What do Cornwall and folk music have in common? Well, the Cornish music scene is traditionally recognised for its folk output, and the music is generally noted for its Celtic influences. This is evident in the latest folk hero Seth Lakeman’s output, with the use of traditional instruments setting him apart from his many contemporaries. After his prestigious Mercury Music Prize nomination in 2005, Seth’s popularity has risen ten-fold, with people outside of Cornwall taking notice.

‘Lady Of The Sea’ isn’t Seth’s best moment to date, but for those unfamiliar with his music, it’s a fantastic place to start. Instead of alienating the listener with overwhelming outbursts of anomalous Cornish folk, ‘Lady Of The Sea’ combines soaring-pop with traditional folk – an alluring combination of genres to a broad-minded listener. The fiddle-laden instrumentation adds a nice touch to the distinctive pop vocals, all set to the beat of adventurously paced percussion. It’s not for everyone, but anyone familiar with the latest folk revival will enjoy this for what it is – a rousing, genre-crossing, valiant effort from a rising star in the folk scene, clarifying why he was nominated for The Mercury last year.

This is the sound of folk’s latest hero, and what a remarkable sound it is.