Few of us realise that we speak with an accent, although the majority of us do. Thankfully, most singers do not have the native accent show through when performing. One the exceptions to that rule is Kate Rusby, but she is also exceptional in other ways. While the flat Yorkshire accent is to the fore in her performances, she gives it a musically, magical and emotional quality that lifts the songs to new heights.

This new album of 12 songs again proves this rule. On Philosophers, Poets & Kings, she gives us an eclectic mixture of new songs, re-arranged traditionals and her interpretations of the works of other well-known writers.

She opens the album with a lovely song called "Jenny," taking the traditional words but setting them to her tune. She tells us that in setting the lyrics to her melody she was inspired by two options, and thankfully she gives us that other choice on track 11 as "Jenny (ordinary remix)."

The title track is similarly one with old words set to her tune and it works extremely well. "Bogey's Bonnie Belle" is perhaps the most familiar song on offer, but again Rusby's arrangement and delivery -- accent and all -- gives us a new take on the well-known.

Her own complete contributions include "Until Morning" and "The Wanderer," while she re-interprets works by Noel Gallagher and Richard Thompson on "Don't Go Away" and "Crazy Man Michael," respectively.

For me the top song on offer is her original track "Halt the Wagons," on which she is joined by the Barnsley Youth Choir. The song has a poignant history, commemorating the deaths of 26 children who worked in a coal mine and drowned 181 years ago when a freak storm flooded the mine. One of them was aged just 7 years, and the disaster led to legislation prohibiting those under 10 years working underground.

This album is folk music at its best performed with heart and soul by a true artiste.

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