Heidi Talbot – ‘Angels Without Wings’ (Released February 18th on Proper Records

Featuring collaborations and guitar input from the likes of Mark Knofler, King Creosote, Jerry Douglas and more, this new LP from folkstress Heidi Talbot is a heavyweight release with a lightweight sound – and not in a derogatory sense. The songs here are as delicate as Talbot’s pure, reedy voice, another example of the fantastic state of folk worldwide at the moment.

Opener & title track ‘Angels Without Wings’ is a pretty, traditional track with a natural sway and a great showcase for Talbot’s unfussy vocal style.It typifies the album that follows – subtle, simple but more than able to hold its head high amongst its contemporaries. The review copy we were given didn’t include information on which songs the aforementioned guitar gods are featured on, and it’s a credit to the release and the musicians involved that it’s not made overly obvious. The approach instead is to use this huge pool of talent to produce music with genuine depth while allowing the lead artist herself to shine.

February and March see a UK tour in support of this album, and if the strength of these songs is anything to go by it will certainly be a show to see. Picking out individual tracks is a challenge in cases like this, as the album works so well as a combination – rest assured that folk fans will do well to invest in both the LP and the upcoming tour. 8/10

Review by Dennis Hugh

Tour dates:
Jan 2013
Sat 26 Tolbooth, Stirling, Scotland. Box Office: 01786 274000
Sun 27 Angels Without Wings Album launch @ Celtic Connections festival – Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow with special guests. Box Office: 0141 3538000

Feb 2013
Fri 15 The Buccleuch Centre, Langholm, Scotland. Box Office: 01387 381196
Sat 16 The Kirkgate Centre, Cockermouth, England. Box Office: 01900 826448
Sun 17 Pavilion Arts Centre, Buxton, England. Box Office: 0845 127 2190
Tue 19 Exeter Phoenix, Exeter, England. Box Office: 01392 667080
Wed 20 Muni Arts Centre, Pontypridd, Wales. Box Office: 08000 147111
Thu 21 Cecil Sharp House, London, England. Box Office: 0844 8889991
Fri 22 Royal Native Oyster Stores, Whitstable, England. Box Office: 07895 683567
Sat 23 Forge at Anvil, Basingstoke, England. Box Office: 01256 844244
Sun 24 Subscription Rooms, Stroud, England. Box Office: 01453 760900
Mon 25 Artrix, Bromsgrove, England. Box Office: 01527 577330
Wed 27 Sheffield Cathedral, Sheffield, England. Box Office 0114 263 6951
Thu 28 The Barn, Baston, England. Box Office: 01778 560497

March 2013
Fri 01 Mar The Met, Bury, England. Box Office: 01617 612216
Sat 02 Mar Hepworth Village Hall, Hepworth, England. Box Office: 07845 921527
Sun 03 Mar Darwin Suite, Derby, England. Box Office: 01332 255800
Mon 04 Mar Rodewald Suite, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, England. Box Office: 0151 7093789
Tue 05 Mar Pocklington Arts Centre, Pocklington, England. Box Office: 01759 301547
Thu 07 Mar Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline, Scotland. Box Office: 01383 602302
Fri 08 Mar Eden Court, Inverness, Scotland. Box Office: 01463 234234
Sat 09 Mar Eastgate Arts Centre, Peebles, Scotland. Box Office: 01721 725777
Sun 10 Mar The Woodend barn, Banchory, Scotland. Box Office: 01330 825431