The Coal Porters

No. 6

PRIMA. CD/DL Vibrant roots and other routes from acoustic quintet. Sid Griffin has never forgotten that Gram Parsons once hooked up with the Stones. So here he’s hurled all bluegrass boundaries out of the window as pride of place on this new album goes to The Day The Last Ramone Died, a gabba gabba hey-decorated original that should cause bouts of violent head-scratching in Nashville. As might the final track, a gently strolling, totally engaging revamp of The Only Ones’ Another Girl, Another Planet. Not that Sid and fellow singer-songwriter Neil Robert Herd ever neglect their newgrass roots. The Blind Bartender is a song full of imagery, while Chopping The Garlic is a dazzling showcase for fiddle virtuoso Kerenza Peacock. Add in production by John Wood, he of Nick Drake and John Martyn fame, and you have the whole deal. Gabba gabba hooray.