Back catalogue: Folk/Americana

Review: The title of veteran singer-songwriter Jonathan Richman's latest EP, Yatasamaroun, is an Arabic word that, roughly translated, means 'lovers talking softly together in the moonlight'. It's perhaps fitting, then, that the title track is a gorgeously exotic, steamy and moonlit affair that fuses North African, Andalucian and Middle Eastern instrumentation with spoken word monologues and Arabic singing. It's a fine, intoxicating musical brew that makes an even greater impact in the included 'Extended Mix' form. Elsewhere across the CD single, 'En La Discoteca Reggaeton' is a jangling, bluesy chunk of global musical fusion that's bold and infectious enough to suggest that it could work on open-minded dancefloors, while 'I'm In a Dancing Mood' sees Richman add his David Byrne-esque lead vocals to a Flamenco-inspired workout.

Review: Restless Road's debut album on Sony, Last Rodeo, is a pretty impressive one that features already much loved hit singles such as the title track, fan favourite 'Bar Friends' plus 'I Don't Wanna Be That Guy,' 'Sundown Somewhere' and 'Growing Old With You.' Brand new cut 'Most Nights' is a collaboration with Erin Kinsey is also a standout on an album that was co-written by all three artists and has been a long time coming for fans. It shows fresh songwriting craft and well-honed playing skills as well as plenty of their signature harmonies.

Review: You can always count on Wah Wah to unearth the rarest of gems and give them the ceremonial release they deserve. Randy Rice originally released To Anyone Who's Ever Laughed At Someone Else in 1974 as a private press recording printed in an edition of just 500. As is the way with such cult records, it's slowly permeated music culture thanks to the haunting beauty and idiosyncratic nature of the songs until a critical mass of appreciation inspires a reissue such as this. Remastered with a light touch, this subtly surreal offering takes classic 70s Americana into unique zones, with Rice's fragile songwriting and singing binding the record together as a heart-rending listen which is poised to charm a whole new audience.

Review: Intractable bluegrass from the one and only Tony Rice. At this point, Craft Recordings' taste in reissues hardly warrants scrupulousness; this long out-of-print album documents a lesser-known period in Rice's musical career, after which his predominant bluegrass bent had already been established. With only a small cadre of personnel in tow - Rice on old-time strings and vocals, his brother Wyatt on guitar, and Bob Shumaker and Lim Lloyd helming up mixing and mastering duties - Church Street Blues is proof enough that you don't need much to make an evincing folk album, not least one that evokes the deepest emotes endemic to Louisville, Kentucky. Consisting entirely of reinterpretations of Rice's favourite folk songs, 'Church Street Blues' became an immediate fan favourite and today it remains a classic title.

Review: Having played guitar alongside Bob Dylan in the mid-late 1960s and early-1970s, then going on to be songwriter and six string man for the Band, it's no surprise that when Robbie Robertson turned his attention to soundtracks they came with assured rock 'n' roll authenticity. A Hall of Fame-r in both his native Canada and the US, his work for screen includes a slew of top notch Martin Scorsese movies, such as The Last Waltz, The King of Comedy, Casino, and The Irishman. Director also enlisted artist for Killers of the Flower Moon, the 2023 epic Western crime drama starring Leonardo Di Caprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, and Brendan Fraser. This would prove to be Robertson's last score before he died in August that year, and it's a stunning swan song. From meditative psychedelia, to reflective journeyman acoustic, and strange, mysterious, woodwind-led pieces, it's evocative to say the least.

Review: Rose City Band is a solo project of Ripley Johnson, who is known for his work in Wooden Shjips and Moon Duo. 'Garden Party' is the fourth album of the project. Thematically, it deals with the summer months and what Johnson has taken to calling 'porch music', two words which conjure a wealth of relaxing mental images. From 'Chasing Rainbows' to 'El Rio', Johnson creates lush, rich psychedelic rock soundscapes with a country influence, sure to excite road-trippers just as much as they are to sate veranda-loungers alike.

Review: In honour of its 20th Anniversary, Yep Roc Records reissues Josh Rouse's 2003 album, 1972. This is the best-selling album in the folk pop singer-songwriter's catalog - not surprising, considering it contains some of his most well-loved and honest songs, many of which have become standards in his live set-list. 1972 is a collection of songs that pay homage to the songwriters whose songs were popular on AM radio in the year Josh was born. Fluttering strings, handclaps, flutes and the production of Brad Jones provide the right atmosphere for this indelible selection. Highlights include the singles 'Love Vibration', 'James' and 'Rise'.