Album of the Week – Katie Spencer ‘What Love Is’

Written by celtic music radio on October 4, 2025

This is KATIE SPENCER’S third album and it celebrates her artistry and musical heritage in an intimate and emotional way.

What Love Is features ten brand-new songs that weave together Katie’s signature folk-baroque guitar style with expansive jazz-tinged soundscapes to deliver a masterclass in subtle, expressive musicianship.

Raised in the open landscapes of East Yorkshire, her honest, unflinching songwriting evokes the spirit of Joni Mitchell’s later works, while the warm vocals carry each track with clarity and emotional depth.

Her guitar playing is always a sheer delight, rooted in the steel-string traditions of artists like Michael Chapman and Judee Sill.

As one critic observed: “Oof, this record is really something, a stunning presentation of widescreen intimacy that never forgets what volume there is in quietness, and how crowded solitude can be.”

Katie will be speaking with Hugh Taylor on our Album of the Week Show today at noon.

• ALBUM OF THE WEEK SHOW – Hugh Taylor in conversation with his musical guest, Katie Spencer – Saturday, October 4, 2025 – at midday.