Rachael McShane & The Cartographers - Uncharted (2025)

There is something very pure, direct and clear about this second album from strings player Rachael McShane and her Cartographers band. Their first effort, When All is Still, was released back in 2018, with Rachael joined by guitarist Matthew Ord and melodeon player Julian Sutton. Uncharted sees Matthew’s shoes filled by Ian Stephenson, with Julian returning, Andy May providing piano on selected songs and a host of backing singers on final track, Windy Old Weather.

Rachael first hit the circuit in a big way as an original member of folk juggernaut Bellowhead and helped the band drop five highly successful studio albums, as well as lending her talents on numerous live extravaganzas, including the returning tours in 2022 and 2024. For her work with the Cartographers, Rachael simplifies the sound significantly, with guitar and melodeon gently entwined with violin or viola and subtle piano. It is delicate music indeed, but played with high skill and creative musicianship, which allows these eight vocal pieces and two instrumentals to soar.

A good example of the beauty of simplicity found on this album is The Blacksmith, a traditional number collected by Vaughan Williams and built on a very pretty, Martin Simpson-esque acoustic guitar melody. With a song this good, the arrangement need not be overdone, and the band are careful to keep things pared back, to allow Rachael’s strong, clear vocal to fully articulate a song of love and deceit. With a minute left, Rachael’s viola sweeps in with a low line, foretelling the fate of the hopeful maiden courted by the blacksmith. Great stuff.

Another highlight is Ed Pickford’s The Workers’ Song, made more known by Dick Gaughin. This version first appeared on Topic Records’ Vision & Revision compilation, and it’s a beautiful song wonderfully sung by Rachael with a fuller arrangement of violin, guitar and melodeon. The melodeon is particularly effective here, with its sweet bouncing notes bringing a sense of positivity and pride to the hardships of labour and war that is quite heartbreaking.

Elsewhere, Dusty Jigs is the first instrumental on the set, a medley of three original pieces written over the years that Julian and Rachael had to ‘dust off’ before playing again. Andy May’s minimal piano notes are a real treat here, adding an extra seasoning to the music. The whole thing is quite jaunty and a lot of fun. Shivering Stone is initially more serious but possibly more beautiful too, with the intro written by Alistair Anderson being quite wonderful. The mid-section is more upbeat, with the band locking into a strong melody and performing it flawlessly, before seamlessly sliding into the final part, which again brings in Andy May’s bright but subtle piano. It’s really lovely music and demonstrates the skill on show here while keeping the whole thing elegant and restrained.

Andy’s piano is more prominent on final song Windy Old Weather, a delightful medley of three pieces in 3/4 time, giving the music that lovely sway that comes with a waltz or a boat trip. The traditional title song features a rich cast of backing singers, including Sam Sweeney and Benji Kirkpatrick, giving the music a more fleshed-out feel that balances nicely with the more minimalist numbers. For the two maritime miniatures that finish the set (Gilles Le Bigot’s Les Pêcheurs and John Whelan’s Trip to Skye), the violin and melodeon come to the fore for a beautifully played dance that feels very much like a final song.

Rachael and her trio have not tried to overwork the arrangements on Uncharted and the result is music that sounds fresh and vibrant, working very well with Rachael’s clear and precise vocals. The music present is excellent, however, with subtly creative performances working in perfect harmony together to frame some beautiful songs. It is bright music, perfect for spring, and hugely enjoyable to listen to. And for that, we can be grateful.