What a magnificent album! Sharron Kraus' latest album is influenced by her long stay in rural mid-Wales and is a retelling, in English, of some stories in the Mabinogion, a collection of stories written in Medieval Welsh. But far from being set in the past, these stories of love, betrayal, migrations and magic continue to resonate today.

Sharron is accompanied by harpist Harriet Earis who also did wonders in Sharron's previous album, Pilgrim Chants and Pastoral Trails. There are also duets with the singer Nancy Wallace, already present in The Woody Nightshade album.

The song "Branwen" is truly poignant. It's about Branwen, the sister of Mamawydan. Taken to Ireland and married to the King, she is badly treated and calls her brother for help. The atmosphere is very dark, with a quasi-hypnotic harp and guitar accompaniment.

"Blodeuwedd" is completely different in style, about the woman who was created out of flowers. The accompaniment here is a delicate tapestry of harp and guitar punctuated from time to time by a duet of recorders making for a gorgeous, lush sound.

Another favourite of mine is the last title "Stranger in your land", slightly different in instrumental colours as a piano is added (Nick Palmer) and it is perhaps less dark than the rest of the album, apart from "Blodeuwedd".

This fantastic album is a continuation of the magic world of Wales that Sharron started exploring in Pilgrim Chants and Pastoral Trails, in her collaborative work with the harpist Harriet Earis in Winter songs/Caneuon y Gaeaf and with Michael Tanner's In the Rheidol Valley album. Somehow you would wish she had never left this wonderful country but I am sure her current stay in Sheffield will bring other magical masterpieces.