Short & Sweet
The Lasses "Near Far" (CD, Own label, 2023).
Two Dutch lasses who have been singing together since 2014 present on their latest album a mix of Scottish traditional and contemporary folk songs - from the likes of Brian McNeill, Karine Polwart or Steve Byrne. Wonderful vocal harmonies, sometimes with a touch of Americana influences, and tasteful but stripped back instrumentation (including the duo‘s guitar, ukelele amd bodhran and guest musicians on e.g. uilleann pipes, whistle, piano, accordion, banjo) make this album a success.
Pyrates "Five years at sea" (CD, Own label, 2023).
Pyrates quartet does what is says on the tin: Pirate songs and sea shanties, in a folk rock style, performed by musicians dressed up as pirates, and of course offering a fair does of arrrgh‘s. This is the Dutch band‘s first album, after five years of bringing their energetic fun folk to live audiences. Recorded live at the Italian Triskell Celtic Festival, the songs include many folk ballad and shanty standards such as „Irish Rover“ or „South Australia“.
Leon Rosselson "Chronicling the Times" (CD, Free Dirt Records, 2023).
Leon Rosselson has been at the forefront of political songwriting in England for over sixty years. For
"Chronicling the Times",
he delved into his song catalog to assemble seventeen of his favorite recordings. Featuring Martin
Carthy and Billy Bragg, the latter reflecting: "In many ways, Leon Rosselson is the embodiment of the original ideals of punk rock. His hair isn't spiky, but
his music is, using fearless wit and political integrity to highlight the hypocrisies of those in power."
