Martin Simpson has been a key player in the UK folk scene since his 1976 debut album, Golden Vanity. Since then, he has become a top-flight acoustic guitarist. He made a number of very fine albums with British singer June Tabor, and in the late ’80s he moved to America and has incorporated more traditional U.S. music into his work than many of his contemporaries. He has also produced a series of instructional materials for guitar playing.

His latest album, Rooted, combines folk, blues, Celtic and Americana elements. The superb production by Andy Bell (a former member of Oasis) brings out all the power of Simpson’s playing. It accentuates his flowing fingerpicking, slide, banjo, percussive effects and extensive use of open tunings. Simpson has sourced his material for this album widely, from Woody Guthrie to folk legend Hedy West. Like Ry Cooder before him, Simpson has integrated traditional music so thoroughly with his own songs that they ring with authenticity. Simpson continues to develop his singing and storytelling skills and has some fantastic musician friends he can call upon to enrich his own sound.

For listeners who would like to hear more of his dynamic solo playing, the deluxe version of Rooted includes Seeded, a seven-track CD of instrumentals. There is also an excellent seventeen-track introduction compilation.

Paul Barr is a music specialist at Readings Carlton.