HOW could anybody fail to be impressed by this album? It features 25 tracks by some of the most gifted songwriters and musicians currently treading the country's (indeed, the world's) boards. It' s a double CD selling at the bargain price of only £18. And, as though those weren't reasons enough, all the proceeds go to the Teenage Cancer Trust. Sufficiently compelling reasons for anybody, surely. This second volume comes almost exactly two years after the release of the first. Volume one succeeded in raising more than £11,000 for the charity, which provides the sort of facilities for teenage cancer patients that are all too sadly lacking in the majority of hospitals. When I reviewed that album in The (Croydon) Post I commented: "Not only are you virtually guaranteed to find something you like, you'll be putting your money to a brilliant cause". Those words are, if possible, even more true of Volume Two. Every track here is either live or specially recorded and, as with the first, it's the generosity of all the artists that has made it possible. So, to the music - well, it encompasses every colour, and some, of the folk-rock spectrum, from the unaccompanied voices of Phil Beer and Deb Sandland on "The lady of the well"; the sheer melodic beauty of the instrumental "My heart's in New South Wales" from the fiddle of the mighty Dave Swarbrick and guitar of Kevin Dempsey; solo singer/songwriters are represented by Ralph McTell, Vikki Clayton and Steve Tilston; there's the grand orchestral sweep of "For the children" by Peter Knight and Tom Leary; and, if you like the emphasis on the second element of folk-rock, there are contributions from the Andy Guttridge Band, Little Johnny England, The Albion Band and even a metal(ish) reading of "Matty Groves" by Fairport Convention with a telling flute contribution from Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson. One of the genuine surprises to sneak up on the listener is a fantastic, sensitive reading of Jimi Hendrix's "Little wing" by the Ric Sanders Group with guest Rick Wakeman sitting in on keys. Other highlights include songs by Show of Hands, Waterson:Carthy, e2K, Richard Thompson and Chris While & Julie Matthews - but everybody who chipped in is a star and there really isn't a bad track on the album. In my earlier review, one of the Heart of England organisers, South Norwood-based Steve Sheldon said: "Every single artist that I phoned said 'Yes' straight away. There wasn't a moment's hesitation." The same's been true for Volume Two and I'd recommend no hesitation in buying an outstanding collection of great songs and great playing that really does have its heart in the right place. Compilation album of the year by a clear country (folk) mile.