of Finland there’s remarkable variety here. ‘April’s Pauanne are an Child’ is a tender piece written for a eye- and ear- friend expecting her first child. ‘Sleep’s catching trio from Spindles/Zakopane Christmas’ is Finland. They revel effervescent and ‘The Laburnum Tree’, in the darker, a tune written in thanks to a happy pre-Christian home she has left, itself moves on so Joanna Suomalainen sounds of the folk tradition rather than fast it captures the fluttering of leaves. the jovial or nostalgic, and they make As striking as the melodies are apt contemporary metaphors. Their the bass lines. Thatcher’s accordion song ‘Rauta’ likens an ancient Finnish features the free bass system, which spell for a protective wall with beliefs in gives access to more notes than is 21st century America, not because, I standard and allows the player to create think, they support Trump’s Mexican her own chords. Throughout Thatcher's wall but because they like the way the left hand provides complex rhythms Vildá VARIOUS ARTISTS same concerns reappear across the and sound textures that, far more than Vildaluodda/Wildprint centuries. Pauanne was the name of the accompaniment, are integral to the Bafe’s Factory (44 mins) Vision & Revision: The First thunder god whose help was sought for depth of her compositions. HHHHH 80 Years of Topic Records the wall. Most of the tracks include Thatcher recently became a mother A daring pairing of Finnish Topic Records (2 CDs, 84 mins) archive recordings of music or songs and her album has an intimate, joik and accordion HHHHH seamlessly woven into the music of thoughtful quality, reflecting on a full Hildá Länsman, a Folk stars of today reimagine Kukka Lehto (violin, keyboards), Eero and ever-changing life. young vocalist the tunes that influenced them Pennanen (keyboards) and Janne JULIAN MAY from northern Topic Records grew Haavisto (drums and percussion). TRACK TO TRY April's Child Finland’s out of the Workers' ‘Siihen Laihin Eläny’ (That’s the indigenous Sámi Music Association Way I’ve Lived) is based on a 17th The Ukrainians community, fuses and over eight century witch trial for a poor woman Summer in Lviv traditional joik chant-singing with decades has just trying to survive, while the Zirka Records (49 mins) electronic pop in the duo Solju with consistently booklet quotes some extraordinarily HHHHH her mother Ulla Pirttijärvi-Länsman. championed music made by working sexist statements from different Ukrainians celebrate the In her new duo Vildá, she teams up people. Almost all the stalwarts of the periods on the intellectual inferiority Summer of Lviv with accordionist-singer Viivi Maria folk revival – June Tabor, Nic Jones, of women. ‘Akkojen Hommia’ It’s 30 years since Saarenkylä for a more ambitious, Martin Simpson – were nurtured (and (Womanish Work) samples a woman’s the creation of The risk-taking mix of Sámi and Finnish still are) by Topic. cow herding song and apparently in Ukrainians, a folk with organic sounds from further In celebration of its first 80 years the 17th century men were prohibited unique afield, thanks to various guests. These Topic invited many of today’s finest from being cowherds because they phenomenon of range from calabash playing by folk musicians to choose a song from tended to have sex with the cows. British-indie-rock- Aruban drummer Christopher the label’s catalogue and reinterpret Finland seems a much more eccentric meets-Ukrainian-tradition. It began Rodulfo and classical violin from it. Vision & Revision is the result, 20 place after listening to this album. with guitarist Peter Solowka (who had Bulgaria’s Stiliana Ravelska to new tracks by senior figures including Pauanne won the Newcomer award in the Ukrainian heritage) and The beatboxing by Venla Ilona Blom of Richard Thompson, Peggy Seeger and this year’s Ethnogala in Helsinki. Wedding Present recording a session vocal group Tuuletar. the Oldham Tinkers, and younger ones, SIMON BROUGHTON for BBC Radio’s John Peel show. Their Joik and accordion is a non- among them Sam Lee, Lisa Knapp, TRACK TO TRY Akkojen Hommia songs are electric-guitar-led rock songs, traditional pairing, yet it sounds Emily Portman and Rob Harbron. sung in Ukrainian with accordion to natural as Länsman’s spiralling Their choices are revealing. Martin Amy Thatcher add an Eastern European twist. Their vocals entwine like DNA strands with Simpson first saw the American singer Solo continued success in Ukraine and Saarenkylä’s accordion arpeggios. Hedy West in a folk club in Scunthorpe Amy Thatcher (34 mins) elsewhere in the region suggests a The vocals can be harsh at times, as and bought her album Ballads. HHHHH nostalgia for classic rock’n’roll. on ‘Beana Ciellá’ (The Dog Barks) and His contribution, ‘Beaulampkin’, The accordion player strikes The title-track is a celebration of ‘Mäkrävaaran Äijö’ (The Old Man of he learned from that record half a out on her own one of the country’s most beautiful Mäkrä Hill). The latter echoes Värttinä’s century ago. When he was 17, Martin Amy Thatcher is an cities, with distorted guitars and ‘Äijö’ incantation, released when these Carthy heard Sam Larner, who was 80, acclaimed thrashing drums. ‘Summer in Lviv will musicians were just little kids. singing and it shaped his life. Carthy, accordion player, last forever,’ they cry. ‘Zvidky Vy?’ is The pair spin a wide array of sonic approaching Larner’s age when he well-known from more satirical, about how everybody textures, atmospheres and emotions, came across him, sings ‘Napoleon’s her work with asks Ukrainian workers abroad ‘where from the elegiac accordion solo Dream’. Sam Lee, fascinated by Gypsy Northumbrian do you come from?’. ‘Sterezhitsya ‘Winter Woods’ to ‘Utsjoki-Disko’, a singing, radically interprets ‘The piper Kathryn Tickell, The Monster Kozakivi’ (Beware of the Kozaks) is playful romp of youthful romance in Deserter’ as sung by Wiggy Smith. Ceilidh Band and The Shee. It’s alarmingly catchy. There isn’t a song the EU’s northernmost municipality – For anyone who knows these songs, somewhat surprising then that Solo is yet about a comedian who plays the a sparsely populated wilderness where there is a deeper experience, a musical Amy Thatcher’s first... er... solo album. president actually becoming the you might seek some place dark to echoing through time. There are ten tracks, all but one her president, but you feel there could be. escape the bright midnight sun. JULIAN MAY own compositions. They are played SIMON BROUGHTON WIF STENGER TRACK TO TRY The Bay of Biscay by solely on her Pigini Converter TRACK TO TRY Zvidky Vy? TRACK TO TRY Utsjoki-Disko Emily Portman

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