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Gorgeous gatefold double LP version comes with download of the album. An underground legend with devoted fans such as Jeff Tweedy and Nick Cave, Bill Fay's new album is his first proper studio album since 1971. "Life is People" features a duet with Jeff Tweedy, a backing band of Mike Deighton (Oasis, Paul Weller, Mother Earth), Tim Weller (Goldfrapp), Mikey Rowe (High Flying Birds, Stevie Nicks), and a moving rendition of Wilco's classic "Jesus Etc." Bill Fay is one of English music's best kept secrets. At the dawn of the 1970s, he was a one-man song factory, with a piano that spilled liquid gold and a voice every bit the equal of Ray Davies, John Lennon, early Bowie, or Procol Harum's Gary Brooker. He made two solo albums but his contract wasn't renewed, which left his LPs and his reputation to become cult items. But he never stopped writing, the music kept on coming. Now, in his late sixties, he has produced "Life Is People", a brand new studio album that shows his profoundly humanist vision is as strong as it ever was. His debut on the underground Decca Nova label, "Bill Fay" (1970), included spacious big band jazz arrangements by Mike Gibbs, but it was the follow-up, "Time Of The Last Persecution" (1971), that cemented his reputation - a harrowing, philosophical and painfully honest diagnosis of an unhealthy society and a messed-up planet, that featured the cream of London's fieriest jazz session players such as guitarist Ray Russell. Unable to make ends meet as a musician, Fay wandered through a succession of jobs for years, writing songs privately. Both solo albums were re-issued in 1998, and when the likes of Jeff Tweedy began singing his praises in the early 2000s, Bill began to come back into view and Wilco even convinced the shy singer to join them onstage in London in 2007. A few CDs of Bill's early demos and home recordings have since emerged, but "Life Is People" is his first properly crafted studio albumsince 1971.He was motivated by American producer Joshua Henry, who grew up listening to his dad's Bill Fay albums on vinyl. Spooling through Bill's home demos, Joshua discovered an incredible trove of material. Matt Deighton (Oasis, Paul Weller, Mother Earth) assembled a cast of backup musicians to bring out the songs' full potential. These include Deighton on guitar, Tim Weller (who's played drums for everyone from Will Young to Noel Gallagher and Goldfrapp), and keyboardist Mikey Rowe (High Flying Birds, Stevie Nicks, etc). In addition, Bill is reunited on several tracks with Ray Russell and drummer Alan Rushton, who played on "Time Of The Last Persecution". And it's a stunning return to form. Ranging from intimate to cosmic, epic but never grandiose, Bill's deeply committed music reminds you of important, eternal truths, and the lessons to be drawn from the natural world, when the materiality and greed threaten to engulf everything. It's time to recognise one of the great English voices. After nearly 50 years, Bill Fay has finally delivered his masterpiece: as rapturous and soul-stirring as any music you'll hear this year Style: Singer/Songwriter

Carol teams up with the legendary Bobby Brown & creates a west-coast master peace — it's time to step back...slow your roll — stop, look and listen — Style: Singer / Songwriter

Style: Folk

Style: Folk

Record Label: MKG Style: Folk

Record Label: Global Satellite Style: Folk

When John Stewart tragically passed away on 19th January, 2008, he left behind a body of work that serves to confirm his reputation as one of the most gifted songwriters of his generation, with a talent for composition that has only seldom been equaled in the rock age. A gifted musician too, he was drafted into the influential folk act The Kingston Trio when founding member Dave Guard departed in 1961, staying with the band for six years before they disbanded in 1967. During his post-Trio era he achieved widespread international prominence and acclaim by penning The Monkees’ number one hit “Daydream Believer”. Alongside a career writing for many popular artists of the day, Stewart also forged a successful solo career that saw him continue performing right up until his death. It was with his sophomore solo album however, 1969's 'California Bloodlines', that John truly established himself as a singer-songwriter in league with the likes of James Taylor, Neil Young and Carole King, an album which to this day remains a classic of the genre. Record Label: All Access Style: Pop/Rock

Record Label: Loose Music Style: Rock

Record Label: MKG Style: Folk

The brand new album from James Yorkston, his first album of new material since 2008's 'When The Haar Rolls In'. Released on the 13th August 2012 the album is available on CD, 2 x 10 Gatefold with download codes & digital. Style: Singer / Songwriter

