Seth Lakeman - 'King and Country' (Relentless) Released 05/02/07

Alleged spearhead of the latest folk revival, Seth Lakeman continues his assault on the mainstream with a third single from last year’s ‘Freedom Fields’.  A simple, lilting tale of a “weeping maid” whose love has gone off to fight in the English Civil War (that’ll be on the Royalist side, presumably), whether you find this an affecting modern take on a timeless theme or the earnest warblings of a dew-eyed milksop will entirely depend on your regard for folk music in general.  For my part I’ll edge towards the former, although a bit more guts in the delivery wouldn’t have gone amiss.