Indelible Ink

KTB

Singer- songwriter Katy Bennett's third album is further confirmation of her talent and songwriting ability. Adventurous arrangements suit Katy's great vocal range and emotion.

She's already had the compliment of Uiscedwr covering a song form her first album, this release cements her credentials.

www.ktb.org.uk

Borders Tunesmiths

Various Artists

Number 6 in a series celebrating the very best in Borders culture is an album of new material recorded by some of the best local trad musicians. The project was kicked off by a residential weekend and the results are stunning. Recorded live it is a jewel of modern traditional music. The CD-ROM also contains a wealth of supporting material such as manuscripts, photo galleries and info on the musicians involved.

www.borderstraditions.org.uk

Pulling Threads

Michelle Burke

The latest lead vocalist to grace Irish/American supergroup Cherish the Ladies releases her debut solo album.

She has assembled an impressive set of musicians to back her set of ballads, notably Kris Drever and Aidan O'Rourke. By turns melancholic and uplifting, Pulling Threads is an astoundingly mature debut

myspace.com/michelleburkemusic

Gleowien

Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer

Swan & Dyer get better with every album, Gleowien is the much anticipated new album from this wonderful duo. Vicki is one of the very best contemporary pipers, with Jonny there is a kind of alchemy going on, blending a whole cauldron of influences and coming up with something provocative yet warming to the heart.

www.swan-dyer.co.uk

Calcutta Grove

Sean Taylor

Sean Taylor has a great grasp of the blues characterized by a strong percussive momentum from his acoustic guitar, with occassional laidback slidework.

The original material isn't hi-octane but varied and soulful. His concerns about the abuse of power, and a strong anti-racism stance, are neatly encapsulated in highly stylized covers of Skip James's 'Hard Time Killing Floor Blues' and Richie Haven's 'Freedom'.

www.seantaylorsongs.com

Generosity

Various Artists

A collection celebrating 20 years of folk for MS. Contains some real gems from Jez Lowe, The Askew Sisters, Vin Garbutt, Roy Bailey and many more. Well worth having and a very worthy cause.

www.wildgoose.co.uk

All Dressed in Yellow

Fiddlers' Bid

Fiddlers' Bid are a joyous celebration of the Shetland fiddle tradition. Their sheer brilliance lies in their ability to be faithful to a tradition whilst extending it and making it stronger. The six high energy tracks culminate in the fifteen minute epic and absorbing 'All Dressed In Yellow'.

There is just so much infectious enjoyment here it makes you want to tell complete strangers about it.

www.fiddlersbid.com

Trosnant

Allan Yn Y Fan

Celtic music from Wales sums this up perfectly, full of power, love and fun with a solid backbone of that old Celtic magic running through the hills and streams of Wales.

A near perfect mix of tunes and songs performed with real drive by the five piece. It never gets predictable in any of it's twelve tracks.

www.allanynyfan.co.uk

Foogy

Olov Johansson & Catriona McKay

This mesmeric music is a fusion of Olov's Swedish Nyckelharpa (key harp) and Catriona's Scottish harp. Both have contributed traditional music from their homelands and composed fresh material for this project.

Clearly revelling in the partnership the duo are constantly inventive. Highlights include 'The Dundee Law Set', two tunes from Shetland taught to them by Fiddlers Bid member, Chris Stout, and the all new trio of reels 'The Foogy Set'. Deserves to be heard far beyond the confines of any niche audience.

www.myspace.com