Listmania!
Folk Folk Folk: My Favourite Trad and Contemporary
Penguin EggsPenguin Eggs by Nic Jones
Buy new: £6.98 / Used from: £11.80
The last word in British folk music as far as i'm concerned. Amazing arrangements, brilliant guitar technique and voice.
John RenbournJohn Renbourn by John Renbourn
Buy new: £8.79 / Used from: £12.05
His first record (i think?). Very blusey, with incredibly adept guitar work (See- 'Down On The Barge').
Wild and UndauntedWild and Undaunted by Lisa Knapp
Buy new: £8.98 / Used from: £6.98
Incredibly haunting vocals. Super interpretations of mostly trad songs. 'There U R' is amazing.
Rejoicing In The Hands (Of The Golden Empress)Rejoicing In The Hands (Of The Golden Empress) by Devendra Banhart
Buy new: £7.68 / Used from: £7.12
Forget his current West Coast jam band and almost-celebrity persona, this is Banhart at the top of his whispery psychefolk game.
The Bramble BriarThe Bramble Briar by Martin Simpson
Buy new: £5.98 / Used from: £4.45
Best folk guitarist in Britain? Most probably. This record is mostly trad interpretations, 'Fair Annie' being the finest i think.
The Box [7" VINYL]The Box [7" VINYL] by Johnny Flynn
No LP out yet! Johnny Flynn and The Sussex Wit are pretty much the best the promising new indie/folk scene has to offer. Equally excellent are the first two 7 inches.
Life by MisadventureLife by Misadventure by Steve Tilston and Maggie Boyle
Buy new: £8.79 / Used from: £5.68
Great guitarist.
Espers IIEspers II by Espers
Buy new: £6.98 / Used from: £4.23
Long, droning, haunting songs. Bit of an acquired tatse, but perseverence pays off. Did an excellent cover of 'Rosemary Lane'.
YsYs by Joanna Newsom
Buy new: £8.88 / Used from: £5.85
Amazing. Complexly constructed, orchestral, narrative driven (5 songs in an hour i think?), harp focussed classic.
Sung TongsSung Tongs by Animal Collective
Buy new: £9.79
Stylistically all over the place, but always coherent. As far from trad folk as possible but completely enchanting.
Appendix Out Kaspar Hauser [7" VINYL]Appendix Out Kaspar Hauser [7" VINYL] by Appendix Out
Alas! Sadly unavailable. Alistair Roberts pulling lo-fi moves,
Didn't It RainDidn't It Rain by Songs: Ohia
Buy new: £8.98 / Used from: £4.95
Gorgeous, sparse and haunting. 'Two Blue Lights' is maybe the best track.
The Creek Drank the CradleThe Creek Drank the Cradle by Iron and Wine
Buy new: £5.98 / Used from: £7.82
Sam Beam's first. Whispery, lofi backwoods americana.
Solid AirSolid Air by John Martyn
Buy new: £5.48 / Used from: £2.32
A little bit groovy-er than i'd like but still classic.
Five Leaves LeftFive Leaves Left by Nick Drake
Buy new: £3.98 / Used from: £2.99
Drake's first and finest. Very autumnal.