Seth Lakeman

Ballads Of The Broken Few

Cooking Vinyl 7/10

Album eight from folk superstar For this album, Seth Lakeman has teamed up with producer Ethan Johns, who has worked with many outstanding artists in the past including Paul McCartney, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Tom Jones and Laura Marling. The story goes that Johns agreed to produce the album after hearing a demo of one song recorded on Lakeman’s phone, which might give a clue to the strength of the songwriting here. The album was recorded in the great hall of a Jacobean manor house and has taken on a distinctive ambience as a result. Seth is joined by female trio Wildwood Kin, who provide harmony vocals that act as a perfect foil for Lakeman’s gritty vocal persona. Sparse, moody and intense. [DM] Standout track: Innocent Child For fans of: Martin Simpson, Steve Knightley