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Album:Fatea Showcase Sessions Summer 11 - Aspirations

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

The usual precursor, this is one of ours, rather it's about the seventeen artists that appear on this compilation. Hopefully you'll have already clicked on the article in the 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 "Aspirations". 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.

Album:Keystone Crossing

Website: http://www.willscottmusic.com

US born and based country blues artist, Will Scott, is pretty much spending his summer in the UK so it seems an emminently sensible time to release his new album, "Keystone Crossing". The album, his second on the Music Matters label and his second in two years, highlights his deep bluesy voice, that sounds as if it would be right at home on the ghost riders range. You really notice how special it is when he harmonises some native American style chants. Equally as impressive on the album is the guitar work, not just his, but also Ben Peeler's lap steel. Soulful Americana.

Album:Faded Postmark

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

With an album written in its entity by Roseland's vocalist, Mark McLaughlin, the band are out to make an impact from the start. "Faded Postmark" is an album that features tight harmony Americana, but it's a variety that's been influence by being passed through McLaughlin's native city of Glasgow. Its not just in the vocal, you can hear it in the instrumentation and it's a beautiful, rich sound. There's a couple of times where a high vocal contrasts with a low mellow combination of bass, cello and accordion that really does produce the legendary shivers down the spine.

Single:Danny's Room Molly's Bar

Website: http://www.sergeantbuzfuz.com

If you thought the days of hard hitting singles was over, check out "Danny's Room" on this double a-side release. It's a story song based on what to do with the room of a fifteen year cyclist killed on his birthday, it's as finely a crafted acoustic pop song as you'll find anywhere, it harks back to a time when there was more to singles than fluff and beats. Similarly "Molly's Bar" is another story song following a slow decline into casual alcohol abuse. Only two tracks, just like singles should be, but two absolutely solid songs that can put albums to shame.

Website: http://www.fugumusic.com/

To be honest we don't get an awful lot of French Pop music through the Fatea office so I was a little surprised when this dropped through the letterbox. I was even more surprised to discover how much I ended up enjoying it, despite my rudimentary knowledge of the language. Mehdi Zannad has a sound that sounds like a sophisticated early seventies Beach Boys, well sort of. "Fugue" is an album with plenty of energy, but in a flowing sort of way, it sort of carves it's way across the airwaves, rather than battering and yet still be as dramatic a summer thunderstorm.

Single:Indian Summer

Website: http:///www.sawdoctors.com

I'm not being influenced by the title, Summer really is the Saw Doctors season. "Indian Summer" is taken from last year's album "The Further Adventures Of The Saw Doctors" and whilst the lyrics refer to the end of Summer, the single really speaks to a summer of outdoor music and the start of Festival season proper. To me the Saw Doctor blend of Irish Folk and acoustic rock, combined with a tongue in cheek, lighthearted, bubblegum pop lyric have always been best enjoyed with a glass of cider in the hand and enough space to bounce up and down with no spillage.

Album:Planet Solitaire

Website: http://www.walterstrauss.com

2011 seems to be a year for instrumental guitar albums. In "Planet Solitaire", Walter Strauss, has delivered an album that really does provide meaning to the phrase world music. Drawing influence from four continents, including transposing kora tunes to the guitar, Strauss manages to find a real community in his songs. It's not actually a fully instrumental album, but it feels like it is. You get the feeling that the words are only there to provide a counterpoint to the guitar, rather than for the guitar to support the voice. Mellow and spiritual.

Album:Mind Your Own Business Singles And Sessions Plus

Website: http://www.myspace.com/delta5band

Anniversary albums seem to be coming around thick and fast, is it just me or is it a growing trend? Mind Your Own Business Singles And Sessions Plus has been released to celebrate thirty years since MYOB was originally on the shelves. A twin bass approach that was popular with Leeds bands of the time, combined with a left wing feminist agenda saw the band drawing favourable comparisons with Gang Of Four, The Slits and The Raincoats. The album has survived the interveening years well and whilst it was a bit of it's time, there's still plenty to recommend Delta 5

Album:Whisky For Breakfast

Website: www.robinlaing.com

It's not for nothing that Robin Laing is known as the 'Whisky Bard', this is, after all, his fourth album dedicated to the golden spirit. If anyone could find a breakfast malt, it's Robin. "Whisky For Breakfast" pretty much covers the journey of life for both the drink and the drinker, songs about it's production, the characters, stories and people that are or will become part of the drink's history. The songs are strong, well written, in a Scottish accented singer/songwriting style. Jenna Reid gets in on the act, contributing her fiddle toan album that's a fun homage to a wee dram.

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

Hailing from down under, Australian band, Guineafowl, have a sound that seems to hark back to the golden years of Celtic Rock, picking up hints of Runrig, though not at the expense of local flavour. "Hello Anxiety" is a pulsing, anthemaic that you can image being performed in front of stadium sized crowds, make no mistake this has got a big sound to it, but not one that lets power overwhelm the instrumentation. The vocals are more often combined into chants, rather than conventional harmonies and it all contributes to a wave your arms in the air good time feel.

Album:The Music Starts To Play

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

Kicking off with a little cowpunk, following that with some good old fashioned rhythm and blue and then drawing in some eastern European folk for a veritable carnival of tunes, Hokie Joint pen everything from deathbed ballads to spending a night stuck in the station songs. As the name implies this is a band that have plenty of experience to draw on and draw on them they do. "The Music Starts To Play" feels like a late start in a sleazy bar, the beers have started flowing, but you're not ready to solve world hunger and the band is definitely worth checking out.

Porch Song Anthology

Website: http://www.porchsonganthology.com

There are certain bands where the clue is in the band's name as to what you're going to get, Porch Song Anthology are just such a band and the description in no way sells them short. "Late Mournings" is a listening experience that can't fail to bring forth a whistful sigh and a tug on the heartstring. There's a beauty in the tone of the album, both the voice and the simple structures that support it. There is absolutely nothing to distract you from the listening experience. These are songs you can get lost in, a place to find contemplation and enough light to find your way home.