TEN MAN MOP, OR MR. RESERVOIR BUTLER RIDES AGAIN

Ten Man Mop finds Steeleye Span continuing their journey into sparse, stripped-down aesthetics and their application to classic folk. It's the continuation of a sound initiated on Please To See the King, and which I found more compelling there because it suited the sombre mood of its material. Here, there's a mixture of atmospheres called for, including some which are outright jolly (if a bit macabre at points), and as such the nigh-ghostly presence of the band isn't always as appropriate. I'd recommend trying out Please To See the King before giving this one an airing - and giving it a miss if you dislike that album. If you do like it and want more of the same, though, this is a perfect pick.