"Fill yer boots!" according to the sleeve notes at least. And well we might in the company of John Spiers and Jon Boden with this being the follow-up to their highly acclaimed album Tunes. As the title implies it is a collection of songs that will prove a must buy for their legions of fans and any self respecting folk archivist. Even if you're not and you profess not to have the slightest interest in 'folk' music as a lay person you should at least appreciate the dynamics in which both musicians (and singers) imbibe the lyrics of a bygone age. Take, for instance the lads spicing up the hoary shanty chestnut 'Old Maui' with a genuinely gothic introduction of rippling fiddle and melodeon. I don't know why but as I'm writing this review I can almost taste the salt in the sea breeze whilst looking out of one of those panoramic window scenes from an old Moby Dick movie. Not bad for a bloke who lives six floors up overlooking a railway line. Glorious and oh, so theatrical but that sums it… more »

"Fill yer boots!" according to the sleeve notes at least. And well we might in the company of John Spiers and Jon Boden with this being the follow-up to their highly acclaimed album Tunes. As the title implies it is a collection of songs that will prove a must buy for their legions of fans and any self respecting folk archivist. Even if you're not and you profess not to have the slightest interest in 'folk' music as a lay person you should at least appreciate the dynamics in which both musicians (and singers) imbibe the lyrics of a bygone age. Take, for instance the lads spicing up the hoary shanty chestnut 'Old Maui' with a genuinely gothic introduction of rippling fiddle and melodeon. I don't know why but as I'm writing this review I can almost taste the salt in the sea breeze whilst looking out of one of those panoramic window scenes from an old Moby Dick movie. Not bad for a bloke who lives six floors up overlooking a railway line. Glorious and oh, so theatrical but that sums it up for me where John & Jon are concerned - they're a pair of magicians who weave wonderful spells with great character in much the same way that Ron Moody portrayed Fagin in "Oliver". Both Spiers & Boden have that certain chutzpah that draws you in as the story unfolds. Death, doom and destruction and let's face it when wasn't a traditional British ballad full of those attributes? The duo's attention to detail with searing chords and their obvious relish at getting to grips with the nitty gritty of their source material we couldn't have better ambassadors for the scene. On another subject, my preference for a good sleeve usually leads to the photographic artistry the likes of Bryan Ledgard. Having said that, the staged shot by new kids on the block David & David should help to garner them an award or two (they also composed the shots of Jim Moray's sleeve as well) so hearty slaps on the back all round.

PETE FYFE