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Website: http://www.stiff-records.com

Back in '78-'79 Stiff records imported a singer/songwriter performer called Rachel Sweet. The music rags of the time talked about her being 16 yearold jailbait, she had to have a tutor with her when she was on the Stiff tour. What got lost in the media fuss was that Rachel Sweet was a cracking performer. These days comparisons would be made with Joss Stone. "Fool Around" shows that maybe the mags should have focused on Rachel's music. Ironically "Who Does Lisa Like" refers to fighting in Bhagdad. What did she know then. Twenty nine years later this still stands in it's own right.

Album:Where Are All The Nice Girls

Website: http://www.stiff-records.com

Also from Stiff comes the re-release of "Where Are All The Nice Girls" by Any Trouble. Any Trouble were lead by singer songwriter Clive Gregson. Twenty six years ago, he was lead singer/vocalist/songwriter for a band that didn't go on to become Squeeze, but could have done so. It didn't work out for Any Trouble, but anyone listening to WAATNG would be at a loss to explain why. The songs were rock solid. The acoustic pop/rock was well thought out and superbly delivered. Them's the breaks I guess. This isn't just a great re-release it shows why Gregson is still so in demand now.

The Groanbox Boys

Album: Smokestack Trilogy

Label:Groanbox Records

Website: http://www.groanboxboys.com

2007 looks like it's going to be the year of stripping things back. A couple of instruments, a voice or two and a whole dose of raw inspiration. "Smokestack Trilogy" divides it's self into three phases. It's a journey through life recorded in a blues style that pulls in Americana and old timey. It's got the US folklore of the wandering hobo and at times gets close to being smaltzy. It survives because it feels genuine. It could have come from any time in the last 100 years. 1907 rather than 2007. There's no "Big Rock Candy Mountain" just slices of life on the rails

Label: Self Released

Website: http://www.jacandamusic.com

Four piece combo, Jacanda, take a relaxed pace with their polished, acoustic pop EP, "Back To The Sky". Initially it sounds like it's not trying to get anywhere fast, and it's not. It's only when that stops bothering that you realise that there is a lot more to this than meets the ear. For me, it didn't happen 'til the second listen. Once the moment of epiphany has passed, you recognise the depth in the meandering stream. There's a lot of emotion laid bare. This is the sort of acoustic music, that with the right lighting, that screams of seduction. Jacanda could get you laid, don't forget the condom.

Label: Self Released

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

"Escape Artist" is an album of songs written in a traditional style. It's light hearted and dark. The opening song, "The Wheels Are Broken" includes the problems of being in a pantomime cow and being a jester for children. Life moves on and somehow something that used to sparkle now becomes sad and almost sinister. Who would leave their kids with a bearded man with a jangly hat? Richard Masters has a style that seems more at home in club, not a problem, Martin Carthy MBE is more at home in a club. The important thing is that Richard puts a good set of songs together and he has.

Shona Kipling + Damien O'Kane

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

Whilst "Box On" has been out a while, we thought this was a good time to review an album we missed at it's launch. Shona and Damien are up for the Radio Two Horizon Award and on this outing it's easy to see why. The songs are well interpreted, the tunes blend into each other seemlessly and the sets are performed with the passion of a Jane Eyre convention. We are talking a seriously talented duo, that have evolved their own take on traditional folk music. This isn't just survival of the fittet, "Box On" knows how display it's self for future rounds.

Album:The Silver lining

Label: Self Released

Website: Iain Wilkinson

Iain Wilkinson is quite the wordsmith. Just when you think you've grasped one of his songs, there's a turn of phrase that seems to take it off in a different direction, only to find the return as you explore the next verse. "The Silver Lining" seems to be more about the word than the tunes. The music is something for the lyric to work off, rather than an intrinsic part of the entertainment. The result is an album that makes you absorb and reflect, rather than tap your toes. It's a great listen, provocative and ethereal. Iain Wilkinson is a master of the wordsmith's art.

Album: The Love Token

Label: Self Released

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

I like the approach that MacDara has taken with "The Love Token". He splits the songs between English and Gaelic, between traditional and contemporary. This is enhanced by a voice that just wants you to melt into the song. You feel the sense of love and loss, the sparkle of life, the depth of betrayal. For me the stand out track in a strong album is the duet he performs with Lasairfhiona, "The Mighty Dancer". It returns the compliment for MacDara's appearance on her album. It has the words classic written right across it, as long as enough people get to hear it. Be one of them.

Album:Songs From The Hill - Volume Four

Label:Top Of The Hill Records

Website: http://www.cornishmusic.com

We've often featured Cornish acts on Fatea. There is a certain bite to it that appeals. One of the homes of Cornish Music is Top Of The Hill Records and their "Songs From The Hill" series. Previous volumes have reminded me of a village festival turned to CD and Volume Four is no different. The musicianship, songs and performance are so strong throughout. You can just imagine being in the snug by the fire, the bar in hushed reverence as the acts take their turn to entertain and entertain they most certainly do

Alastair Artingstall

Album: Four Lawn Hope

Label:Initial Laughter

Website: http://www.alastairartingstall.com

"Four Lawn Hope" is an album of contrasts. There is undeniably a touch of Americana that moves between a trickle and a torrent in the music. That said, it's the prevading sense of Englishness in both the songs and delivery, that is what draws you to the songs. There is a poetry to the lyrics. It's more Flanders and Swann than Betjeman, though dealing with more serious subject matters than Gnus and mud. It's buttered teacakes, but with blueberry, rather than strawberry jam, washed down with a cup of tea and some great conversation

Label: Future Planet

Website: http://www.lucozma.com

Some artists sound like they would be at home in the smokey cellars, playing intimate gigs to small audiences, with queues of people outside wanting to be one of the chosen ones. "Red" from Lu Cozma, shouts of an artist that wants to fling the doors open, invite everyone into the hall and give them a rollicking good time. Her blend of acoustic pop/rock, smacks of an artist that is looking for that broader appeal. "Red" definitely delivers that. These are big venue songs with the balls that go with it. No compromises, rough around the edges, heart on the sleeve stuff.

Label: Hands On Music

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

Is there anything left for Steve Knightly and Phil Beer, aka Show Of Hands left to do except top the mainstream charts. Knightly's writing should cut a swathe through the hyped up overexposed mediocracy that we have to put up with on our radios. These guys regularly fill the Albert Hall and with songs like "Roots" and "Country Life" on this single it's not hard to see why. The West Country is a musical powerhouse at the moment and for years Show Of Hands have been the millstream that provides the energy. If you've missed out so far, what an introduction.

Label: Self Released

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

Corners can either be rough and cutting or rounded and smooth. Fortunately, the corners that Lobe have gone for are the sort that snag your clothes and make sure you don't leave before the end of the song. "Corners" has a brashness that's derived from it's sparse instrumentation. It has an attitude that wants to be heard. One that wopuld be equally at home busking on the street as it would be in a club. It's jeans and t-shirt folk. Corners are where we developed our social skills."Corners" is an easy album to relate to, we've been there, these guys have recorded it.