Wenlock Hill is the new release from Merrymouth, the three piece folk-orientated band formed by Ocean Colour Scene’s [OSC] frontman Simon Fowler along with long time OCS band member Dan Sealey and keyboard player Adam Barry. Wenlock Hill is the follow up to their critically acclaimed debut, Merrymouth...

Wenlock Hill contains 11 tracks (35 min, 40 sec). It's an eclectic collection of songs, but with a slant towards the folk genre.

The album also contains three covers: 'I Am the Resurrection' (The Stone Roses); 'Duchess' (The Stranglers); and 'He Was a Friend of Mine' (Roger McGuinn). 'He Was a Friend of Mine' is a traditional song which was reworked to be about the death of JFK. Merrymouth have now reworked it to revolve around the death of John Lennon.

As welcome as these are, I couldn't help thinking that they were used as filler material to pad out the album. One cover... okay; two... well, now you're pushing it; but three...?

The only track I wasn't too keen of was 'Teashop Serande', this is mainly because it felt like it belonged in P. G. Wodehouse production - and for some reason I've never really got on with Wodehouse's particular brand of writing.

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Nick Smithson