Eliza Carthy's solo debut followed a collaboration with Nancy Kerr and an album with her band, The Kings Of Calicutt. The latter remained on the shelf until after the 1996 release of HEAT LIGHT & SOUND. All the featured tunes are English, something that doubtless pleased her parents Martin Carthy and Norma Waterson, as both were champions of the genre at a time when it was overshadowed by Celtic music. This delightful set, which is entirely traditional save for one tentative original, includes a jaunty tale of deception, "Cold, Wet & Rainy Night", and a fine version of "10,000 Miles" appended by a morris jig. Other highlights are remarkably assured deliveries of two of the great Child ballads, "Sheath & Knife" and "Clark Saunders", the latter sung unaccompanied.

Waterson:Carthy is the parent/daughter/daughter team of Norma Waterson, Martin Carthy, and Eliza Carthy. Their eponymous first album was released to much acclaim in 1994. With the exception of one song apiece from Robert Burns and Ron Kavana (the latter providing words to the Texas waltz "Midnight on the Water"), and a tune from Eliza, the material is traditional. Eliza sings "The Grey Cock" unaccompanied; elsewhere accompaniment is provided by Martin on guitar or mandolin, Eliza on fiddle, and guests Nancy Kerr and Jock Tydesley also on fiddle. Norma is most memorable on the melodic "When First I Came to Caledonia." She takes lead on "Midnight on the Water," with the remainder of the family joining on the choruses and three fiddles carrying the tune. "Ye Mariners All," featuring Martin's vocal and Eliza on fiddle, conjures up memories of the great Carthy/Swarbrick partnership. All three voices combine to glorious effect on "Sleep on Beloved," an earlier variant of the song more widely known via Joseph Spence and the Incredible String band as "I Bid You Good Night." All in all, this is a splendid first recording by an excellent live act.