Gregg Russell & Ciaran Algar
Utopia and Wasteland
(Rootbeat Records)
★★★★★

Gregg Russell’s voice and guitar simply mesmerise, while Ciaran Algar’s evocative violin intercedes surgically and, if that wasn’t enough, Mark Tucker’s percussion and bass lend discreetly elegant rhythm accents to this soundscape of memorable songs.
 

The trio has a musical pedigree that is enviable and a joy to absorb — best through every pore.
 
The fifth star is for the courage of its politics — direct and honest to the point of hurt.
 
 “You see us now we’re burning, but these flames are nothing new / We are leaving,” is Algar’s mournful indictment of Grenfell fire.
 
“getting sick of their decisions, never asked just told,” sings Russell exposing the humbug of HS2 in Line Two.
 
And then the beautifully crafted, sensitive homage to Walter (Tull) sung bitter-sweetly by Russell with Algar weaving in haunting violin phrases — a masterpiece.

Spear of Destiny
Tontine
(Eastersnow Recording Company)
★★★★★