Sex, Sca & Sedition Various Artists Free State Records

Hailing from Cork can entail great relish in the melodious sound of one's own voice, but hark this cautionary coalition of stout Corkonians singing comic ballads. Some sentiments fly in the face of prevailing tastes: Gus McLaughlin's reactionary take on today's young women ("lovesick baboons"), or Jerry O'Neil's queasy skit of the Queen belching on Ger Mac's crubeens. Not to be outdone, the only songstress, Mairin Ui Lionaird, gives us Briste Bill (Bill Clinton's pants), while other easy targets include Charlie Haughey, Mammonlust, "heritage" tourism, Fianna Fail (too gentle), people who don't listen to musicians, de Millinnium, and Viagra ("the pill made down in Cork"). Every man jack has a very effective lilting voice - all pregnant with prejudice, and proud of it.

Mic Moroney