REVIEW FROM www.livingtradition.co.uk

Two Wildgoose CDs each featuring a mixture of traditional and contemporary material. "Darkl the Day" is Mick and Kitty's first album, but they've obviously served their time - Mick's playing guitar playing is assured and they pull in various mates (including Johnny Collins) to assist their endeavours. The traddy songs include "All Things are Quite Silent", "Lord Gregory", "Bonny Light Horseman" and Don't Come Again. These are coupled with songs from the pens of John Warner, Alan Franks, Helen Akitt, Gregg Butler and Brian McNeill (amongst others) My main problem here is that Kitty seems to be someone who sings folk songs rather than being a folk-singer.

That Tim Laycock is a folk-singer is beyond doubt! He's been to most places and done most things. I bet I'm not the first critic to compare his uncanny youthful appearance to that of Sir Cliff Richard but unfortunately the resemblance is purely physical - "Fine Colours" reveals a mature and astute musical brain at work, turning excellent performances of a wide range of traditional, music-hall and self-written songs, with a few tunes into the bargain. He is joined throughout, by his colleagues from the New Scorpion Band, resulting in a thoughtful, pleasing and authentic album from Dorsetshire's best.

Alan Rose