Utica

There’s just a handful of records that really capture the sense of refuge of small houses and small pubs in isolated places in cold climates but this exploration of Welsh and American folk music really, really gets that special intimacy. The gentle strumming, the gospel naturalness to the collective voices, the barely-brushed drums, an occasional pizzicato cello: all combine to give a great sense of vulnerability, but also collective strength. Original lyrics and adapted poems in English and Welsh are delivered with a gentleness that is hard not to get drawn into: if you ever need a salve for the soul this is a really potent one.