Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Whatever your instrument, whatever your musical weapon of choice, it must be played with love, and by doing so the expertise and inspiration will inevitably follow.

The focus has seemingly always been on the guitar, easy to understand why as it does give a superhuman like effect when played dangerously cool or whimsically fashionable, however, other instruments do not lazily idle their time away, hoping that the guitar will have its day and slope off to the sun in blissful retirement; instead they find that special person to whom calls out with unheard ideas and gives them what they desire, an outlet to inspire and inflame the passions of all who will follow their every note.

Peter Croft and the accordion, a match made in a instrumental heaven, full of life, vigour and passion, there is in the listener’s ears a moment where it all floods in, overwhelming the senses and raising a smile to which the collection of Old Time, Bluegrass and Western Swing is given more than resonance in the album Button Box Breakdown, it is given the halo of respect.

The combination of American and Celtic styles has always been one to catch the ear, it speaks volumes and whispers to the ghosts who laid the musical foundations of a new spirit that the charm of pieces will forever be enjoyed and marvelled at. With the choice of tracks that inhabit the album all being of extreme discerning quality, there is only the belief of sitting back and letting each reel and foot-taping moment grab by the scruff of the neck and taking yourself on a voyage of discovery.

Across such standards as Done Gone, New Oklahoma Rag, Creole Rag, Scotland and Caterpillar Valley/Speed the Plough, and with Mark Jones on guitar and Hazel Fairbairn on fiddle and viola, Peter Croft brings such a sweet song of inspiring craftsmanship to the front line of expression that the listener cannot but feel the tweak of their heart as the strings that are attached to the mind play in time to the sober extravagance of the keys being played.

A remarkable album of time, a pleasure always being found when dealt with by one with love in their heart.

Ian D. Hall