Amidst the Shades is a new album from British soprano Ruby Hughes accompanied by Jonas Nordberg on lute and archlute and Mime Yamahiro Brinkmann on viola da gamba.  It’s a very beautiful record starting, as one might expect, with a selection of English song from the 16th and 17th century plus some pieces for solo lute.  There are songs by John Dowland, including the well known Can She Excuse My Wrongs (possibly to a text by Robert Devereux; if so clear who “she” is).  Robert Johnson makes an appearance with three songs including two Shakespeare settings.  John Danyel also features along with instrumental music by Anthony Holborne and Tobias Hume. Continue reading →