Reviews

 Artist: Various
Album: Folk Awards 2005
Label: Proper Music
Tracks: 27
Rating: ****
Contact:  www.propermusic.com

Whether you're a hard core folkie looking for the best of the current crop playing traditional British music at the moment, or a newcomer to the genre seeking to find out what the increasing levels of fuss are about, this is the album for you.

There's a fantastic selection of tracks from all parts of this sceptered isle. Songs old and new sit next to each other in a 27 track compilation that features established names against the young guns looking to take the music to future generations. Similarly the songs themselves range from traditional through the innovative.

As expected the album brings in all the nominated artists for this year's awards. Had there not been a few double nominations, this delightful double cd might have been even bigger. Crucially the sleeve notes also includes details of the albums that the tracks came from so you know where to make your next move.

By design or coincidence, there seems to be a travel theme running though the album with many of the tracks covering journeys. Those not covering physical travel, seem to pick up on the journey through life, bringing together the mix of people, places and points in time. Classic elements indeed.

It's difficult to pick out favourites from a selection of artists that are at the top of their game, but there are three of the younger artists. These groups, solo instrumentalists and singers, whilst young in age, already have years of experience behind them and are really starting to break into the bigger arena, I give you Uiscedwr, Seth Lakeman and Anna Massie.

Folk Awards 2005 is an album of tightness and textures, every song provides a strength to the album. Folk has many styles and they are reflected here. Getting the stream right so that every song gets a proper chance to shine is no mean job and with one exception the compiler has done a superb job. If there happens to be a track that you don't like you know that you can stay with it as the next will take you off in another direction. The exception is the opening track, "Rambling Sailor", which just feels in the wrong place.

All in all an album that explains why folk music is back on the rise, why it's a living tradition, why the songs get written and sung and, more than that, it does it with style. The first must by of 2005.