The Guardian reviews The Glorious Abysmal, the debut release from Wild Gods, a new project by Argyll musician Jamie Livingstone, who regularly collaborates with Scottish electronic producer Barry Can't Swim. The album is drawn from the waulking songs of the Hebrides — communal songs traditionally sung by women as they beat and softened tweed — and blends Gaelic archival recordings and Celtic ceremonial melodies to expose what the reviewer calls the fascinating proximity between post-rock and folk-rock. The record is named the most fascinating folk-adjacent set of the summer.

Across its eight tracks, the album ranges from the opening lament Keening to the 10-minute Carlene's Pin, which pairs Susannah Stark's Gaelic vocals with clanging Bad Seeds-style guitars and a Godspeed You! Black Emperor-like bassline. Other songs reflect Livingstone's inspirations, including a transformative ayahuasca experience (Ortha) and his work with Vox Liminis, a Glasgow arts organisation supporting people with criminal justice experience, framing the music as both a mining of the past and a vehicle for healing. The album is released on 24 July, and the piece also flags other folk releases this month, including Sam Carter Sings Nic Jones, Tercet Imperial's Prymat, and Martin Carthy's near-23-hour BBC live collection.