Airs And Graces cover

Airs And Graces

Released

June Tabor once self-described her voice as a combination of Anne Briggs’ and Belle Stewart’s singing styles. This is typically understated of Tabor, whose voice is one of British folk’s great gifts to the world. Airs And Graces was her debut solo album, after a few compilation appearances, and a collaboration with Maddy Prior of Steeleye Span, entitled Silly Sisters. It’s made up of solo vocal performances of traditional songs that are so unaffected and direct they stop time; occasionally, another musician drops by, usually the great Nic Jones on acoustic guitar, to accompany Tabor. But the magic is all there in Tabor’s voice, which is so clear in its delivery and intent, on songs like “The Band Played Waltzing Matilda,” the effect is chilling. She’s also able to reclaim these songs from the cornier edges of folk frivolity; Tabor is conduit for story and song, letting the song pass through in purest form.

Jon Dale

Suggestions
Hush cover

Hush

Extradition
Jack With a Feather cover

Jack With a Feather

Spriguns of Tolgus
Town And Country cover

Town And Country

Town and Country
Ask Me No Questions cover

Ask Me No Questions

Bridget St. John
Daylight Saving cover

Daylight Saving

Appendix Out
Designer cover

Designer

Aldous Harding
Unhalfbricking cover

Unhalfbricking

Fairport Convention
No Roses cover

No Roses

Albion Country Band, Shirley Collins
Lovely on the Water cover

Lovely on the Water

Frankie Armstrong
The Crook Of My Arm cover

The Crook Of My Arm

Alasdair Roberts
Rosemary Lane cover

Rosemary Lane

Bert Jansch