Reviewed by Stephen Luff

After just over one year of travelling from Bristol to Lancashire, Philip Harper has resigned from conducting the Leyland Band. What remains (apart from a large fuel bill) is this, their only released recording together. Based on a theme of the time of knights, fair maidens, castles, kings and queens, this melting pot of tunes is divided into sections exploring different areas. What may not sit well with Cross Rhythms readers or the Salvation Army (who distribute the disc) is the section on magic including witchcraft. This aside, the divisions and the irritating announcer that starts the CD on "King Herald" and again on "The Royal Game" (exploring chess!) make the CD a difficult listening experience overall. The mix of tracks, understandable as it is, is almost jaw dropping ... for example Queen's "Fat Bottomed Girls" (in the Queen section) on the same disc as "Greensleeves" (in the Fair Maiden section)! This latter track, however, is beautifully played by the band and shines as does the engaging "The Earl Of Oxford's March". So, all in all, it's a shame about the iffy concept.

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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