ALYTH: People Like Me (Navigator) ****
Since half of her songs are in Gaelic, most of us will be glad of Alyth McCormack's on-line translations. This substantial album began in the early 1970s on her native island of Lewis – and carries an appeal for the local survival of Harris tweed. Traditional airs include the pulsating The Vices; interspersed with them are songs by Brendan and Colm Graham, Jim Malcolm and others. Suzanne Vega contributes The Queen and the Soldier, Boo Hewerdine A Smuggler's Prayer. Drawing on piano and sax as well as guitar, fiddle, accordion, double bass and percussion, the arrangements recall June Tabor's recordings in their diversity. But in these lyrical fruits of "love and conscience," nowhere do the players obtrude on the purity of Alyth's vocals.
Out now
PETER PALMER