Album: Thea Gilmore, John Wesley Harding (Fullfill)

Thea Gilmore's 70th birthday tribute takes the form of re-recording her favourite Dylan album in its entirety, triggered by her acclaimed 2002 cover of "I Dreamed I Saw St Augustine", which sustains its solemnity despite the inclusion of congas.

Part of its success is due to Robbie McIntosh's glistening lead guitar details, so his presence throughout this project is welcome, with his astringent tone on "As I Went Out One Morning" appropriate to the song's dark chord sequence, and his rock chops bringing a sleek, streamlined momentum to "Drifter's Escape" and "The Wicked Messenger". Elsewhere, piano, dobro and mandolin lend natural illumination to "Dear Landlord", while Gilmore's take on "All Along the Watchtower" is pitched midway between Dylan's and Hendrix's, as a relaxed strummer with delicate guitar highlights.

DOWNLOAD THIS I Dreamed I Saw St Augustine; Drifter's Escape