The classic 1970 debut with Beverley Martyn. Rehearsed in Woodstock, with Levon Helm guesting on a couple, Joe Boyd producing. Lovely.

Dawn Le Faun with Billy Le Bon, co-singers of The Letting Go and Wai Notes, digging up a modern(ish) parable from deep in their Everlys sack, afore getting down and sliding around on the flip.

‘A 6 part cosmic hobo’s dream suite for 23 string banjo… Metzger plucks, picks, bows and spins his way through a 40 minute odyssey making for his most ambitious and adventurous musical trip to date.’

Terrific solo guitar music, steeped in ragtime and country blues, but this time going after something else too —  ‘in a harsh climate… this new one reaches a little further both into the past and the future’.

‘folk album of the year’ (The Observer); ‘*****  ... not a note is wasted’ (Time Out); **** Mojo; **** Uncut; ‘Compilation Of The Year’ (The Guardian).

Alasdair Roberts, Nancy Elizabeth, Michael Hurley, James Yorkston, Victoria Williams, Richard Youngs: six ravishing, luminous new interpretations. Short-run vinyl sampler, fine pressing, silk-screened sleeves.

A droning, slo-mo Leonard Cohen cover, and a collaboration with violinist Jessica Moss, from A Silver Mt. Zion; both around twelve minutes. Grouper’s a big fan.

With guests including Erika Elder, P.G. Six, Michael Flower, J Mascis from Dinosaur Jr and Jeremy Earle from Woods. A legs eleven and a midden mound of ‘sprawling jams (including the incredible Rudy Rucker inspired Freeware) and beautiful songs. A truly wondrous, sun-blinded, summer stoner record that lets the sand slip through its toes and tramps off in the direction of a mirage of a gigantic effigy of Ganesh.’ 180g; heavyweight, UV-coated, tip-on gatefold; poster insert. 300 only.

‘The Voice of the People’.

‘The Voice of the People’.

Dominated by her heart-stopping voice, and her own acoustic guitar-playing, this is another great album — pared-down and austere but immersive and spell-binding.