Ned Collette moved to Berlin from his native Melbourne two years ago. A well known and respected singer-songwriter in his own country and in underground circles worldwide, he has toured Europe previously with the likes of Joanna Newsom, Akron/Family, Bill Callahan and Nina Nastasia. His early musical output was based mostly in experimental music, before he gravitated towards more traditional song structures. His new album "2" (his fourth album but his first outside of Australia) will be released in August. It is a mix of experimental pop songwriting, musique concrete and dark folky soundscapes. His current solo shows are performed with voice, nylon string guitar and samples. While comparisons have been made to everything from Leonard Cohen to Ghostface Killah, Collette remains tricky to define but instantly identifiable. Style: Independent

Record Label: Contrдr Style: Singer / Songwriter

Record Label: Borealis Style: Folk

Record Label: Borealis Style: Folk

The brand new album from James Yorkston, his first album of new material since 2008's 'When The Haar Rolls In'. Released on the 13th August 2012 the album is available on CD, 2 x 10 Gatefold with download codes & digital. Style: Singer / Songwriter

Consistently inventive, whether providing stately strings, purring pedal steel or psych-folk soundscapes" - The Observer UK. "A really stark and swirly instrumental blend of psychedelic influences held in check, as they might have been on a classic Elektra LP. The way they weave the acoustic guitar into the arrangements, really reminds me of mid-period Love." The Wire UK THE BIG EYES FAMILY PLAYERS & FRIENDS release "Folk Songs II", a continuation of 2009's "Folk Songs". The 12 track album, (also available as a special limited edition with 3 further tracks and postcards) features the following singers - Alasdair Roberts, Nancy Elizabeth, James Yorkston, Elle Osborne, Mary Hampton, Adrian Crowley, James William Hindle, Heather Ditch and Sharron Kraus; The musical arrangements were made by James Green (guitars /piano/ harp / zither / drums / percussion / organ / cello / glockenspiel / backing vocals), as well as Brian Ellis (bass guitar), David A Jaycock (synths / organ / drums), Paul Fletcher (percussion) and Lindsay Aitkenhead (viola). "Folk Songs II" by The Big Eyes Family Players & Friends finds the boat has been pushed out a little more. The songs and stories are more sprawling, and arrangements show further disregard for any folk tradition than the previous "Folk Songs" outing. James Green admits openly to not knowing much about folk music, or particularly having much time for folk authenticity. The aim was simply to illustrate the songs and the voices in the most appropriate way, and the only way that THE BIG EYES FAMILY PLAYERS & FRIENDS can. Formed as a more collaborative arrangement THE BIG EYES FAMILY PLAYERS & FRIENDS have worked with people like Jeremy Barnes (A Hawk And A Hacksaw), Terry Edwards (Gallon Drunk/Tindersticks), Rachel Grimes (Rachel's), James Yorkston, James William Hindle and many more. THE BIG EYES FAMILY PLAYERS are currently based in Sheffield, UK and they dwell somewhere within chamber music, folk music and perhaps pop music; guitars, strings, harmoniflute, organ, bass, drums, flute, sometimes vocals and other bits and bobs. Record Label: Static Caravan Style: Folk

Composer(s)	Mij,
Genre	Pop and Rock
Category	Pop and Rock
Label	ESP-Disk

Composer(s)	Traditional
Genre	Pop and Rock
Category	Pop and Rock
Label	ESP-Disk

CATHEDRAL' Ed Laurie's new album reveals the singer/writer, alongside his band, in singular mind: largely unrehearsed, improvised, few takes, no click-track ... the result is a raw, emotional record, and far removed from anything produced today. With a nominal budget Ed and co-producer Richard Neuberg headed to the North Italy to record this 3rd record with Ed's preferred band. Over one week in the heat of June they recorded unrehearsed, with no click track, improvising sections and relying on instinct above anything else - a few takes and out. Largely indebted to impressionistic works such as Astral Weeks and Paris, Texas this album is due for release in Europe early 2012 and in the UK through Ed's own label Moonpainter. More release details to follow. Record Label: Moon Painter Style: Singer/Songwriter

brandnew album from the german singer/songwriter Maximilian Hecker Record Label: Blue Soldier Records Style: Singer / Songwriter