COCK AND BULL BAND - Pumped Up And Loaded (Mrs Caseys)
21 tracks of the C&B's original Anglo-French folk-jazz fusion - mostly instrumental but punctuated by a handful of French songs.
The main architect, as usual is Jean Pierre Rasle, with Pete Lockwood contributing an increasing amount of material.
Vonda Sainsbury's sax and clarinet has given the band its most vibrant and up front feel ever, complementing the pipes and Paul Martin's mandola.
The tunes work well enough, and though this is billed as a concert album, they are superb for dancing to.
But for me it was the songs that really made this. There is a French murder ballad, a rogue's drinking song 'Vive Jeanneton (Long-live Jeanneton)' and even a sort of French 'Hal An Tow' called 'Voici la St Jean (Midsummer is coming)'.
The Cock and Bull Band have always been slightly unfashionable which has allowed them the freedom to go their own way and do exactly what they like. With results like this long may it continue.
(Andy Hemsley)