"Simpson is one of the UK's finest folk musicians, and his unique gift is to bring to bear the kind of fluid forward motion usually associated with American acoustic music on the more strident shapes of British traditional song. Kind Letters is full of spectacular moments. - Sunday Times "Although it's his guitar virtuosity that's frequently lauded, it's as an interpreter of song that Martin Simpson really scores. Simpson delivers narratives with colour and conviction. Fittingly be-gonged several times at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Martin Simpson is taking his place, not just as a hero for guitar-besotted acolytes but as one of the national treasures of English traditional music." BBC Radio 2 Folk & Acoustic Reviews

Info from the record
Martin says of his latest release, echoing the words of the writer Kazuo Ishiguo, “Traditional music is a treasure chest waiting to be opened”, and he was never more aware of the beauty and the value of the contents of that hoard than in the process of making this recording. Kind Letters is a kind of follow-up to the his award-winning 2001 release The Bramble Briar (TSCD513) in that he has chosen songs largely from the English repertoire – some of which have been with him for as long as he can remember.

Martin’s unequalled talents on guitar, banjo and vocals are joined by a host of outstanding musical accompanists including Nancy Kerr and James Fagan, Chris Parkinson and members of the celebrated Irish group, Danu, to produce what is probably Martin’s best album to date.

Tracks

• 1 The Cruel Brother
• 2 Love Henry
• 3 Bareback to Bullhassocks
• 4 Here's Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy
• 5 Adieu, Adieu
• 6 Creeping Jane
• 7 The Flying Cloud
• 8 House Carpenter
• 9 A Blacksmith Courted Me
• 10 When First I Came To Caledonia
• 11 Peggy & The Soldier
• 12 Clerk Sanders