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Nia Morgan

Nia Morgan's debut album ushers you into a place out of time in which she slows the clocks and conjures a highly original fusion of Welsh and English influences. Three of the best songs are in Welsh, all of which connect on a deeply human level.

Her tremulous and breathy voice bears comparison to Joanna Newsom and her arrangements are highly accomplished. This debut carves out her own unique space, she is a guitarist, bilingual vocalist, pianist, violinist and harpist, but most importantly a unniquely talented songwriter.

www.niamorgan.com
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Travelling Light

Lightgarden

As debuts go this is ambitious to a fault. Whilst reaching for the stars 'Travelling Light' doesn't always hit the right buttons. At times acting as a tool for healing whilst backing Sufi poetry, and elsewhere, sounding akin to a Greek wedding party, acid folk doesn't begin to cover what's here. However, David Moss and Masha Kaestner, can be proud of this intrepid combination of many stringed instruments, piano, organ and harmonium for its sheer vision.

www.myspace.com/lgarden

West Cross Timbers

Amanda Shires

Amanda Shires 'West Cross Timbers' has all the fundamentals that Hank Williams possessed: A killer tune, swathes of heartache and bursts of happiness. Hailing from West Texas, and playing fiddle from an early age, Shires is backed by a band who enhance every moment to perfection. With ace touring partner, and co-writer, Rod Picott for help, and heavyweight endorsement from Chris Isaak and Justin Townes Earle, she has a magical formula.

www.amandashires.net

Frost Bites

Belshazzar's Feast

Belshazzar's Feast A Winter seasonal offering from Paul Hutchinson and Paul Sartin. As can be expected from these lovely blokes it wraps the listener in a warming cloak and takes them on a rollicking carolling journey through the frosty lanes and byways of history.

From Sartin's honeyed vocals to the entrancing accordion of Hutchinson this album is as comforting as a brandy on a Winters night, as evocative as the smell of woodsmoke and frost. The magic of it is that it is also as energising as a young lover, a truly sweet heart.

One to treasure for many years.

www.belshazzarsfeast.co.uk

How've You Been All This Time?

Doghouse Roses

Doghouse Roses make walking a fine line between the best modern Americana and folk seem effortless. Thrown together in 2006 through a love of both genres, guitarist Paul Tasker & singer Iona MacDonald, have also recruited Scottish National Opera cellist Robert Irvine, ex-Cappercaillie percussionist, Wilf Taylor and, Willard Grant Conspiracy fiddle player, Josh Hillman to back these ten originals. The band excel but it's Iona's saddened and unwavering voice that makes this essential.

http://doghouseroses.org/

Cold Fen

Mary Humphreys and Anahata

cold fen As a lad I spent many hours sitting by drains (rivers to you) in the fens with a fishing rod. As the 20lb pike I dreamt of eluded me I had a lot of time to look across the starkly beautiful flatlands and absorb this unique landscape. Maybe you could have heard these tunes in alehouses around the fens in past centuries...

Mary and Anahata have an intense passion for unearthing material. They also have a good ear for invigorating arrangements and Mary is a great singer that imbues these songs and tunes with a vibrant energy