by Rick Anderson
The second album from this young British folk-rock sextet finds them moving a bit closer to a pop/rock sound, although fiddles and acoustic guitars are still prominent. Where Hazy Daze was more jangly and tradition-based, The Lucky Few opens with the crunchy guitar anthems &Not the Man& and &Mother and Child& before lapsing into gentler (but still rhythmically and texturally potent) fare. Equation's primary attractions remain the same: first, the sumptuously hooky songwriting, and second, the crystalline vocals of Kathryn Roberts. The album is consistent enough to make picking highlights difficult, but several tunes stand out: &Not the Man& opens the album with a powerful blend of folkie tunefulness and rockish muscle; the harmony singing on &Picture the Change& is especially nice; and &Sheffield Park& is a love song that sounds centuries old. Highly recommended.