No 2571, Sunday 07 Feb 10

ACROSS
1 - Naval musical set round river, Italian one (8) – MA{R}{IT}{I}ME
5 - Wine bar round 'East End' of Oslo (6) – {BAR}{O}{(-os)LO}
9 - Cape and bag to despatch (5,3) – {LAND}{S END}
10 - Charge exorbitantly for wool (6) – FLEECE [DD]
12 - Fellow importing Ecstasy, low in price (5) – CH{E}AP
13 - Measure criticism after cart overturned (9) – {YARD<-}{STICK}
14 - The plane flying close up, makes out large sea creature (8,4) – {ELEPHANT*} {SEAL}

18 - Feasts, at noon, prepared quite frequently (2,5,2,3) – AS OFTEN AS NOT*
21 - Remarkable things - father describes small number collected by macho types (9) – P{HE{NO}MEN}A
23 - German city judge? (5) – TRIER [DD]
24 - A hardy grass from an Indonesian island, reportedly (6) – BARLEY(~bali)

25 - Taking a great deal of interest? (8) – USURIOUS [CD]
26 - They always agree sheikh's head in Red Sea republic (3,3) – YE{S} MEN
27 - Envoy has girl in the course of disrupted (8) – E{MISS}A{RY} Anno pending
DOWN
1 - Evil intent shown by male over girl (6) – {M}{ALICE}
2 - Forestry official in rage after third of fires (6) – {R}{ANGER}
3 - Airman to let Spit loose (4,5) – TEST PILOT*
4 - Very lucrative enterprise producing brass top (5-7) – {MONEY}-{SPINNER}
6 - Ballistic missile finally losing tail (5) – ATLAS(-t)

7 - Short joke about English passenger ship (3-5) – {ON}{E}-{LINER}
8 - Excessive action concerning quarry (8) – {OVER}{KILL}
11 - Inhalant supplied to order? (6,6) – FRIARS BALSAM Had to google search this
15 - Booked acts alternated (4,5) – {TOOK} {TURNS}
16 - Rays seen here in Florida? (5,3) – TAMPA BAY [CD]
17 - Delicacy got from fair goes off (4,4) – FOIE GRAS*
19 - Ammo is moved about in sensitive plant (6) – MIMOSA* Also know as 'Touch me not', was fascinated by it as a kid by this plant.

20 - Cocksure supporters, extremely stroppy (6) – {BRAS}{S}{Y}
22 - Honours European, extremely fat (5) – {OBES}{E}

GRID