Midnight Fry

As a member of sixties' psychedelic folkies Dr. Strangely Strange, Tim Goulding and his cohorts made some mighty music, if at times it was a little... well... strange. Thirty years on, on occasion at least, he still retains the ability to surprise and enthrall.

This time around, however, the music doesn't sit quite as easily with me, its sheer diversity being a tad wearying; it hops stylistically from pillar to post - from trad-sounding pieces on whistle and vocals, to percussion loops.

There is, though, much to engage the listener. 'O-Mané' is a very fine piece of work, the fact that it is eight minutes long no harm at all. 'Father's Song' is so touching, you'll want to cry with love. He pitches yet another curveball with the piano and strings instrumental 'Eagle Hill', which is gorgeous in the extreme.

Midnight Fry is the work of a maverick who has decided to ignore the dictates of fashion and go his own way. Sometimes it works, sometimes it falls a little short of the mark. Now mother, what did you do with my special mushrooms?