Harbottle & Jonas - From The Moor To The Sea 
Release Date: 24th October 2026
I'm always a little nervous when Harbottle & Jonas bring out a new record because I tend to have slightly obsessive relationships with their albums so I don't want a new to let me down. The good news is that 'From the Moor to the Sea' does nothing to let the listener down and, well, there is no bad news so let's dive in, shall we? The frantically slithering violins and dual harmonies set the scene perfectly on 'the Smuggler' before 'One April Morning' takes the intensity down a notch for a more fishing village vibe (I think with seagulls in the background but it's hard to tell because I basically live in a fishing village). Being born in Plymouth, 'Glorious Devon' has a certain resonance with those intertwined vocals and gentle melody that lilts with all the promise of a summer's day (listening to it where I live in Cornwall, however, might get me linched).
There are 14 tracks on this collection but they positively skip by as folk songs tend to, so it's nice to have some moments of respite such as 'Like the Salmon' which gently meanders on the piano and Freya Jonas' vocal as pure as the water in the stream (i.e. before South West Water fill it with pollution). 'Murder Door', for me, is the kind of song where H&J excel as they explore the darker, more dramatic side of the folk ouvre with David Harbottle's vocal in fine storytelling form with a hint of Jose Gonzalez to his voice. There's altogether more fun on the bouncing ditty of 'Eddystone Light' (a song about mermaids, a lighthouse and fishermen) which brings back memories of country dancing at school while 'Penstave Copse' is the kind of song people fall in love to with its romantic melodies and pure-of-heart intentions (beware anyone picking this to walk down the aisle to, though, there's a sting in the tail).
Now, 'Adam the Poacher' is another storytelling song with some of the most gorgeous layered vocal harmonies provided by the Wild Goose Choir before giving way to 'Gallant Hussar', a song that transports you a tavern without a Wi-Fi code in sight. 'Childe the Hunter' let's the vocal harmonies take centre stage and it is no bad thing as these two know exactly how to wield this weapon before penultimate song 'Pride of the Moor' leads us on a merry dance through the gorse and tors that scatter the couple's beloved Dartmoor. 'Fathom of the Bowl' is one letter away from being my wife's new nickname for me but, fortunately, that missing 'e' means we are treated to an album closing choral blast from those Wild Goose folk again, I assume. So there we have it, Harbottle & Jonas are in reliably brilliant form again with another album of gorgeous folk songs (new and old) that will surely lift your spirits as the nights draw in. Now, where is my mulling cider....?
More information: https://www.instagram.com/harbottleandjonas/
Buy the Album: https://harbottleandjonas.bandcamp.com/album/from-the-moor-to-the-sea
Live Dates:
24th October - Ashburton
19th December - South Brent