This particular set of Monkeys is a young trio from Cornwall, who play fiddle, guitar, whistle and bass. They have built their reputation the hard way, slogging around the British and European circuit and, more recently, working as support band for the Levellers. This is the band's first high-profile release, an introduction to their varied and stirring acoustic style. There's a bit of everything here, from a stomping political ballad about the surveillance society, Paranoid Big Brother, to the north African influence of Monkey and the Slippers or the slinky cabaret waltz of the title track. Even their less original songs are transformed by the outstanding fiddle work of Athene Roberts, who can switch effortlessly from Celtic or Gypsy styles to a more thoughtful approach. The Monkeys look like good-time buskers, and I suspect they sound even better playing live. It's no surprise that they have been booked for almost every major summer festival, from Glastonbury to Cropredy and Cambridge.