Top Ten 2023
2023 has been another fertile year for folk music. As is tradition, here’s my Top Ten of the Year. What a cracking year it has been!
Eliza Carthy and Jon Boden, Glad Christmas Comes
First on the list and a fitting choice to end the year, Carthy and Boden serve up a sumptuous mix of traditional Christmas songs. Another cracker (pardon the pun) from Hudson Records, guaranteed to get even the most Scrooge-like figure in the mood for festive frolics. ‘Fairytale of New York’ is a standout, but ‘I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas’ will have you grinning from ear to ear
The Gentle Good, Galargan
Gareth Bonello delivers some gentle, reflective Welsh folk on the rather gorgeous ‘Galargan’. Dipped deeply in the Welsh tradition, Bonello’s stripped back album is a delight. Accompanied by cello, Mae’r Ddaear yn glasu or May, or Summer Carol, is a sweet treat.
Nick Hart and Tom Moore, The Colour of Amber
English folk song at its very best here fromNick Hart and Tom Moore. Masters of their game the duo smoothly breathe new life into some very familiar folk songs. ‘The Jolly Bold Robber’ is a standout but the whole album is superb. Harmonium, viola, and voice perfectly blended.
Leveret, Forms
An early 2023 release from Leveret, and one that’s stayed with me the entire year. Instrumental folk doesn’t get much better than this. The trio’s skill (concertina, fiddle, and melodeon) lies in their fresh approach to traditional tunes – reverence is there but so too is the ambition to explore the sheer beauty of old tunes. Playford is in very safe hands here. ‘Forms’ is a sparkling, and inspiring pleasure.
Penguin Café, Rain Before Seven…
Whimsical and magically weird, ‘Rain Before Seven…’ blends folk influences with classical and East African rhythms. Electronica and avant-garde pop take the forefront, creating an intoxicating mix. ‘Welcome to London’ is a Bond-esque piece of cinema, while ‘In Re Budd’ exudes a hip Afro-Cuban Café vibe with its bouncy piano and balafon.
Brigid Mae Power, Dream From The Deep Well
There is a dreamy psychedelic sound that permeates Brigid Mae Power’s ‘Dream From the Deep Well’. It’s haunting and thoroughly seductive, making for an immersive listen. The mellow ‘Counting Down’ is a song that lingers, while ‘Ashling’ tells a heartbreaking tale. Throughout, Power’s beguiling soundscape and wistful vocals prove to be a heady mix.
Catriona Price, Hert
Price presents a fine mix of violin and traditional Orkney song on her debut. The title track, ‘Hert,’ makes good use of Kevin Cormack’s poem, introducing a feisty blend of violin and synth. Jazz and pop sounds also feature on an album that acknowledges the rich Orkney tradition while embracing influences from beyond the archipelago.
Martin Simpson and Thomm Jutz, Nothing But Green Willow
‘Nothing But Green Willow: The Songs Of Mary Sands And Jane Gentry,’ curated by Simpson and Jutz, was an autumn treat. A collection of traditional Appalachian songs recorded by contemporary singers, it proved to be an inspiring and stunning listening experience. An example of how the old songs and tunes can be explored with reverence and creativity. Odessa Settles’ ‘Pretty Saro,’ Seth Lakeman’s ‘Edward,’ and Simpson’s rendition of ‘The Wagoner’s Lad‘ were favourites of mine, but there were so many gems here. Magnificent.
Various, Sing Yonder 1: The Album
Originating in 2021 from the mind of Karl Sinfield, Sing Yonder Folk publishes regular (and beautifully produced) booklets of simple arrangements and basic chords designed to encourage beginners to sing along to a selection from the Roud Song Index. The resulting album gathers a choice selection of artists to explore several of the covered songs. Standouts for me include Angeline Morrison’s interpretation of ‘The Three Ravens’ (Roud 5) and Jim Causley’s ‘The Raggle Taggle Gypsies’ (Roud 1), but the entire album is superb. Make sure you buy from Bandcamp for a bundle of extras too!
Jon Wilks, Before I Knew What Had Begun I Had Already Lost
We finish with the mighty Jon Wilks and his sublime fourth studio album and what a treat it is. Lots of familiar Roud features here but Wilks is a talented songwriter in his own right and ‘Greek Street’ is sublime – a timeless piece of reflective pop/rock nostalgia. The whole album has that rare magical touch in taking the listener on new journeys upon every listen. Here’s to 2024!
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