NINE

Fairport Convention's ninth album doesn't exactly put its best foot forwards; combining an unimaginative title with a zero-effort cover, you'd have every reason to expect to hear the band phoning it in when you put it on.

As it stands, though, I actually think it has a mild edge on its preceding album, Rosie. It helps that the group seem to be more unambiguously committing to the sort of Brit-country approach which they'd tested in a slightly lukewarm fashion on Rosie.

Is it the style listeners typically look to Fairport Convention for? No, not really, but it's an interesting attempt at something related but different and the band at least seem to have a bit more enthusiasm and verve this time around.