Liverpool-born Williams has been living in Newcastle upon Tyne for some years, and her commitment to the the North of England's values of self-deprecation and ear-slicing wit is written all over Crown Electric – released "softly" late last year, and now receiving a somewhat harder push. Williams dallied with major labels in the early noughties (following a Mercury Prize nomination in 2000 for her second album, Little Black Numbers). When that didn't work out, she reverted to her indie template of beautifully casual, melodic tunes (some of which reference her Liverpudlian pop culture heritage, noticeably the Beatlesesque Count). The lyrics are a blend of sour observation (Sequins) and mournful recollections such as Arwen, a duet with Scottish singer-songwriter James Yorkston, and Heart-Shaped Stone. All in all, as unapologetic, poignant and pretty a collection of folk/pop as you're likely to hear this year. kathrynwilliams.co.uk
Download: Count, Monday Morning, Sequins