Sergeant Buzfuz - The Jewelled Carriageway

There's something weird about talking about rock-folk crossovers, the two genres are practically one. Rock is music of the folk, conveying their dreams and fears, accessible by all. But still, when stripped of distorted sneer, it's often called something else, especially when there is cello, viola, hammered dulcimer and whistles in the mix. Sergeant Buzfuz are such an enigma, sounding like forest frolicking folk, but the music works more along rock lines, and ends up sounding like an acoustic Pink Floyd. This folk/rock dichotomy is mirrored in the lyrics, fluctuating between tales of nature and of urban desolation. And like all music of the people, Sergeant Buzfuz are adept at weaving a story, as on the historical epic Here Comes the Popes Part 1 (1st Millenium), an informative, humorous and X-rated history of the papacy. And amongst the neo-folk revolution, it's good to hear a group who have not lost sight of playing songs you can sing along to. [Ali Maloney]