The extraordinary, tattoo-bedecked, flamenco-inspired guitarist - and dare we say profane raconteur - that is RM Hubbert (Hubby to you and me) has returned with a new album, Telling the Trees, and it’s every bit as bold, unpredictable and affecting as we could have dared to expect.

A reprisal of the collaborative format that so enriched 2012’s SAY Award winning ‘Thirteen Lost & Found’, this new project finds Hubby co-writing at arm’s-length from a dazzling array of musicians, songwriters and lyricists in stark contrast to the previous album’s up close and personal approach. Enlisting an amazingly diverse ensemble of talent, Telling the Trees features:

Anneliese Mackintosh | Anneke Kampman | Rachel Grimes | Kathryn Williams | Marnie | Kathryn Joseph | Martha Ffion | Sarah J. Stanley | Aby Vulliamy | Karine Polwart | Eleanor Friedberger

The result is a mesmerising collection of styles, songs and instrumentals, linked by their infusion of Hubby’s trademark guitar playing and the sparkling production techniques of Paul Savage at Chem19...