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Ayo Bamidele's new album the Good Tom Shepherd could well be his best to date. Played simply with voice and guitar. It's packed with ideas, social concern and compassion. The title track tells the story of a good fella, helping out his fellow man when attacked by robbers. The struggle through hard times on "Crushed", the price of commitment in "Infatuation". Why do the good guys all die young ? The Carpenter. There's also a reply to the new atheist evangelist movement in Spiritual Dude. A day in the life, tribute to sailor Sam Davies and her solo round the world voyage. Ayo's voice is as magical and emotive throughout as always.

Terence O'Flaherty's latest album ghost pays homage to some stalwarts of traditional folk and Irish music. There are some very tasteful arrangements of some recognised standards such as "Wild Rover" and Robert Foster's "Hard Times" . The social concern of this song is also expressed on tracks such as the delightful Boll Weevil and Brendan Behan's The Old Triangle. The Traditional mixes with several original compositions written by Terence and musician/ producer Paul Cunningham. They use the same stripped down arrangements involving a wide range of instruments particularly on the largely instrumental "Grassmount Blues". Terence's autobiographical "There is life" is another standout track.

Bob Smith's roots lie in the punk rock that inspired him to form the acclaimed Punk combo Demob in the 70s. This was before discovering Dylan, Springsteen and Tom Waits. Perhaps this is why his latest album "This is the story" carries such a hard edginess. The music is diverse Americana and Country tunes such as The Sea of Wishful Thinking and Train a Comin sit alongside others that lend more from traditional english folk music like "Soldiers Tale". The punk roots probably help to explain the social concern of tracks like Union Mine Disasters. This a good one.

Stoney Clove Lane's - Jeremy Bernstein and Adam Widoff recall the sprit of the low slung early 70s rock of Creedence and the Band. But this is forward looking Americana, and the pair have managed to produce a rootsy DIY sound. The album starts with the bluesy intro, the groovy opener - Crawl. The pair play most of the instruments themselves but, the musicians that the they have chosen, contribute well on a few tracks for example, Joe Magistro on drums, Fred Cash and Paul Schiavo on bass fit it in seamlessly. The majority of the songs have a laid back calm. Stand out are the melancholy By Your Side and Mine to Mine

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