The words ‘Volume 2’ do not appear; but this is very much a sequel to the existing ASV collection of Coates songs performed by Brian Rayner Cook and Raphael Terroni (3/87 – since reissued at budget price). The performers and label may be different, but the recording location and producer are the same. Most particularly, there is no overlap of programmatic content.
Uncommonly for a sequel, this second collection seems to me to be every bit the equal of its predecessor in both content and performance. Richard Edgar-Wilson has a delightfully natural, free-ranging and expressive tenor voice, his words coming through with complete clarity, while Eugene Asti clearly revels in Coates’s luxurious accompaniments. Such, moreover, is the consistency of Coates’s inspiration and musicianship that, though his best-known songs are all in the ASV collection, I don’t find the selection here in any way less enjoyable. At the most obviously popular end of the spectrum The grenadier has one of those rousing Fred Weatherly lyrics after the fashion of Stonecracker John, while at the more ambitious end are some delightfully fresh Shakespeare settings, as well as the short song-cycle The mill o’dreams. The songs Because I miss you so, The fairy tales of Ireland and Music of the night strike me as particularly lovely compositions, and by way of variety the collection also includes a piece for viola and piano that Coates composed for his teacher Lionel Tertis. This gives producer Michael Ponder a chance to step into the limelight, which he richly deserves for this utterly diverting collection.'