Martin Simpson, Andy Cutting & Nancy Kerr - Murmurs (Deluxe Edition) (2015)

The album is a compelling mix of traditional and original material, accompanied on this Deluxe Edition by a superb DVD with a 'making of' film and extra tracks . It's not very often that three virtuoso musicians come together to form a vital, exciting new band.

Martin Simpson is a multi-award winning musician, singer and songwriter who has worked with Bonnie Raitt, Richard Hawley, Jackson Browne, June Tabor, Richard Thompson and many more, as well as being a world-renowned performer in his own right. He was introduced on Woman's Hour recently as "the best guitarist in the World". He has often said that playing with other musicians makes him a better player and of this trio he has said "It is so incredibly exciting. Andy and Nancy have been brilliant. Sheer joy!".

Andy Cutting is an extraordinary musician. A master of the diatonic accordion and most other squeezeboxes, he is a superbly sensitive accompanist, a writer of beautiful and thrilling tunes, a highly in-demand band member and a sublime solo performer. His list of recording credits and sessions reads like a Who's Who of acoustic music both in the UK and abroad, and he has played live with The Who, Roger Daltrey and Sting, among others.

Nancy Kerr has just been anointed BBC Radio 2 Folk Singer of the Year and has been a major part of the acoustic music scene since she was a teenager and has always been a distinctive and impressive talent, turning heads everywhere she's played or sung. She is currently part of an award winning duo with her husband, James Fagan, is one quarter of the Melrose Quartet and a key member of The Full English band. She is a multi-instrumentalist of rare and astonishing talent as well a beautiful and joyful singer.

After a short tour together they began planning an album of material with a loose ecological theme. The stunning 'Murmurs' was recorded live in a remote Welsh studio this January with award-winning producer Andy Bell. The combination of traditional songs, such as 'Fair Rosamund' and a stunning 'Plains of Waterloo', and original compositions, including 'Dark Swift' and 'Not Even The Ground' makes for a compelling listening experience; stories are told with instruments played by these masters of their respective crafts, but this is no showcase, more an expression of the joy of playing and singing between three absolutely intuitive musicians.

With the musical pedigree of Martin Simpson, Andy Cutting and Nancy Kerr it is no surprise that this album sounds, feels and looks like a classic.

"Outrageously great album from Simpson·Cutting·Kerr. 'Dark Swift & Bright Swallow' is amazing. It's stunning and beautiful. And timely. All things great folk should be." Rob Cowen, author 'Common Ground'.