Heidi Talbot “In Love and Light” (Compass Records)

Nashville, Tenn. - Look out for a new star in the glittering firmament of great Irish singers: with the release of her new album “In Love and Light,” Heidi Talbot is truly set to shine. Drawing on the full, diverse spectrum of influences that inform her singing, “In Love and Light” complements Talbot’s exquisitely expressive, honeyed yet ardent voice with guest contributions from producer Boo Hewerdine, Eddi Reader, ex-Solas guitarist John Doyle, fiddler John McCusker and flute/whistle ace Michael McGoldrick.

The launch of “In Love and Light” at Glasgow’s world-renowned Celtic Connections festival last month kicked off an exciting year for Talbot, who’ll be featured as a guest on forthcoming albums by Radiohead drummer Philip Selway and the new trio collaboration of John McCusker, Kris Drever and Idlewild singer Roddy Woomble.

To sample tracks from In Love and Light click here, and more info on Heidi Talbot found here.

Karan Casey signs to the Compass Records Group

Karan Casey “Ships in the Forest” (Compass Records)

The Compass Records Group is excited to announce the signing of Karan Casey, an artist whose voice has been described as “Angelic. Haunting. Spellbinding.” (The Calgary Herald) and “among the loveliest in folk music…” (The Boston Globe).

On “Ships in the Forest,” (release date: April 8th) her fifth solo album and debut with the Compass Records Group, Casey’s warm, soulful voice ebbs and flows around ballads both timely and timeless. Produced once again by Donald Shaw (of Capercaillie fame), the album was recorded at Casey’s home in County Cork and features the members of her current touring band, Caoimhín Vallely (piano), Kate Ellis (cello) and Robbie Overson (guitar) along with special guests Kris Drever, Niall Vallely and Cillian Vallely.

The songs found on “Ships in the Forest” range from fresh arrangements of tried and true folk standards (”Black is the Color of My True Love’s Hair” and “Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye”) to “The Fiddle and the Drum”, Joni Mitchell’s 1969 anti-war madrigal. Casey says of the album: “I feel that this is by far my most ambitious album to date. I think it has taken me all my years as a singer to come to the point of feeling confident enough to tackle the big songs within the traditional repertoire.”

Casey began 2008 with critically acclaimed appearances at the renowned Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow and will be touring North America throughout February and March.

To hear samples from “Ships in the Forest” click here.