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Album:Carry Her Safe

Label:Musician Records

Website: http://www.grenbartley

With a glorious serated edge, Gren Bartley's "Carry Her Safe" features some great guitar and banjo picking. It's an album of strong heartfelt songs and some great musical interludes, not just instrumentals dotted around the album, but as solos, introductions and finishes to the songs with a vocal element. The sound falls in the slot between English and American folk, there is the spirit of the troubadour about it, particularly when the harmonica kicks in. You can imagine Gren and co hitching a lift at a truck stop trying to get to the next gig. Artists like this seem to be a dying breed

Album:Little Seattlight

Label:Really Interesting Records

Website: http://www.hollyburton.com

"Little Seattlight" is due a full blown release later in the year, but in the meantime it's definitely worth tracking down a copy of the ltd edt edition original as there will be a change in the track listing. Burton seems to be an empathetic soul, there is something of the poet around her lyrical escapades, at times cathartic, at times almost frivilous. Certainly on the first run through the album you're never quite sure what you're going to encounter next. It gives the album a sense of expectation, one that is rewarded. Holly Burton's blend of acoustic pop has a sense of purpose.

EP:Second Time Around

Website: http://www.myspace.com/nellbryden

Like a Rachel Sweet updated for a 21st century audience, Nell Bryden manages to infuse her countryesque vocals with sound infusions from rockabilly, jazz and old timey and that's just across a three track ep, imagine what she can do with an album. Hailing from New York and a confirmed Anglophile, Nell has already started making a name for herself on the live circuit and this release is timed to coincide with UK dates including support with Counting Crows as well as her own right. There's a sense of fun that permeates the recording giving it a real good time sound.

Website: http://www.myspace.com/stefaniefraser

'Purple Sun' is the debut release from Flyde based singer/songwriter Steph Fraser. Steph made her debut Radio Two appearance at the opening of Blackpool illuminations, subsequently teaming up with co-writer, Stephen 'Ladders' Ladley. They went on to steal the show at Canadian Music Week, and partly recorded this single there. They'll be returningto Canada for a tour later in the year. In the meantime, we get to hear Stephs rich and evocative vocals. Her songs are expressive with a mellow undertone. Definitely one to watch. Did I mention Steph Fraser is only fifteen.

EP:Not Enough For An Album

Website: http://www.myspace.com/wungit

There is a lot more to Scottish duo, Wingin' It's debut EP than a witty title. There's the confidence to ditch the vocal for a start. Like a number of other artists, Wingin' It, are starting to give the audience a certain amount of credit for being able to interpret a song without having a lyric to guide you to the meaning. Apart from a little mandolin, this is music generated on two guitars the rest is pretty much up to you. Sometimes battling, some times, in perfect harmony, Adam and Chas lay out the six string dynamics for a sound bigger than the sum of it's parts.

Album:Living History

Website: http://www.isambarde.co.uk

Money, sex and death are what you get in Ismabarde's traditional English folk, sometimes in the same song. Check out the opening song, "The Outlandish Knight" as an example. "Living History" is so laden with inuendo and euphemism, it's difficult to see how they got through the without having to rinse out with soap and water. "Living History" is exactly that, it draws on the history and tradition, before adding to it, with some self penned tunes. Clarinet and even a shawm blend with the stringed instruments to give the album a distinctive sound that compliments the vocal perfectly.

Website: http://www.myspace.com/chaplinmusic

With an album due later this year, now's probaly a good time to pick up on "Paint By Numbers", the most recent release from Wexford based five piece, Chaplin. With the apparent exception of the bass player, Chaplin appears to be an essemble of multi-instrumentalists. It gives them an exceptional combination of instruments to draw upon and an impressive variation in sound. It's a similar story with the vocals. The result is an ep, that has a rock dynamic at it's core with folk, blues, country, etc. laid over the top, depending on the requirements of the individual songs.

Jefferson Pepper

Album:American Evolution

Label:American Fallout

Website: http://americanfallout.com/jefferson_pepper.html

Jefferson Pepper appears to be quite a proliffic singer/songwriter. "American Evolution" is actually a three cd set, "Red" released earlier this year covered 1492 to 1940, "White" 1961-1989 and the yet to be released "Red" '89 'til now. Pepper appears to be passionate about America, a real patriot, ashamed at the direct the powers to be are taking it. His view is quirky, but hard hitting. "War Is The Answer" is the correct response if the question is "How do we sell more weapons?" The sound is americana, blues and US folk, the attitude Billy Bragg meets Michael Moore.

Label:Summerhouse Records

Website: http://www.myspace.com/johnburge

Driving, passionate and imaginative are three superlatives that I would throw at "Echoes" an instrumental extravaganza from John Burge. John is one of a growing number of traditional players using modern effect pedals and loops to build and layer their sound, whilst still playing live. It works well and allows an individual to really explore their choice of music, especially if they've learnt their craft by ear, rather than studied the notes. I do have a minor criticism of the well named 'Echoes'. It's a tad too long, you don't need to fill the cd just because you can, leave us wanting more.

Website: http://www.myspace.co./saralouiseonline

Sarah Louise Owen, 23, from Caernarfon, Wales, recorded her first English language CD, SKIN DEEP with ace producer Tommy Parham (Tia McGraff) in Canada. Containing 11 original songs (WATERFALL is sung in English and Welsh) she shows incredible growth since her last offering. The title song stands out; anti-materialistic, about the pressures of looking good in today's world She is clearly finding her style as she effortlessy intertwines Alt' country, folk-rock and new jazz to create a sound that is her own. Overall this CD is a mature collection which ought to put Sarah Louise on the map

Album:Songs from a Neophyte

Website: http://www.alanwest.co.uk/index.htm

Alan West, from the South West UK, opened for Hal Ketchum and is one of the few support acts who has compelled me to buy their CD. His sound instantly took me back to my childhood and the country music I grew up hearing. To listen to him sing, he could be American. The CD includes brand new original material alongside less well known songs by some of Alan's favourite songwriters- Dave Loggins, Chris Knight, Hugh Moffatt, Jim Almand, among them. Produced by Pat McInerney in Nashville, 'Songs from a Neophyte' is a moving collection of songs. (Helen Mitchell)

Album:Leaving Kansas

Website: http://www.hollylong.com

Having only heard of Holly Long recently, I was surprised to learn that this is her third CD. She has gained comparisons to Annie Lennox, Fiona Apple, Linda Ronstadt and Jeff Buckley, among others. She writes from the heart, that much is immediately apparent. She faced a serious illness and long recovery in 2006 but is back with a stunning collection of songs. Stand out tracks include Homeward, Pain and Glory, Sunday Redemption, Excess and He and I, written about her son. This is one of those albums you stumble across rarely, which makes it all the more special.(Helen Mitchell)