Houses For Little Horses by the Model Folk

Out now and available from https://modfolk.bandcamp.com/album/houses-for-little-horses

You have to embrace the world of Model Folk or you will find yourself in an alien landscape. But if you take the challenge, thrown down right in the opening track, Forty Days A Liar, you begin a journey through surreal architectural soundscapes.

This, the band's second album, is a carefully crafted piece of folk theatre, a whimsical jog through a mix of bouncy Balkan tunes, sexy sax jazz, marching bands all embedded in solid folk rock.

The track Sick Sick World has the soft, subtle Jonah and the Whale feel, while One More Daiquiri has that honest tub-thumping, footstomping beat.

Bulgar Romanische is played with unashamed panache and spirit, daring you not to dance.

Badger takes up the vocal gauntlet on many of the narrative songs. My own favourite on the album is Leona Dare, for me it is the hit single on the record although Ederlezi has a powerful film score vibe with stunning choral finish.

There are shades of Sgt Pepper Pepper's Ragtime Band in the track Naked In The Kitchen, while Finistere has a blues riff which is a surprise sandwiched between the comedic capers in Nipples For Men and the fab sax finale in A Crocodile.

Finer Ties is almost a classical symphony, that could easily be the soundtrack for a Thomas Hardy novel - a Wessex tale.

In each generation there is a wacky band of brothers. Way back in the mists of time there was the strange goings on of the Bonzo Dog Doodah Band, then came the weird and wonderful Terry Gilliam and the Monty Python boys and today we have The Model Folk.

The band all have technical wizardry in their own musical field but together they raise the bar of pure entertainment in a live show, so did the album capture that magic mayhem. No doubt! - Flicky Harrison