Her sandpapery alto warbling husk a little like a folksier version of Ani Di Franco by way of Dar Williams,over recent years the Boston acoustic singer-songwriter has been making some ripples beyond her home base,her 2000 debut album,Against The Grey,picking various festival and songwriter showcase awards. Now signed to Red House with Mary Gauthier producer Crit Harmon behind the desk. This,her fifth release,should take the word further with its wistful melancholy and songs that draw equally on subjects such as depression (Home),recovery (Good Day To Die),her country’s attraction to greed and excess (America (Enough)),the war in Iraq (Song For Jeffrey Lucey,based on the true story of a solider who came home with PTSD) or,as on the title track,a fisherman’s catch as a metaphor for love and endurance.

If she’s been rocked by the world’s storms,something like the slow swaying,simply strummed plaintive Can You Tell Me or the slightly funk folk of Ready show she’s more than willing to get back on her feet and show resilience and optimism. It’s this that brings a new dimension to Somewhere as she reworks that Judy Garland classic. Often hewing her imagery from nature,there’s a lovely line in Whole Bird where she sings ‘I don’t need the whole bird,just a feather will do’. Listen to her and take wing.  www.netrhythms.co.uk

A lovely set,recorded at Peggy’s 70^th birthday concert…………This wonderful celebratory concert which drew together so many great names will be treasured by many that still cling to the best traditions of folk music. * * * * * Maverick

Record Collector - January 2009   * * * *

A man like this cannot be stopped.

Widely cited as the father of the American folk revival and populariser of the five-string banjo......

Throughout, Seeger is endearingly accompanied by many of his fellow Hudson River Valley musicians.......

Woody Guthrie must be smiling somewhere.