THE JOHN RENBOURN GROUP: A MAID IN BEDLAM

After the 1973 breakup of the legendary British Folk Rock band PENTANGLE, the other guitarist of them, John Renbourn, was in no hurry to release further solo albums. In 1976 came the guitar-only album The Hermit, and one year later this work poignantly credited to The John Renbourn Group. What's especially delightful about A Maid in Bedlam is the presence of the Pentangle songbird Jacqui McShee. Other members are Tony Roberts on vocals, flute, recorder, piccolo and oboe, Sue Draheim on fiddle and vocals and Keshave Sathe on tabla and finger cymbals.

This is a purebred Folk album, with pieces of traditional origins. Tabla is of course an Eastern percussion instrument, but it hardly distances the music from the Renaissance era oriented Englishness. The opener 'Black Waterside' is a traditional tune recorded by several British folk artists. Jacqui's lead vocals flow as beautifully as ever, and the instrumentation has a sincere Old Music feel to it, with especially recorder catching the ear. 'Nacht Tanz / Shaeffertanz' is a joyful, danceable instrumental. You can almost see a Renaissance faire in your mind. The album's title track has a nice melody very typical for traditional songs focusing on telling a story. Next comes another instrumental medley, credited to some Hans Neuseidler, followed by a well known trad. tune 'John Barleycorn'. This orthodox folk version is quite far from the Traffic version which I admit preferring. 'Reynardine' is also interpreted by many folk rock artists. Male backing vocals accompany Jacqui. It is however her solo vocal numbers such as 'My Johnny Was a Shoemaker' that will most please me and undoubtedly other Pentangle listeners. On 'Death and the Lady' Jacqui is only a bit later joining male voices.

The closing number 'Talk About Suffering' is an a cappella performance for four voices, although some fiddle is added on the background -- for no point if you ask me. Slightly resembling Steeleye Span's 'Gaudete', this is among the highlights on a rather brief and, well, a bit single-minded album lacking of happy surprises in either the sound or the song selection. But if you want to have some real Renaissance era Folk music without a rock flavour for change, and are fond of Jacqui McShee's crsytalline voice, this album with a beautiful cover art is surely worth having.