Samamidon is the newest release from Iceland's Bedroom Community label. This album pretty much acts as a tribute to the great appalachian banjo player Dock Boggs. It makes sense since Samamidon is best known for his banjo and fiddle skills. The wonderful thing about this album is that it is deeply rooted in the old world but yet has morphed into something beautiful and new. With the addition of ornate string compostions and baroque additions to the songs, Samamidon has crafted an absolutely stunning album. Think Sufjan Stevens and Dock Boggs.

Rufus Harley is the real pied piper of jazz. He is the first American Jazz musician to adopt the Scottish Highland bagpipe  as his primary instrument.  He has said the bagpipes are a spiritual instrument as the drone uses the ancient vibrations of the universe. Rufus adopted idioms of jazz, blues and funk into his playing. His technique was quite unorthodox, but yet still incorporated all facets of the bagpipes' sounds. To some Rufus seemed like an oddity and gimmicky, wearing a traditional Scottish kilt and Viking-style helmet. To others, Rufus was redefining the sound of '60s jazz.

This is the second album released by NYC's The Silver Apples in 1969. This group are known for building a crazy system of audio oscillators that provided most of their driving bass beats, and mixing them with drums and poetic lyrics. Contact is full of minimal psychedelic electronic elements, drones, dissonance, pulsing beats, raw emotions and BANJO!  I love that they layered the banjo into the bassy beat mix, something that makes them stand out from the likes of  Spacemen 3 and Suicide, whom the band are often compared to. Tracks like "Ruby" and "Confusion" showcase the use of banjo, and "I Have Known Love" could quite possibly be one of my favourite songs of all time. Bassy Banjo Goodness!

The Weather Station are a local 5 piece that consist of banjo, mandolin, and violin. They create a brilliant myriad of sounds that ranges from new, and old-time appalachian folk, celtic, and experimental. Their music reflects the harsh landscapes of the east coast, urban confusion and rural absolutes.  This is quite possibly one of my favourite albums of the year.  Look out for their monthly residence at the Tranzac starting in December.

B-Music's latest and Selda endorsed, Voice of the Seven Woods is Richard Tomlinson, a man who gives psych-folk fans a reason to live in the present. With his talent, it would be an injustice to slap the "freak-folk" label his way. Unlike most of his contemporaries, Tomlinson works equally in British Folk, Turkish Psych and Krautrock. "The Fire in My Head" starts with a fuzzed out Middle Eastern Guitar and continues to add layers into a full-on assault. "Silver Morning Branches" highlights his gentle, sometimes eerie voice, while other tracks showcase his abilities to pick like folk greats Bert Jansch and Sandy Bull.

Karen Dalton is a folk singer, and banjo player  from the 60s who shared the stage with the likes of Bob Dylan and Fred Neil. Dalton did not write her own songs, but was  unique because of her haunting voice, which was often said to be folk music's answer to Billie  Holiday.  Her bluesy voice has a rare beauty that is both delicate and intense. Her cover of gothic folk classic "Katie Cruel" is haunting,  and "Take Me" has the power to break anyone's heart. If you don't know her already, check her out!