Skip to main content
The Morning Star 2026 Conference
Pertinent poetic romance
MICHAL BONZCA reviews the latest releases from Rusty Shackle, Ifriqiyya Electrique, and Ruth Notman and Sam Kelly

Rusty Shackle
The Raven, the Thief & the Hangman
(Get Folked Records)
★★★★★

RUSTY SHACKLE have chiselled this set of nine songs to loving perfection.

For two years, with laudable dedication, they've researched and gathered songs that tell stories from the edge of human existence without descending into miserablism or self-pity.

Ifriqiyya Electrique
Laylet el Booree
(Glitterbeat)
★★

Ruth Notman and Sam Kelly
Changeable Heart
(Pure Records)
★★★★★

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
sj
Album reviews / 23 June 2025
23 June 2025

New releases from Steve Tilston, FolkLaw, and Patch and the Giant

Steve Knightley
Music / 15 April 2025
15 April 2025

STEVE JOHNSON, CHRIS SEARLE and TONY BURKE review new releases from Steve Knightley, Jupiter & Okwess, Jason Palmer, Lisa Knapp and Gerry Driver, Kin'Gongolo Kiniata, Ingrid Laubrock/Tom Rainey, Dan Sealey, Simin Tande, PAZ

(L to R) How many Aunties?, Back Hares Mount, Leeds, 1978; M
Photography / 14 April 2025
14 April 2025

Peter Mitchell's photography reveals a poetic relationship with Leeds

The crowd at Manchester Punk Festival 2024
Culture / 11 April 2025
11 April 2025
Ben Cowles speaks with IAN ‘TREE’ ROBINSON and ANDY DAVIES, two of the string pullers behind the Manchester Punk Festival, ahead of its 10th year show later this month