A World of Hope

This double album brings together tracks donated in support of the charity Postcards for Peace – an international organisation that aims to end discrimination and violence through education. It offers everything from the incomparable beauty of Linda Thompson singing a capella from the soundtrack of Gangs of New York to a previously unreleased track recorded on an iPad by the less well-known Lisa Von H.

The two 13-track CDs lean heavily towards British folk music and singer-songwriter numbers. The discs are hung around some big names – Lau, Peggy Seeger, Oysterband, Linda Thompson, O’Hooley & Tidow and Kris Drever. Elsewhere, the emphasis is on lone singer-songwriters, often with a guitar in hand, giving the compilation a delicate, melancholic quality. The folk slant is lifted by moments like Suburban Dirts’ ‘Eli’, a piano and drum-driven song.

This release is an excellent opportunity to hear more obscure talents: the aforementioned Lisa Von H sings and plays all instruments on ‘Home’, one of the most striking tracks. Take a chance on something new: you never know what you might find.