Music: Folk

Richard Shindell: 'South of Delia'
RS1809 (2007)

I will hold up my hands and admit that this CD recommendation is a crib from another (proper!) reviewer. We subscribe to HiFi Critic magazine, and I read about 'South of Delia' in one of last year's issues. It is one of four Richard Shindell CDs that I own, and it is by far the best recording. I think he has similar vocal qualities to James Taylor, although with far less of the 'prissily nasal warble' which I once heard attributed to JT. However, Shindell is nasal, although he also has a delightfully soft tone which comes through particularly well on track 8 - 'Sitting on Top of the World'. Another song which is really worth a mention is his rendition of Peter Gabriel's 'Mercy Street', and I think I prefer this to the original. FR

Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman: '1'
I Scream EQCD002 (2002)

We first became aware of Kathryn Roberts when she worked with Kate Rusby on their eponymous 1995 album, which was produced by John McCusker. Strangely, although it was such a successful vocal combination, this musical collaboration seems to have been a one off. (But if anybody out there knows differently, please tell us!).

Since then, she has teamed up with the Lakeman family; first with the band 'Equation', and latterly with the guitar playing Lakeman brother, Sean. Our reason for recommending this duo's CD performance is that, as a non-studio type of recording it is quite free of elaborate production techniques, and yet still manages to be of consistently high recording quality. This is straightforward stuff, done with perfect simplicity: As the note on the back of the cover says, "Made in villages made in Devon".

One other reason for choosing the album is the quality of the instumentals. Sean's virtuoso guitar is wonderfully cleanly reproduced, and therefore provides an effective foil for Kathryn's rich voice. And 'yes'; brother Seth puts in an appearance on his violin! FR