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

"Nerves Of Steel" is one heck of an EP over the course of five tracks it runs the gamut of folk, folk rock and acosutic pop, pausing briefly to dabble in the worlds of rockabilly/skiffle. If it wasn't for fear of a four year jail sentence, I'd describe this as a riot and be encouraging you to get involved. Flaming June write strong songs that can go really deep addressing social issues and emotional blackmail and then switch to something that has a lighter almost jokier feel, check out "The Insane Ex-Girlfriend Parade" by way of example. A glorious combination of shade and texture, delightful.

Carrie Rodriguez And Ben Kyle

Album:We Still Love Our Country

Label:Ninth Street Opus

Website: http://www.carrierodriguez.com

This album simplifies the answer to the question, "At what point does Americana become country rock?" Carrie Rodriguez And Ben Kyle seem to have slapped "We Still Love Our Country" right across that nexus point, with their self penned track "Fire Alarm" pretty much making up the keystone. They've taken and interpreted songs from writers best known for having their feet in both camps and drawn it tighter together. Lyrically the duo draw more on the folk side of Americana and soundwise it gets a bit more of the rhinestone glitter from country for a sparkling album.

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

I've said several times that this year is very much a vintage year for British bluegrass and this self-titled EP from The Wagon Tales only enhances that view. Whilst the band is a side project for the quintet of musicians that are The Wagon Tales, there is nothing part-time about the songs, sound and delivery. All the instrumentation is there, the harmony vocals and most important the love of what they're doing. The latter particularly comes through, you can sense the enjoyment coming out in each and every song. This is bluegrass to get the feet tappin' or break your heart.

Website: http://www.blueflint.org.uk

Like the rock they share their name with, Blueflint are dark with lots of sharp edges, at times abrasive, at times capable of cutting deep and opening scars. The sound is Americana, drawing more on the mountain music sound than bluegrass, but the latter is definitely there. The vocals and to some extent the subject of the songs maintain a link to the quartet's native Scotland, there's no mistaking the accent, particularly in the harmony vocals, but there's also no mistaking the way it gives the band a distinct sound that works so well with the clawhammer banjo.

Website: http://www.rebcappermusic.com

Having really enjoyed Reb Capper's "The Half Elf EP", I was really excited to find a new cd falling out of the envelope. My joy turned to disappointment when I discovered that this was a single, rather than an album, but that was very much my only disappointment as this is a single that very much raises expectation for the album from which it has spawned. "Voodoo Doll" is one of those songs that seems to come at you from all directions, lyric, vocal, music, any one of them can provide the next point of focus for the song, an unexpected whisper, an out of phase drum beat to hook you...

Album:Hollows For Sorrows

Label:Elk Road Recordings

Website: http://www.beckgoldsmith.com

Nottingham seemed to go through a golden period of singer/songwriters a few years back with Beck Goldsmith close to the top of the tree. "Hollows For Sorrows" is her first album since moving away from the city and the move seems to have given her the opportunity to really hone her skills as a songwriter. This is a highly atmospheric album, there are shadows amongst the melodies where darkness and light flitter for control. Layers build to give the songs a real sense of depth that allows your imagination into the song and her thoughts.

Louisiana Red & Little Victor's Juke Joint

Website: http://www.louisiana-red.com/

Somewhat idiosyncratically, "Memphis Mojo" starts off with "Goodbye Blues", but if the title of the lead track is the only issue, the band must be doing something right and that they are. The combination of Louisiana Red's vocals and Little Victor's guitar is as good a starting point for deep and dirty swamp blues as you'll find anywhere and Louisiana Red is no slouch on the fretboard himself. With the exception of the gob iron, there's no blown instruments on the album, which sort of surprised me with the title, not that they are missed, this album rocks up a hurricane.

Website: http://www.davidferrard.com

"Journeyman" confirms David Ferrard's status as a songwriter who can really fire up the imagination with his delicate use of language and the storyteller's art. This is quite a dark album, there's a lot of conflict that sits at it's heart on an emotional, social and even political level and it takes on so many differnt perspectives. "Without A Daddy" manages to encorporate a view of both of a separated couple and the father's estranged children into a little over two minutes and still be able to feel the hurt. His command of language creates such vision in the minds eye.

Album:The Neglected Gambit

Website: http://www.maxidunn.info

Any artists that manages to sneak the voice of Terry Thomas into not one, but two songs is all right by me. If that makes you think "The Neglected Gambit" might be a bit of a novelty record, fear not. Maxi Dunn is the creator of fine pop-rock songs and has pulled together a highly entertaining album that is an absolute delight to listen to. It's an album that really does work on two levels sit down and give it your full attention and you are rewarded with an album of swirling depths and hidden meanings or just let it wash over you and take your cares away, such is it's strength.

Album:The Boldest Blood

Website: http://www.elbowjane.com

There is something rousing about "The Boldest Blood" the fusion of folk, rock and a little blues delivers a sound that has an uplifting quality to it. This is an album of strong melodies and tunes that are often at odds with the darkness of the lyrics they accompany, a case of be proud, be loud, be heard. Elbow Jane have delivered an album that shows the strength of those that have inspired the songs. Whilst there is darkness in the album, it is well balanced by the positive, war is an evil thing, but it brings about extraordinary events and people and inner strength can triumph.

Jemima Price Band

Album:No Alibi For Alice

Website: http://www.jemimapriceband.com

There are times when the Jemima Price Band seem to take you on slightly whimsical flights of fancy, a feeling enhanced by a bluesy, almost jazz feel, occasionally complimented by top session pedal steel man BJ Cole, but these are balanced by more Americana influenced numbers that reach for the heart strings. Jemima Price and writing partner, guitarist Mirek Latosek, run you through a number of emotions and back again. "No Alibi For Alice" is in places a brutally honest album, sometimes we bring pain to the ones we love and we have to live with that and remember that we bring joy as well

Website: http://www.johnsouthworth.ca

"Human Cry" sounds more like a stylish radio show than an album, except it doesn't get interupted by adverts. John Southworth pens the album as well as performing it with his band, The South Seas. Southworth doesn't confine himself to a particular genre, rather he roams across the acoustic spectrum setting his light on any given candle in an aural chandelier, something which may explain why so many artists have perfomed his songs in his home base of Canada. The common theme throughout the album is the quality. He is a man who makes every sound meaningful.