PLEASE TO SEE THE KING

Please to see the King is the folk rockers Steeleye Span's second record and in my opinion their first really great one. And yes I think this is progressive rock. Steeleye Span combined ancient folk songs with rock music in a unique way. That is progressive. Fairport Convention were also great but their music lie nearer the american folk rock wave, this is totally british. What I have allways loved so much with this band is the dominant melodic bass and (on the first records) the lack of drums. They had a very clear and fantastic sound which made these folk songs very exciting.

"The Blacksmith" welcomes us with Maddy Prior's extraordinary voice and Ashley Hutchings great bass in this wonderful melody. "Cold, haily, windy night" is a love dialogue between a man and a woman and is one of my favourites on this record. Then comes a pure folk song and another not very spectacular song and then "Boys of Bedlam" - an amazing, joyfull och medieval song. The band proves they all are great singers for exampel in "The King" and that they could make fantastic melodies as in "Female drummer". The best song here is though "Lovely on the water", also the most progressive one. This is a beautiful, female sung piece which catches the listener and makes him weak. The voices of Maddy Prior and Tim Hart (VIF/RIP) match each other perfectly and are very personal. Amongst Steeleye Spans twenty records this is the first I got and also my favourite. If you just dare to try one song, try "Lovely on the water" or "The Blacksmith". I won't critizise the fellows rating this album low, they are allowed to have their opinion ? I have mine own and it's enough.

The sound of the bass and voices mixed together in an ancient rock way makes me shiver and I like it. Music can't be much better than this!