A very mixed bag, but then that’s what samplers are about. Various Artists’ Local Musicians Music is an initiative aiming to expose up-and-coming or largely unknown songwriters of any genre, to promote their work and try to get radio play. A kind of un-funded Kiwi Hits Disc concept.

This idea was born in Thames and is being curated by Shirley Howe. ‘Vol. 2’ certainly houses a mix of styles – there’s country-ish tunes from LA Thompson, Kerryn and the brilliant Cowboys On TV from Craig Robertson, a section winner at the National Country Music Awards last year. My Angel is a lovely ballad from Brett Howes (sung by a female), and the very funky R’n’B of Never Meant To Be by Emilie proves one of the highlights. Another strong inclusion is Shooting You Up from Coral Pitcher, a smoky Gin Wigmore-type number that invites further looking up of this artist… It’s all soloists apart from the blues / rock / ‘bring it’ vibe of Frankencopter (pretty tame on this recording – undoubtedly better live); a white reggae-ish number from Eric Janssen, who’s clearly played around the traps, and an eventually-gets-to-Joe Satriani finish from Chris Barclay on I Won’t Fade.