Eliza Carthy - The Definitive Collection (2003) Lossless

Hot on the heels of its wondrous and necessary Watersons box set, Topic Records issues this nifty little compilation of material from British folk enfant terribles Eliza Carthy, the daughter of Norma Waterson and Martin Carthy. Culled from her four solo outings, both Waterson/Carthy outings, and her guest appearance on Oliver Knight's Mysterious Day, Ms. Carthy's considerable writing, fiddling, and singing skills are all in evidence here in spades. These 13 tracks go a long way to offering the evidence that traditional music is not dead, nor is it staid in its wool. Her quirky sense of humor, poignant melodic and harmonic sensibilities, and her keen arrangement styles make this one of the brightest collections to come down the boards in years.