The Witches Of ElswickOut Of BedReview

OK, we admit it. We almost missed this little beauty when it was first released last Autumn. Admittedly when faced with the prospect of a purely a cappella album of English folk many might baulk, but anyone who visited Radio 3's World On Your Street tent at last year's WOMAD festival will know that, in a feast of musical riches, these Witches cast a pretty powerful spell.

They describe themselves as: 'Four buxom lasses who in all honesty break wind, drink pints and, when they're not arguing about whose turn it is to pay the rent, they sing songs'. In other words, while Out Of Bed contains mainly traditional songs these are thoroughly modern lasses with what clubbers would call a lot of 'tude.

True, most members do have a grounding in the folk scene (member Fay Hield's mother was a Morris dancer while she herself attended Newcastle University's Folk degree: itself a huge breeding ground for homegrown talent at the moment), but listening and reading the album's sleevenotes leaves one with the impression that the overriding principle at work here is to have fun.

''Daddy Fox'' provides a suitably rousing introduction. A live favourite, it encapsulates their ability to pick a song not only for its beauty, but for its suitability for crowd participation. In fact that's the one element missing here. One longs to be in the same room and some of the infectious enthusiasm is inevitably lost in a studio setting.

But when all's said and done, this is still a lovely piece of work. The usual subjects of love (''Maids At 18'', ''Honey For The Bee''), drinking (''Bring Us A Barrel''), servitude (''I Once Lived In Service'') and, umm...the natural course of things (''The Tree In The Wood'', ''The Scarecrow'') are all dispatched with warmth, clarity and irrepressible good humour. Put simply, if they're playing at a venue near you, don't miss 'em!