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

With what must be one of the most effective sleeves ever designed, not only can people now pronounce the name of the band Ishcadoor, look at the sleeve it'll all make sense, they can recognise that this is the album that will place Uiscedwr firmly on the map. The album that should see them reach a wider audience and hopefully cross into the mainstream and without having to compromise. This is folk music at it's best and most relevent. "Presciption Junkie" shows where the band now are with their writing, personal and poignant standing side by side with wild and wide reaching.

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

There's a lack of thundering country rock about at the moment. Fortunately when nature creates a void, it normally makes something to fill it. Black Bart proudly step into the hole marked loud country. Loud yes, but not without subtlty. This is so much more than high octane, high decible southern rock. Listen to the lyrics and you'll recognise that in Rob Joy, they have not only a great guitarist, they also have a poet. They don't try to hide their roots either. There's an English heart that beats in this country band, the result an album that is hard and distinct. Black Bart should be going places.

The Paul McKenna Band

Album:Between Two Worlds

Website: http://www.paulmckennaband.com

I can't work out why the Paul McKenna Band aren't making more waves south of the border. It can't be the quality of the vocal, Paul McKenna has a powerful and distinctive voice, It can't be the musicianship, the band include award winning muscians in their number. It can't be the choice of songs, "Between Two Worlds" contains a solid combination of new songs and reinterpreted traditional songs. The album is well produced, the songs arranged with a sense of freedom and identity, a good mix of pace and power. The Paul McKenna Band are at the forefront of Scotland's new wave.

Mary Kathleen Burke

Album:A Song In Her Heart

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

Would you rather hear a good interpreter of song or a good writer of songs? If your answer is the former than I've a feeling you're going love Mary Kathleen Burke. "A Song In Her Heart" has been out a couple of years, but having caught her live recently and again after listening to the album, I can certainly vouch for the validity of that title. Taking some well known and not so well known songs from traditional and contemporary sources, Mary blends an album together from some significantly different flavours, resulting in a set of songs that deliver real entertainment.

Stephen Dale Petit

EP:As The Years Go Passing By

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

We really liked Stephen Dale Petit's "Guitararama" album that came out towards the end olf last year, so we're really pleased to hear new material barely half way through the year. "As The Years Go Passing By" confirm Petit as an agressive blues rocker, something that can't be disguised by the almost gosple touches added to the track by his backing singers. It gives the releases and almost two phase approach, blistering guitar, soothing vocal. It's like he want's to torment your soul and offer you salvation in a single cut. It's a feat he manages well.

Website: http://www.theundertones.com

Like a surprising number of people, I came to folk and roots music via the punk/new wave/crustie scene of the late 70s and 80s. I was swayed by the passion of both musical genres, the songs of The Clash, XTC and the Undertones. "Hypnotised" was an album that introduced me to songs about people not in a relationship, songs about places and communities. These are songs that have passed the test of time and are out for a new generation to get that sense of what music can achieve. Once described as the best band in the world there's still much to inspire here.

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

Ewan McLennan is another artist I first discovered playing live, so I know that the vocal dynamics on this album are no studio trick. This self titled album really showcases the beauty of unaccompanied song. The way it holds a rhythm as well as words. There's an Irish feel to the album though it's not the accent, which is Scottish in the core, it's more the style of delivery. There's an occasional bit of guitar to accompany some of the songs, but that only emphasises the voice. Ewan chose well known songs that court comparison and he passes the test with flying colours.

Album:What Does It Take

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

I haven't had this sort of buzz of the first playing of an album since Lone Justice's eponymous debut. Nell Bryden does blues rock and torch country like she was nurtured in the womb of Patsy Cline, conceived of the sperm of Johnny Cash and raised at the hearth of Steve Earle. "What Does It Take" will project Nell Bryden from being a US forces sweetheart straight into the rich vein of public perception. She's an artist prepared to take a risk or two. Mix it up a bit, slow it down, rip it up, breath life into the stoniest of hearts. A very special talent indeed with more still to come I'm sure.

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

The five tracks on "Longbeach" are enough to show that there's a breath of fresh air blowing throught the acoustic pop world and just for once it's carrying a y chromosone. Andrew Morris has a laid back style, there's no urgency in either vocal or guitar work. The music almost hangs in the air waiting for you to walk into it. You absorb the sounds and lyrics almost before it reaches you. It's a lot more than background music, which I was concerned about when it started, it really does grab your attention and becomes something of the moment you're in. It's also got a summery feel.

Marilyn Middleton (Pollock)

Album:Nobody Knows You

Label:Chicago Rhythm Audion Productions

Website: Marilyn Middleton Pollock

Earlier this year Marilyn Middleton Pollock announced her retirement from live performance having spent a lifetime playing folk, blues, gospel, jazz and other tunes of that ilk. With no more live gigs to whet your whistle for her recorded works, now seems like a good time to mention that Marilyn Middleton still has a number of her albums available. There's plans for a MySpace page later in the year and until that happens the albums are going to be hard to get hold off. If you click on the link above and send an e-mail you'll get to someone that can help.

Label:Peak Recordings

Website: http://www.benwalkersongs.com

Apart from having the worst designed sleeve I can remember in a long, long time, there's not much wrong with Ben Walker's album, "Kill Or Cure", in fact it's a pretty fine album. It feels postive, almost to the point of uplifting, quirky, uptempo, but without feeling that the whole thing is disposable, it most certainly ain't. It's good to hear a singer/songwriter that's not afraid to say, 'what the heck, why not enjoy yourself whilst you're at it.' Do not judge this release by it's cover, 'cause it's hiding a talented songwriter fighting to get out and a band with the escape kit

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

These days the real troubadour spirit is waterbound. The old canal network had it's own music and songs. Life was hard, so was play. The world has changed, but there are still those plying their trade on the waterways. Blabbermouth has the restless spirit that seems to spend it's time between a death fixation and the need to tell stories, often combining the two, his previous release also featured "Blabbermouth's Funeral", this is backed by "Death Of A Songwriter". There's a knack to carrying this sound off, living it and infusing with a real sense of belief is a good recommendation