The Five Seasons
by William RuhlmannFairport Convention's 17th studio album in 22 years finds them a competent, craftsmanlike unit led by Simon Nicol, who has developed into a strong singer. If they never aspire to the heights achieved with more impressive lineups, they nevertheless continue to find traditional and new material that suits them, sometimes by turning to newest members Ric Sanders and Martin Allcock, who are accomplished instrumentalists.