‘Synthetic Hues’ an album of classic Vin Garbutt songs plus some outstanding songs from other writers that Vin has collected. Thirteen tracks altogether, songs that you will recognise from Vin’s live performances and the odd surprise such as the famous Eric Bogle song ‘No Man’s Land’. Vin is beautifully accompanied by musicians Stewart Hardy on fiddle, multi instrumentalist Becky Taylor, Dave O’Neill on mandolin and Kristen Peacock on piano. Resulting in a full rich sound evoking feelings from anger to tenderness. Vin has always been a master at recognising the quality and promise in a song at first hearing, often at a folk club and four such songs are given the full Garbutt treatment on this album. Of course the quality of his own songs live up to expectations, cleverly crafted and heartfelt. My Eldorado/The Lass Of Cockerton/ From The Diary Of A Northumberland Miner/The Black Poplar/The Caver’s Song/If/The Kipple Bat/Teesbay/Teacher From Persia/Your welcome Was So Warm/The Falllen Of Fulstow/No Man’s Land/The College The Folk Diary UK Listening to this, his 16th album, somewhat makes up for the sad fact that Vin rarely wends his way down south to perform live, for that’s when he’s at his best. Having said that, this is an excellent collection of his own songs along with a few by fellow writers. Of the former ‘Teacher From Persia’ is a brilliant example and of the latter, he kicks off the album with a faultless version of Graeme Miles’ “My Eldorado”. In fact, the entire album is faultless, even the front cover on which he could be mistaken for one of the Hairy Bikers! Jim Marshall