This is an astonishing album. From the opening award winning version of ’Barleycorn’ right through to the glorious ’Twelve joys of Mary’, Van Eyken doesn’t put a foot wrong. Of course it helps when you collaborate which such talents as Nancy Kerr, Pete Flood and Ollie Knight but there’s no doubting who the main man is on this album.

The highlight for me is a searing version of ’Fair Ellen of Ratcliffe’ with soaring guitar and great percussion from Flood but others may like the lovely duet with Nancy Kerr, ’Gypsy Maid’ which almost had me in tears when I heard it live at the 2007 Cheltenham Folk Festival. It’s invidious to single out particular tracks though as it’s all good. I hope a follow up is not too long in coming.