A MAID DEEP IN LOVE

This compilation seemed to be released for folk fans only. Pentangle's mix of traditional folk, blues, jazz and baroque music is hardly heard here at all. Like the Cruel Sister album, this is basicly a collection of reworked traditional songs from europe and USA played by a less inspired Pentangle: all very well done and all, but lacking the sparks that usually made their albums so interesting and varied, even if you're not really a fan of both jazz and blues (like in my case).

Besides, the selection was not one of the most clever either. Many of their best perfomances in the tradtional folk field are not here, let alone their most daring ones (like the side long version of Jack Orion). And clocking on just 38:30 the CD version could and should have included some bonus tracks to justify its simply reissue. This is not to say the selection is bad: the title track, Cruel Sister and Omie Wise are simply great examples of how good the original Pentangle was. However, those tracks do not do justice to the band's greatness and uniqueness. They were better and bigger than what's been shown here. You better save the money to get the Basket Of Light album or a more diversified compilation.

Conclusion: good, but not essential in any way. Only for the folk purists.