It’s not altogether clear, but certainly if next year’s Christmas TV schedules includes one of those list programs called “BRITAIN’S 50 FAVOURITE WAYS TO COMMIT COMMERCIAL SUICIDE IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS”, it’s not unlikely that the top 3, in reverse order would be “Be a Chicory Tip tribute band”, “Do a cover version of Little Jimmy Osmond’s ‘Long-haired lover from Liverpool’” and “Make an album of British country music”.

So to the unmistakeable sound of careers crashing ignominiously to the floor around us, we are forced to announce that a group of British musicians of impeccable pedigree, with dues duly paid many times over, and known as TURNER WEST have released an album of, yes, well, rather Nashville-type stuff.

After that, if you are still with us in the fourth paragraph, you are no doubt one of a select group, and very welcome. TURNER WEST are David “Dzal” Martin, Phil Rynhart and Barry Owen. Their collective biogs won’t fit on this page, but you find out most of what you need to know at www.morsongs.com.

What you can also find there are the twelve tracks that make up their first album with this line-up. They are an unashamed reflection of their admiration of the luminaries of what, for want of a more accurate definition, we can call “new country” – Vince Gill, Brooks & Dunn, Dwight Yoakam, Lyle Lovett, Kenny Chesney, Faith Hill et al, who for those enlightened souls who manage not to harbour the prejudices noted above, produce some of the best contemporary music around.

If you heard a TURNER WEST track on Nick Barraclough’s admirable Radio 2 show, and didn’t know it was recorded rather closer to the Thames than the Tennessee river, chances are you’d think that you were being introduced to the latest output of Music Row’s finest. And let’s not forget that most of those folk sell albums a million at a time.

TURNER WEST’s big break may well come when one of the above-mentioned luminaries records one of their songs, and has a big U.S. hit with it. Until it does, for the moment you can be first to discover them and spread the word.