Fate had a good day at the office when it introduced the performing Darren Morrissey to stage invader Greg Marshall a decade ago - that old Dublin put-down "It's funny how they all meet' turned on its head to do the heart good.
As will their aptly-titled second album, which moves on from the 'folk 'n' roll' one-liner of M&M's debut with brass, backing vocalists and plenty of notions-free swagger. The latter really isn't a problem when you have songs to back it up.
In punchy state-of-the world address Cold November Sunrise, ditch-the-gadgets rallying call Beautiful World and ballad I Need You the duo have come back with three gems from the mines.
They should have left the cop show-meets-Kasabian of Play On back down there, but it's the only disappointment on a record that enhances the pair's craftsman credentials, and suggests that guns-for-hire nixers for bigger names could be a nice little earner.
