Music : That's Proper Folk

Rating: - Fun
A selection of short stories, rich in meaning, but with no pretensions. Great fun to listen to again and again, especially on long car journeys, because as each Country of origin or Story-teller changes we become alert and ready. Am so impressed that I really want to buy another compilation album like this.

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Rating: - Great value for money - a super introductory album
Eliza Carthy, Karine Polwart, Luka Bloom (Christy Moore's brother Barry) - what's not to like? Anyone who has been in touch with the contemporary folk scene in recent years will find much to enjoy here. My own joy was finding a track by the wonderful Mary Gauthier - her "I Drink" was a festival highlight for me a few years ago. This CD is cheap enough for dedicated fans to give to friends who are convinced that folk is Fair Isle jumpers, beards and hands over ears.
This has to be the best value CD in my collection - not a duff track in the mix. There are several live versions as is common with albums of this type, but none that make you hastily skip a track. Buy it, you know it makes sense. If you want to do something "folky", it's cheaper than a pint of the black stuff... and it doesn't put weight on you, either.

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Rating: - Unbeatable value!
Whether or not the contents is strictly "folk" is rather academic as you get so much excellent music for a mere £2. It takes me back to the days of "Sampler" LPs, other record labels could learn a lot from this CD..

Some great stuff here - I'm sure I too am going to buy at least one album from the artists featured...
Quite frankly it's so cheap you have nothing to lose...

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Rating: - Thats really proper folk
Great,well worth the money. From a folk fan of many years standing.

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Rating: - superb sampler at a bargain price
The lovely people at Proper Music have done us proud. For just £1.99- less than the price of a cup of coffee- they have put together a 13-track sampler on which there is not a single duff track. In fact, there are a number of absolutely stunning moments here for anyone who loves quality songwriting.

As has been noted, this is a sampler, not a full-priced compilation, so there is a certain amount of mix and match involved. Personally, I don't think that's a problem. Not while we have the beauty of Cara Dillon's voice, a superbly-constructed song from Martin Simpson, a slightly 'experimental' moment from Eliza Carthy's new album, a great version of a traditional sea shanty... all this and the song from the Magner's ad too...

Yes, not all of it is what you'd call 'traditional' folk, but in case nobody's noticed, 'folk' has long since reached out to the mainstream and these days embraces a wide variety of artists. Who decides what folk is anyway? No one would say Eliza Carthy is not a folk artist, but her song here is certainly the least 'folky' on display.

Enough of the inverted commas. This is a truly fantastic selection of songs, close to five-star standard at any price, but at this price I can't believe everyone isn't buying it. Get it with a couple of other albums and you won't even have to pay postage.