I have my ticket to see them at the newly reopened Band on the Wall in Manchester where they're playing two nights. I'm with Villan - their "Annachie Gordon" on the new album is stunning as is the title track, "Here's The Tender Coming". I like their arrangements and I really like the raw edge to the vocals - it's good to see that major label associations haven't forced them to become bland or anodyne. The only track on the album that didn't work for me was Adrian Nally's "Lucky Gilchrist" which veres a little too far into Genesis/Kate Bush-lite territory for my tastes, but you have to give them some leeway, given its a tribute to a friend who's passed away. Meanwhile, "the Testimony of Patience Kershaw" is very moving - I've only heard it sung by a bloke before (Roy Bailey, I think) and this version is is beautiful. On a personal level, I'm pleased to see singers of traditional songs operating in the mainstream, who don't see the need to airbrush or sanitise their music. Nice one. Can't wait for the gig!

Meanwhile, here's their cover of Robert Wyatt's wonderful Sea Song