I have just recently received the latest album from singer/songwriter Terry Friend, Natural Noise, which was recorded at the FFG Recording Studio near Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. In a phone in interview Terry told me. 'This album is a return to my contemporary folk song writing roots, which I seem to have forsaken lately, as my recent recordings have leaned slightly more towards a country type of music style. I was also highly honoured to have a guest appearance by non other than Phil Beer from the band Show of Hands, who joined me on two of the tracks on this album. Likewise, it was a real pleasure to be joined by my two old friends from my Stonefield Tramp days, Rob Van Spyk and Brian Balster.' I have been playing tracks from this album on my Isca Radio Country Scene programme and in my view this is the best country album that Terry has recorded to date, with very strong melodies and very moving lyrics. I did enjoy 'Poachers Pie' with some fine fiddle playing from Phil Beer. This is a good country album with some folk roots coming to the fore on some of the fourteen songs, twelve of which were written by Terry. My pick of the album is the opening track 'Someone', sang well with a nice country feel to it and some good pedal steel picking from Maurice Hipkiss, with superb backing vocals from Sarah Warren. For more information go to www.anothercountrysong.com

I have just recently recieved the latest album from singer/songwriter Terry Friend, Natural Noise, which was recorded in the FFG studio near Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. I have been playing tracks from this album on my Isca Radio Country Scene programme and in my view this is the best country album Terry has recorded, with very strong melodies and very moving lyrics. I did enjoy Poachers Pie with some fine fiddle playing from Show of Hands Phil Beer. This is a good country album with some strong folk roots coming to the fore on some of the fourteen songs, twelve of which were written by Terry. My pick of the album is the opening track Someone, sang well with a nice country feel to it and some good pedal steel picking from Maurice Hipkiss. For more information go to www.anothercountrysong.com

In a way this could be sub-titled 'Best of Friend' for it is if one takes a country perspective. This is the most country album Terry has recorded to date, but in my humble opinion 'The Ulster Songbook' will remain his finest hour and I am totally convinced that in the future it will become a folklore clasic. However, 'Natural Noise', as I have already stated, is country and is original. You will not find any references to the American tradition only life's observations in a world-wide or UK setting. 'Someone', the opening track is a real feel good number dealing with a positive relationship, 'In a wind swept Cemetery', is a beautiful, though gloomy, tale that most of us will have experienced at some time or other, and 'Poachers Pie', typically British by virtue of its title, is a fiddle and vocal delight. The fourteen songs, twelve of them written by Terry, have strong lyrics and equally strong melodies, the latter credited to musicians Maurice Hipkiss (steel,Dobro,electric fiddle). Phil Beer from Show of Hands (fiddle) and Rob Van Spyk (acoustic guitar) and Brian Balster (guitars, backing vocals) of Stonefield Tramp. Check out also; 'Wild blows the Wind', 'Damascus', 'Minstrel Boy' and the first seasonal offering of 2006 'Tis Christmas Time Again' (strangely not out of place in May!) www.anothercountrysong.com