Back catalogue: All genres

Review: Welsh harpist Amanda Whiting returns with a luminous new release on First Word, distilling a full spectrum of mood and meaning across six tracks. Known for her delicate command of space and melody she's joined here by collaborators like Alice Russell, Faye Houston, Aidan Thorne and Jon Reynoldsieach adding textural depth to Whiting's expansive vision. The opener 'Contented' is a warm breath of spiritual jazz, anchored by glistening harp and Faye's radiant vocals, while 'What Is It We Need?' pairs Alice Russell's soul-stirring delivery with upright bass and brushed drums. 'Intent' subtly flirts with jungle rhythms, a tempo lift that doesn't break the EP's introspective gaze. Elsewhere, 'It Could Be' is drenched in strings and light-touch percussion, perfect for golden-hour listening. It all closes on 'Moving On', a serene ambient fade that leaves room for reflection. Though classically trained, Whiting's output feels unbound by traditionicinematic yet grounded, with a quietly radical force. Thematically focused on womanhood, visibility and transformation, this EP is as confident as it is graceful. A compact but commanding work from one of the UK's most distinctive instrumental voices.