BELOW THE SALT

Steeleye Span has been one of my favourite bands since I was fifteen years old and moved back to Stockholm after living in Kalmar for two years. I had listen to Swedish Progg and now I began searching in the folk rock genre. Steeleye Span was love from the first sight. At the time of this album's release in 1972 Steeleye Span had developed their sound to a new level in many people's eyes. I still claim "Please to see the King" a masterpiece but with this album they gained more recognition from their public. The singers here are Tim Hart (also guitar, tabor) and Maddy Prior ? an old team, Peter Knight plays mandolin, banjo, violin and piano, Rick Kemp plays bass and Bob Johnson plays guitar.

This record contains marvelous compositions, every track is awesome. "Spotted cow" is the first track, a lovely song about a cow which has disappeared. "Rose Bud in June" is another lovely thing with great vocals as usual. Thereafter a traditional jig with electric style, a dancable composition with edge and then comes "Sheep-Crook and Black dog" a dark folk song with different section. It's a dramatic work. "Royal Forester"gives us the typical Steeleye Span mood with a great bass, crying violins and a happy vocal line. The "King Henry" is a long and powerful progressive folk song, very traditional and very strong. "Gaudete" is not Steeleye Span's best song but their most famous- a latin vers which feels magic and religious in a good way. "John Barleycorn" is a nice folk song and "Saucy Sailor" is another of SS:s best and most lyrical and harmonic pieces. It contains fantastic instrumentation and vocals.

There is nothing less good on this album. I adore it totally. This is perhaps not the most progressive band on this site but still one of the best bands so you must try it. It's a lovely blend of traditional English folk music and rock, and yes the mixture is progressive. This is also a good start record if you want to try Steeleye Span. Don't begin with "Al around my hat" if you are a prog head, that is a very popularized stuff while this record "Below the Salt" it's pure and amazing Steeleye Span music. Highly recommended!