The Carthy Chronicles

Few, if any performers in the English folk tradition - with the exception of Richard Thompson - have as distinctive a style or presence as Martin Carthy, MBE, who on this sprawling box set, moves with easy grace from the electrified thwack of Steeleye Span to the epic solo vocal performances contained in the rendering of Dave Goulder's 'January Man', with sundry other cross-pollinations - Albion Band, Brass Monkey and The Watersons - scattered through the compilation like confetti at a wedding.

This immaculate collection is divided into four themed albums.

Carthy Contemporia sees him tackle material from the likes of Gilbert O'Sullivan - 'Nothing Rhymed' is taken from 1979's Because It's There to 'Farewell, Farewell', culled from the Richard Thompson tribute album Beat The Retreat some twelve years later, and the hilarious 'Oor Hamlet' from the pen of Glasgow's Adam McNaughton.

Classic Carthy comprises 22 lost, rare, and live tracks from a variety of sources. The other two albums Carthy In Company and Child Carthy display an equal expansiveness in style and delivery. Of the latter album, all songs associated with the Child Collection, three stand out - 'Duncan And Brady', recorded in 1964 with Rory McEven and Lisa Turner, 1991's 'Bows Of London', recorded by the late Peter Ballamy, and - recorded in Belfast's Sunflower Folk Club, the Copper Family sourced 'Hard Times Of Old England'.

The Carthy Chronicles is a lovingly assembled, meticulous document of a career which has kick-started among others, Paul Simon, on their way.

I've found my Album of the Year already.