Reviewed by Neil Brennan

Any ageing folkies worried about the future of their art form can worry no more. For in Why? we have a fresh faced bunch who on the evidence of this turbo charged tape are young enough, vibrant enough and talented enough to take the roots tradition into the 21st century. Suffice to say, it stands. Opening with "Friendly Song", Why? set off at a pace that would leave Linford Christie trailing in their wake - and then step up a gear. Before it all gets too frantic, they calm things down with "I'll Always Be There" (a ballad about Him methinks) and round the first half off nicely with the A side's outstanding track "Pencil Utensil" (if only I could figure out its lyrics) and the lively and jocular "Jiggledy Piggledy". Why? then take to the moral highground with "Because The Drug", tip toe through the Troubles on "Emerald Altar" before finishing with a flourish, thanks to the rib ticklingly funny "Good Question" and the rhetorical "Red Sky At Night" (much to the good shepherd's delight, no doubt). Aside from some ropey warbling here and there, it's blindingly obvious that these kids can play. You get the feeling that the rough edges are there by design rather than by accident on a largley laudible album. Who Rachel is and why she says Boo! I know not.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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