This promo copy is in excellent condition throughout, especially considering its age. There are a few visible hairline scratches, but the vinyl plays beautifully with does have a lovely sheen it. Please note, that as it is a promo copy, the tracks on the album are in a different order to the tracks stated on the cover, but all the tracks are there (this seems common to evidence of other copies I have researched). The labels are great, but with a sticker ‘Sample record – not for sale’. The gatefold cover is in lovely condition. The inner is new, but the original inner is also included.

VINYL: VG+

LABEL: Ex

COVER: Ex

Side 1

1. Coming home to me
2. Railway
3. Whispering Ned
4. Sometimes
5. River boat

Side 2

1. Kalyope driver
2. Waves upon the ether
3. Dewet
4. Till the morning comes
5. Pass it on
6. Prayer

Dando Shaft was a character and title of a novel by Don Calhoun and the name was used by a 5 piece band from Coventry – Kevin Dempsey (acoustic guitar, vocals), Martin Jenkins (vocals, mandolin/fiddle/guitar), Ted Kay (Tablas, congas), Roger Bullen (Bass) and Dave Cooper (guitar, vocals). They created a unique sound based on folk roots and tremendous musical dexterity with superb compositional ability. They tended to play ‘unplugged’ but still created driving rhythms based on acoustic folk. Dando Shaft, for this their second album, added the vocal presence of Polly Bolton. Once Polly joined, with her pure and expressive vocals, the band turned into something very special indeed. This album is one of my absolute favourites, with complex music and rhythms balanced with exquisite vocals and lyrics. It is a delight and has no weak tracks. The band wrote the music themselves, rather than re-arranging traditional material, but did write the songs in a folk rock traditional style. They were also, strangely, influenced by an album of Bulgarian folk music that was played to them by John Martyn called ‘Music of Bulgaria’ on the Nonesuch label. This mixture is why, although Polly Bolton’s vocals have invited comparisons with Fairport’s Sandy Denny, really Dando Shaft’s music is absolutely unique. I cannot recommend this album highly enough, it is pure magic. It is also a very rare promo copy.