Just been listening to 'The Awkward Recruit' CD and really enjoyed it; some great songs sung and played with real passion, and performed with wit and style and genuine inventiveness which seems to be well rooted in an honest love of tradition.

It seems the title track was discovered by fiddler James by Google-Whacking (please don't explain this) - which means he surely must have found it on this thread about Muddley Barracks on Mudcat.

However this is not the only song in the world with a 'mawkin' reference; may I suggest the Ode to Spring by Robert Burns as a potential addition to the Mawkin:Causley repertoire?

I saw the band at Southport in February this year, and thought they were really exciting - and the CD definitely confirms that impression.

Matthew Edwards