Lucy Ward, now 23, has changed her hair colour and image, and proves to be an even more mature and thoughtful singer-songwriter than she was on Adelphi Has to Fly, her much-praised debut album from two years ago. This followup is a brooding, often angry set that deals with everything from politics to love, death and personal tragedy, with a couple of powerful traditional songs added in. Again, the production is by Stu Hanna of Megson fame, who adds guitar, banjo, fiddle and keyboards to Ward's dark, considered vocals, guitar and concertina work. She sets the mood with I Cannot Say I Will Not Speak, which tackles the failure of 1960s idealism, and returns to political issues with For the Dead Men. The sense of impending disaster is heightened by her own Icarus and the menacing treatment of the traditional Lord I Don't Want to Die in the Storm. Impressive and original.