Like their previous seasonal excursions, this one sees Maddy and the Carnival Band put their unique stamp on a range of familiar (and not-so-familar) festive material, while also exploring some new and exotic directions. The Carnival Band themselves, and leader Andy Watts in particular, are accomplished musicians with a lust to restore energy into much of the stiff, dry, medieval and renaissance material they tackle. They mix ancient, modern and ethnic instrumentation with a refreshingly cavalier attitude and plenty of humour, a quality they share with Maddy Prior.