What amuses me is that Ian was picking up and amplifying (your electric guitar joke here) remarks by someone called "joaniecrumpet"...

A lot of relative newcomers on the (London) folk scene seem to feel the need to set themselves up in false opposition to some alleged reactionary, traddy element. Apart from a few nutters and cranks on Mudcat, I simply do not believe that any particular group on the folk scene is trying to stop anyone in particular from doing anything in particular, or being outraged by what any of the newcomers are doing.

I completely agree with the first sentence, which also describes the mandatory introduction to pretty much any coverage of folk in the press. But Why Oh Why did JC then have to set up her own spurious opposition, between "the folk scene" as a whole and "a few nutters and cranks on Mudcat"? That phrase could be read two ways, of course; it would be nice to know whether JC meant "nutters and cranks on Mudcat (who make grumpy traddie noises)" or "grumpy traddies on Mudcat (who are nutters and cranks)". If it's the latter I'll not be best pleased, I'll tell you now.

I haven't read the whole thread, but I like Tim Chipping's comment on Trembling Bells (who I admit I haven't heard):

my objection to Trembling Bells was that I thought they represented a giant step backwards, in terms of folk rock. If I were to boo it would be because they weren't bringing anything new or worthwhile to the party - not because they were doing anything outrageous or daring.