This second plank of seasoned 'heavy wood' music from Sheffield's Treebeard sees them once again hoisting their Campaign For Real Folk-Rock flag in that sun dappled English woodland glade forever populated by Mole, Ratty, Robin Hood, and Ian Anderson in a codpiece.Indeed a relaxed lope through Tull's 'Dun Ringill' is one of the clutch of covers - other notables are Zep's 'Going to California' and Nigel Mazlyn Jones 'A Singularly Fine Day' that will offer clues to the band's sound for those yet to make their acquaintance. For the cognoscenti, though, it's the 
original material that stands out. Flautist Ceri Ashton's 'Ale Jug/Rice' is the pick of a fine bunch of instrumentals, though 'Three McMahon's' runs it close, with Chris McMahon's electric twin neck mandola excesses just one of the many reminders of three-fifths of the band's proggy alter-egos as Haze.Of the songs, the supernatural ballad 'Highwayman's Hollow' is the one 
you'll find yourself humming for days afterwards. A couple of covers don't quite come off: Albert Hammond's 'Free Electric Band' lacks the fresh exuberance of the original and 'Ace of Spades' sounds like Terry Dactyl And The Dinosaurs. These aside, though, this is craft-brewed English folk-rock of the finest order. Drink irresponsibly.

Oz Hardwick R2 (Rock'n'Reel)

This is not a folk album, although it does contain folk elements, and is an album that I have enjoyed immensely. In fact, the day I got it I played it three times back to back and as now found it hard to pick a favourite. It kicks off with "Wilderness Of Eden" from one of Chris and Paul's other bands, World Turtle, and here it takes on a new life with more depth and presence than the original. While there are a couple of World Turtle and a few Haze songs on the CD, it is also the songs that they have chosen to cover that come across with some impact. I defy anyone who listens to "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" to say that this isn't superior in every way to the original REM song. I am not sure what a djembe is, but Paul Chisnell starts the song on it to great effect, and the mandolin and 12 string guitar combine with the harmony vocals and violin to take this song to great heights.

Other favourites? Well I feel that I ought to mention "Nothing Ever Happens", oh and "the Hangman & the Papist", and the different version of "(Come Up And See Me) Make Me Smile" or the album closer "The Devil Went Down To Georgia". There are some nods to folk with some traditional numbers such as "Lark In The Morning" (made popular by Fairport) and the four song medley that they have entitled "Percy In The Linen".

For more information visit either www.gabadon.co.uk or www.treebeard.co.uk. They have plenty of gigs coming up, more details on the web site. The CD is available for only £10, but if you buy two of the CDs available (Haze, World Turtle, Von Daniken etc) then it is £15 the pair or any three for £20, you can't get much better value than that.

'Nothing ever happens, nothing at all' from that Scotish band - we love this song, and this performance is spot on. JRRT - Oh my - JRRT - 'Far over the Misty Mountain' great words (of course) works a treat. (Read The Hobbit)

If a band has to do 'The Hangman and the Papist' and 'The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald' it must be a mighty brave band - good try folks, but not quite there - but thanks for trying:)

Other than the two songs mentioned above, and I'm only critical because I love the originals so much, this is a damn fine album.