At first blush, this might seem to be of interest only to the curiosity-seeker or the Delius specialist (like myself). Still, when an artist of the taste and sophistication of a Felicity Lott undertakes to record these songs, many other are well-advised, and indeed well-rewarded, in listening to them. The charge has been leveled, I believe by Auden, that Delius had the most dubious literary taste of any modern composer except Schoenberg, and while that is a trifle arch, there is some sense to it. Some of these texts do lean to the epicene (e.g. "Silken shoes" and "In the garden of the seraglio"), and Delius does, so-to-put, write down to them. On the other hand, "Irmelin Rose" and Verlaine's oft-set "Il pleure dans mon coeur" are very apt and effective. The sininging is generally on a high level, as is the piano-playing. As to the latter, this sould be no surprise, as the artist is Eric Fenby, Delius' faithful amanuensius and biographer, who remained active to an extraordinary age. That being granted, I found mezzo Sarah Walker a little prone to over-singing, pushing the parlando rubato style and the fluid dynamics a little too wide for my taste. Throughout this disc I found myself recalling Lady Bracknell's dictum: "French songs I cannot possibly allow: they always sound improper". One wonders what she would have said about the Scandinavians! There is a curious bonus here of three piano Preludes and a polka "Zum Carnival", played by Eric Parkin. Texts are supplied, and the reording is good, though lean ing a little toward favouring the piano: a persistent vice among English productions. ( )