Never mind the name - Hobotalk is nowhere as "ugly" as their name sounds but in fact their CD is truly a "beauty in madness" for being mad enough to have a name such as Hobotalk and yet sound simply beautiful. Released under Hut (Virgin) label, not easily found and I had to "beg" a friend to buy it from London and hand delivered it to my exotic far-flung abode. The Scottish quartet's mastermind, Marc Pilley, who wrote all the songs, acoustic guitarist and lead vocalist has a voice that is reminiscent of a young James Taylor i.e soft and delicate. Wait till you see his picture - it belies the voice ie almost a "skinhead" with a cowboy hat! His main influences being American icons such as Kris Kristofferson and Glen Campbell……..but wait a minute, the good news is, he doesn't write or sound like them! The album doesn't quite jolt you, it never goes beyond a "flatline" but if you listen carefully though, then you would appreciate the guitar strings and the delicate voice of Marc Pilley with his romantic lyrics and sweet tunes. Only then, would you realise that you are actually listening to 10 different songs and each one has its own subtle nuances. The songs evoke images of being in the vast country expanse, rolling hills, winding country roads and being with the person you love or being alone, mulling over something. The album is a journey in itself where one has to listen to it from the beginning to the end at one sitting as the music flows through from one song to the next like a gentle wave rolling onto a soft sandy beach……..it is not an album to pick out singles, it is a total album. Obviously, they are not interested in selling loads of record, as the album is totally uncommercialised and being Scottish, it makes them the perfect fodder for Rainsound music.