Five sea shanties arranged by Alan Danson, each presented with a little twist. The clarinet provides a stomach lurching rolling motion in Blow the Man Down while bended tones on the cor anglais and bassoon provide a quasi queasiness to the arrangement. Set in a stoic march mood The Mermaid has the members in antiphonal fanfares at the close of the setting, along with the occasional (intended) mis-pitched flattened 7th on the Clarinet, while 'Drunken sailor' is given an up tempo treatment with horn call references to the chase. Bobby Shaftoe is in true dancing mood, with a beguine feel to the middle section before ending the shanty with toe tapping togetherness.
