Various Artists
Album: BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2014
Label: Proper
Tracks: 27
Website: http://proper-records.co.uk/

I always feel that the annual "Radio 2 Folk Award" compilation release is a sign that the year is well into the first quarter, a chance to recognise some of the best of the previous year and then to look forward with abandon.

As you would expect this two cd, twenty seven song compilation really does represent a fair sized dollop of the cream at the top of the UK's considerable folk community. It's a double album that showcases the talent on offer, to pull it all to one place for the fan who hasn't always got the time to select tracks for themselves on an album by album basis and as an introduction to someone coming to the genre with fresh ears and a shed load of curiosity.

It's not an album without disappointments, but that is by comparison and, for me, largely rests on the Young Folk Award. In past years there has been a bonus cd that features the ten artists that made it through to the concert stage, this year's compilation only has bonus tracks from the shortlisted four drawn from that stage, a missed opportunity.

There are also some strange track choices here, with a couple of tracks by combo's not actually nominated for an award this year, but that I guess is a logistical issue as some of the nominees hadn't put out releases in their own name or had new releases in 2013.

That aside there is nothing that can detract from the quality of the music on this compilation. As with previous years the Young Folk Award nominees really do stack up well against their more experienced counterparts which bodes well for the future.

I can't do anything else but recommend "BBC Radio Two Folk Awards 2014" it's a great way to sample some of the best of the pack. Use it to take inspiration and hopefully seek out more of what you find.

Neil King