"A woman is a branchy tree, and a man's a clinging vine. And from her branches carelessly, he'll take what he can find."
Pentangle were an enigma during their initial (and quite stunning) run of albums from 1968 to 1972. While basically a folk-supergroup, these were certainly not your father's folk musicians. Infused with a counter-culture ethos of open experimentation inherited from psychedelia-inspired rock bands, but doing so playing primarily acoustic instruments (including traditional folk instruments), Pentangle were capable of weaving together the fragility of an Elizabethan ballad, the experimental drive of Post-Bop Jazz, and the extended peregrinations of an acid-drenched jam session all in the same song. While led by two guitar geniuses, John Renbourn and Bert Jansch, the band was anchored by a peerless rhythm section comprised of Terry Cox and Danny Thompson, and to my ears at least, Thompson's amazing stand-up bass work is the true star of these recordings. From the opening bars of their 1968 debut, The Pentangle, it is clear that the band has revisionism on its mind. In addition to a soaring lead vocal by Jacqui McShee, "Let No Man Steal Your Thyme" features some razor sharp percussive guitar twang from Jansch that, along with Cox's inventive percussive effects, takes the song far beyond its traditional origins. The Pentangle is one of the true highlights of the late-sixties British folk movement, a movement replete with great music.
The Pentangle (2001 Remastered Edition)
1. Let No Man Steal Your Thyme (2:48)
2. Bells (4:02)
3. Hear My Call (3:08)
4. Pentangling (7:15)
5. Mirage (2:02)
6. Way Behind the Sun (3:11)
7. Bruton Town (5:21)
8. Waltz (5:06)
-Bonus Tracks-
9. Koan (Alternate Version) (2:11)
10. The Wheel (Alternate Version (2:00)
11. The Casbah (Alternate Version (2:18)
12. Bruton Town (Edit 1/5/3) (5:16)
13. Hear My Call (Alternate Version) (3:19)
14. Way Behind the Sun (Alternate Version) (2:50)
15. Way Behind the Sun (Instrumental) (2:38)
So good! Thanks! Looking forward to more.
ReplyDeleteare you a fan of Fairport Convention?
ReplyDeleteLe Lapin Argent, thanks for a great great request by the way. I now feel inspired to add British folk regularly into the mix here at luna
ReplyDeletenice one thanx alot
ReplyDeletegazbosue, my pleasure!
ReplyDeleteQuality music from the period. Many thanks
ReplyDeleteAndrew52, you're welcome :)
ReplyDeleteYes, just what I've been waiting for! :)
ReplyDeleteLet's get those Fairport Convention posts rolling. ;)
Telehorse, I'm planning a massive Fairport BBC post later this week. I've got some uploading to do for that one!
ReplyDeleteI love anything along this vein. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWhy didn't I know them ... Thanks for all your recent posts ... It is great fun to follow this blog!
ReplyDeleteLe Lapin Argent, I have a huge Fairport box post in the works. I'll try to get it up later this week
ReplyDeleteIssi, I will be posting more Pentangle soon. Thanks for being such a loyal reader; I do appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteFriend, please, fix lossless link! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAnon., what is wrong with the link? It works perfectly on my end
ReplyDeleteNow, it's OK! Two days later dowloading speed was too slowly ( 10 kb p/s).I've got a light panic:)
ReplyDeleteAnon. glad to hear it- enjoy!
ReplyDelete))) Sorry. I mean: two days earlier:)Thank you very much for exellent post!
ReplyDeleteAnon. you're welcome. More Brit-Folk coming!
ReplyDelete