Edward II - my love the horizontal polka, 1991

"My Love (The Horizontal Polka)" fits their pattern of mixing traditional elements with modern or whimsical twists. The "horizontal polka" phrase itself is a colloquial euphemism, adding a layer of humor or innuendo, which aligns with the band's creative approach."

Edward II - miles away, 1991

"Some ideas lead you to wonder why nobody thought of them before, while you wonder why anybody thought of other ideas at all. Edward II's fusion of British folk dance and Morris music with reggae is definitely in the latter category, but the result is genuinely fun. Rees Wesson's accordion and Jon Moore's fiddle fit right in with Alton Zebby's slapped reggae percussion and the lively brass section. As with Edward II's other releases, there are some intermittently interesting straightforward reggae cuts on Wicked Men, but things only get really interesting when the band starts playing with folk influences. The last two cuts, the Morris dance tune "Shepherd's Hey" and the rocked-up folk lament "List for a Sailor," are the best tracks on the album, and both received limited airplay when the album was released."

Edward II And The Red Hot Polkas - pomp and pride, 1989

"The band formed in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire in 1980, in order to play for monthly dances at The Victory Club. Founder members Lizzy Howe-Pellant (melodeon) and Dion Cochrane (tenor banjo) were joined by Paul Burgess, Floss Headford and John Gill (fiddles), Martin Brinsford (sax) and Dave Haines (melodeon and concertina), and bringing in Richard Valentine on piano and as caller. It ran for a year or so in that form."

Edward II - ragbag, 2016

"On Friday 19 February 2016, English roots musical collective Edward II release ‘Manchester’s Improving Daily’, a collection of rare and historic songs, known as the Manchester Broadside Ballads, dating back over 200 years to the Industrial Revolution."

Edward II And The Red Hot Polkas - two step to heaven, 1989

"The ever great Edward the Second and the Red Hot Polkas formed in the mid-1980s and their music was a combination between reggae, folk and polka. In fact, polka and folk have things in common, but not in their English hometown of Gloucester, and reggae has nothing to do with either Gloucester, polka or folk."

Edward II And The Red Hot Polkas - lovers two step, 1989

"Edward II (known also as EII, and previously as Edward the Second and the Red Hot Polkas and e2K) are an English band which play a fusion of world music, English folk and reggae. Active from 1980, the band broke up after losing several key members in 1999, relaunching as "e2K" in 2000. In 2003, the band dissolved once more, but have since reformed for a one-year reunion tour in 2009 under the "Edward II" name, celebrating the tenth anniversary of the breakup of the original band. They reformed in 2015 specifically to produce the Manchester's Improving Daily project, which includes the release of new recorded material and a book. The project is designed to celebrate a collection of tunes written in Manchester during the Industrial Revolution, published as Broadsides and currently held in Manchester Central Library. In 2021 Edward II released the album "Dancing Tunes", bringing their own unique style to a collection of traditional and historic Jamaican calypso and mento songs that pre-date reggae as we know it today."