Pete Morton
Album: The Frappin' And Ramblin' Pete Morton
Label: Fellside
Tracks: 10
Website: http://www.petemorton.com

With eleven albums already behind him, folk singer songwriter Pete Morton delivers another collection of his distinctive songs and ballads and folk style raps. A background of busking on the streets of Europe and with the notable FRoots magazine championing his cause, his inimitable mix of styles and lyrical topics are difficult to discount.

The first of his mixture of rap and talking blues presented in a folk structure, 'Farmer's Boy Frap' is a typically high speed delivery of social commentary bordering on acerbic observation, while 'The Manchester Rambler Frap' comes across more as a tribute to the familiar feelings of the weekend respite to the daily grind as he sings of being "a wage slave on Monday but I am a free man on Sunday". For some, the combination of traditional values of folk with the contemporary wordy based rap style might be a bridge too far, yet there's something quite refreshing about the merging of the two styles and the way it allows a chance to showcase his crafty wordplay.

For a dip into the more traditional format, the lengthy and wordy 'Rambling Through Old England' takes us on a journey through history while namechecking assorted industrial icons, while the 'A Begging I Will Go Frap' presents a traditional chorus alongside a contemporary tale sung out unaccompanied. The love song 'The Love Of You' and the reflective 'Heart Of The Land' are more sombre efforts and showcase a more sensitive and introspective side to the writing, seeing him return to his tried and tested, some may say safe, format.

'The Journeyman', focusing on the topic of nationalising the railways, encapsulates his overall philosophy - all sensitively and sympathetically backed by a five piece collection of players, it's the strength of his convictions and delivery which come across strongly. Very much in the songwriting and delivery vein and delivery of his contemporaries (and maybe even slightly better known) Steve Knightley and Martyn Joseph, Pete Morton shares their fervent passion and confidence.

Mike Ainscoe