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Website: http://www.uncleblack.com/uk

The most disappointing thing about "The Messenger" is that it is only four tracks long and too easily fulfills the criteria of leave them wanting more. Any recording project with Les King on board as lyricist is always going to have strong songs and this EP is no exception to that rule. This EP really announces the return of Uncle Black, who have, it has to be said, been a bit quiet of late. Hopefully this release is tghe sign of more to come as once again they prove that they are one of the strongest trios performing in the acoustic rock/pop arena.

Annabelle Chvostek

Album:Live From Folk Alley

Website: http://www.annabelle.org

Former Wailin' Jenny, Annabelle Chvostek, has very much returned to her roots with her new album, "Live From Folk Alley". The album is simply her, the instrument she happens to be playing for that song and occasionally the audience, either applauding or joining in. Surprisingly this is her first live release and whilst there is only one altogether new song on the album, she reinterprets a number of songs from her roster, stripping them back to the bare bones. She's an artist that is not only difficult to classify, she's also an artist that can turn a song on a piphead.

Bettysoo And Doug Cox

Album:Across The Borderline: Lie To Me

Website: http://www.acrosstheborderline.org

Bettysoo And Doug Cox live 2500 miles apart so instead of getting together to write an album, they decided to do an album of songs from their songwriting friends and inspirations. "Across The Borderline: Lie To Me" crosses the line between Canada and Texas and brings interpretive styles to the project. It's an album that is long in jouneys, personal as well as those physically made aswell as characters. It is a real songbook of an album, simply delivered, no more than two instruments playing at any given time and yet it feels massive an like it's being played just for you.

Website: http://www.rachelwagner.com

"Untold" is an album that's rich in layers and textures. Piano provides the prime building block for breathy, but clear, dream pop vocals to weave an intricate path around, occasionally there's a subtle bass undertone adding a different eddy for the darker songs to swirl around, but predominently this is an album of mellow voices and piano. Rachel Wagner seemsto have found herself a niche between the Celtic flights of Enya and the dark whimsey of Tori Amos. It's an album that seems to absorb life's passing influences and turn them into ethereal whispers.

Website: http://www.katzenjammer.no/

This band was one of my big discoveries of the Cambridge Folk Festival, imagine The Slits as a left bank festival band with some riotous kletzmer thrown in for good measure. Then imagine four girls that can play a whole range of instruments,including bass balilika and you're starting to get close to the aural madness that is Katzenjammer. "Le Pop" has actually been out a little while, but it will more than tidy you over until the new album comes screaming down the pipeline. This aural circus performed with a real cutting edge ready to transport you from the mundane to the insane.

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

Pretty much a supergroup of young Scottish talent, Manran took Cambridge by storm, even performing with Abigail Washburn, with their mixed song/tune approach. Their self titled album is a vertitable box of delights and includes a sparkling jewel in the shape of a two pipe attack, uniquely combining both bagpipes and uilleann pipes into the mix. It gives a real buzz to the sound and makes you wonder why you don't hear it more. In Norris MacIver they have a vocalist of real quality, his singing, both in Gaelic and English deliveredwith a realsense of passion and zest for life.

Album:Fatea Showcase Sessions Autumn 11 - Interactions

Website: http://www.fatea-showcase-sessions.co.uk

The usual precursor, this is one of ours, rather it's about the eighteen artists that appear on this compilation. Hopefully you'll have already clicked on the article in our news section and have already downloaded this compilation at no charge to your goodselves. If you haven't just click on the link above and take advantage of the generosity of the performers on "Interactions". They come from right across the acoustic spectrum and a little bit beyond, so please check them out and if you like what you hear, visit their websites and find out where you can get more of their incredible music.

The Beautiful Word

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

Since we reviewed their last EP, "Mystery Pop" back in 2010, The Beautiful Word have developed more of a folk rock sound, that also gives the songs a little more maturity, a little more gravitas. The delightful harmonies are still there and the new single, "Emily" almost feels like summer personified, but it seems like they've taken a step forward in how they set the songs. There is a breezy lightness that allows the song to lift you and simply take you with it. The great thing is that this seems to have been achieved without compromising the quirky edge.

Katriona Gilmore & Jamie Roberts

Single:No Rest For The Wicked

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

Taken from their acclaimed album, "Up From The Deep", Katriona Gilmore & Jamie Roberts, have had Ruadhri Cushnan remix "No Rest For The Wicked" for release as a single and it seems to be working nicely. It gives the duo chance to build on the success of appearances at Cambridge and Cropredy. There is a deep resonance to the sound that Gilmore and Roberts have developed, one that seems to strike a chord deep inside. Whilst singles don't have the impact they used to, they do serve a usefuljob in reminding peopleof the picture they are missing and give radio a nudge.

Album:A Long Way To Go...

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

On his website, Cinqui, says "It's all about the groove!" Well if that is the case,he seems to have overlooked a whole chunk of vibe. At the heart of Cinqui is the duo of Ian Sinclair(writer/lead vocals)and Stuart Dixon(arranger/dobro) who have drafted in a number of musicians to give their latest album, "A Long Way T Go..." a fuller bandsound resplendant with, horns, keys and backing vocalists, delivering an album that has a real soul feel, but also one which infuses that souldsound into other genres, such as jazz and blues.

Harp And A Monkey

Album:Harp And A Monkey

Website: http://www.reverbnation.com/michaelstegner

"Harp And A Monkey" is a hard album to listen to, dark almost depressive in places, but that doesn't make the album any less worthy, if you're looking for instant accessibility, then go somewhere else. If, on the other hand, you're looking for well thought out songs based on conflicts, both inside and outside of the body,step this way. It's the war songs particularly that give this album a real heart, it pays a lot of attention to the pragmatic Tommy who is in the front line of a fight not of his, making, including the sailors sent ashore to die alongside their army comrades.

Diana Braithwaite & Chris Whiteley

Website: http://www.braithwaiteandwhiteley.com

If you like you blues with a bit of swing, a touch of gospel/soul, a soupson of jazz and a whole load of passion, can we recommend "Deltaphonic" the new album from Diana Braithwaite & Chris Whiteley ? It's as good away of spending forty eight minutes as we can think of. The partnershipbetween Baithwaite's vocal and Whiteley's guitar is one of the strongest in blues and that'signoring his skills on the old gob iron. Regardless of whether they are ripping it up or bringing the whole thing back down with a slow and smokey number, this duo find all the right switches.