Thanks to Malcolm and Bruce(?) for drawing attention to this site. I've visited a few times & like a kid in a sweetshop I'm transfixed by the goodies on offer. BUT I can't yet bring myself to buy anything because of the problem Malcolm has mentioned; Peter Kennedy states that all singers have agreed to the release of the material, but I still find this less than convincing. Collectors also apparently have given material to him for study and have found it released without consent.
On the other hand Peter Kennedy's achievement is monumental, and all of us who enjoy traditional song and music are forever in his debt. His Folksongs of Britain and Ireland on recordings and in print is one of the wonders of our time.
I am honestly in a quandary here; I really , really, want this stuff, but for the present I would rather stick with Veteran, Musical Traditions, and Topic. At least I know that their artists have been treated as I would wish. I would like to be able to salve my conscience by buying from FolkTrax and making a contribution to EFDSS or the Performing Rights Society at the same time.
Having said all that I would urge anybody with an interest in tradition to make use of this resource, and not to mind the quality, and to square it with their conscience as best they can.