These four CDs represent things you might hear around the folk clubs, sessions and festivals this summer. There are plenty of people around telling you what you should read this summer, so think of this as your summer listening.
The Assembly Players are first up with A Kynaston Ball. “Full dance instructions included” is what it says on the cover. By that you will have gathered, I hope, that this is a CD of dance music, the sort of thing you might hear at ceilidh, country, Scottish, or barn dances. Not only do you have 21 tunes to dance to, but also the accompanying booklet has full dance instructions. Now, not being a dancer the instructions meant very little to me, but I understand that Du.Min, 3 Co long set, Sicilian circle, and 4 Co long set — 2 & 4 improper, etc., will mean something to those that do.
The Assembly Players are Nicolas Broadbridge (leader) on accordion, Aidan Broadbridge on violin, and Brian Prentice on piano. The CD is part of a collection of 14 other albums already put out by the Assembly Players as traditional dance music for dance schools and such like.
The album is based on the work of Nathaniel Kynaston (1683 – 1757) who is the author of a number of 18th century dance collections. Most of his work appears to have been published circa 1705 to 1722. Nothing is definitely known about Kynaston, but it is generally thought that he lived on the Welsh Shropshire borders and probably lived in or around Oswestry. England.
This clearly is a specialist album. The tunes, by their nature, are very similar and aimed at country dancers. However, it still makes good listening as the musicians are excellent. If you are a fan of classical music 
and like something to play in the background it may suit you too. Either way there are no less than 21 tracks to entertain you.
The next album has one of the most intriguing titles I have ever come across: Strange Coincidences in Speciality Tea Trading. Richard Ellin from Llandysul, Carmarthenshire, S. Wales, started the Terra Nova record label in 1995. The initial idea was to release folk and non-pop artists on CD at a budget price level. His success with releases from artists such as Nick Harper, Les Barker, and Artisan made him realise the potential of a full price label, and he acquired the Osmosys label, which already had an interesting catalogue of albums.
It wasn’t until after moving into the old Osmosys offices that he discovered that the office and phone line had been shared with a speciality tea importer at some point in the past. This resulted in some very confusing telephone calls inquiring about some ‘Redbush’ tea from South Africa, and it explains the somewhat unusual title for the album which is a sampler of tracks from old and new artists now to be found on the Osmosys record label. In short, it’s a brief history of Osmosys recordings.
There are 17 tracks on offer, and the album starts with ‘Lord of the Dance’ sung by Maddy Prior, as a solo singer with a studio band. Mike Heron next sings ‘Evie’. The best track on the album comes next; it is the classic Les Barker piece ‘Shipping Forecast’ narrated by Brian Perkins with his BBC voice. The music is wide and varied, ranging from hymns to The Mosaic Orchestra, to Blowzabella, to The Incredible String Band. ‘Ye Banks and Braes O’ Bonnie Doon’ from Dougie Maclean and ‘The Only Life Gloria Knows’ by Anthony John Clarke stood out and came as a pleasant surprise amongst the instrumentals from the various other bands.
The album serves as a sampler for the catalogue of albums available from Osmosys records; the sleeve notes give details of each track and the album it is taken from. Given the marketing policy adopted by most of the large music retailers, it makes it even more worthwhile to seek out some of these 
rare albums that are often not readily available on the High Street. I often find some good and very interesting music on albums such as these.
Staying in the same vein, so to speak, is Mary Humphreys & Anahata’s Sharp Practice, this being an album of rarities and renovations from the English traditional, with an emphasis on the enormous collection of songs that were collected by Cecil Sharp, hence the album’s title: Sharp Practice. Added to these are some traditional and contemporary dance tunes. Mary, originally from Wrexham in North Wales, but now living in Manchester, and Anahata, from London, first realised a common ground with in traditional song and music whilst playing in the Ceilidh band Fendragon. They have been singing together for four years now, and have been touring the folk club circuit in the UK. I was fortunate to catch them live at Frodsham Folk Club last year. This album is pretty representative of the sort of thing you are likely to hear at any of their gigs.
Mary handles all the vocals, accompanying herself on the concertina, banjo, and keyboard; Anahata plays melodeon, concertina and cello. Mary sings well, with a slight tremolo, with the songs and tunes presented in a plain style that should please aficionados of English traditional music.
Traditional songs here include ‘The Mermaid’, ‘Barb’ry Ellen’, ‘Young Banker’, ‘Sheath and knife’, ‘Spotted Cow’, and ‘Pride of the Seasons’. Many of the arrangements are augmented by another tune to make them more entertaining. The sets of tunes include ‘Jenny Bell Polka’, Marsden/London/Stoney Steps Hornpipes, and my particular favourite track ‘Dunmow Galumph/Danbury Hill’.
Almost in complete contrast is an album from a folk rock band. Tickled Pink was formed just a few years ago and have already made some significant waves on the festival scene. This is the band’s second album and from what I can hear they have made some changes from their Ceilidh band roots — changes that are pretty damn good.
The band are Mark Hutchinson on lead vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, with Rob Kay on sopranino recorders and vocals, Trevor Landen on bass guitar and vocals, Simon Care on melodeon and concertina, Gerald Claridge on electric guitar and vocals, and Guy Fletcher on drums, percussion, fiddle, mandolin, and vocals. Special guests on vocal chorus for 
track 5 ‘Let The Bullgine Run/Johnny Come Down to Hilo’ are The Prince of Wales Rattlers.
Tickled Pink are not afraid to experiment. The album’s full title is Terpsichore | The music of dancing | Polyhymnia | The music of song |, and that is what you get, but even more so. If you are a fan of the Oyster Band or Little Johnny England you are going to love this album — it’s dynamic! They sit more on the ‘rock’ side of the fence than ‘folk’, although some of the song arrangements have been taken from traditional sources — the others are a mixture of genre. I liked this idea, because they show a lot of imagination and creativity in the arrangements. Others are contemporary, there is even one from the pen of Jez Lowe with his song ‘Japs & English’. And a bit of political satire raises its ugly head with a nice arrangement of Care & Landen’s song ‘Apathy’.
They show a wicked sense of fun with the last track ‘Soldiers Joy’. The tune is pre-set to the rhythm of disco clubbing music, then blends in to the tune of ‘Soldiers Joy’. The effect is cheeky and awesome, to say the least.
So there you have it ‘Tickled Pink’ — terrible name for a band, but great music! Their style of traditional English music and song mixed with reggae, blues, country, punk, or whatever, must be a great formula for success. Nice one, fellows!
(Assembly Players, 2004)
(Osmosy Records, 2005)
(Wild Goose Recordings, 2003)
(Talking Elephant, 2005)
