THE PENTANGLE

Outstading, if only a bit short, release from this folk ´supergroup´. It was the reunion of some of the best players in the field plus a new, promising singer, called Jacqui McShee. Although it seemed their manager wanted someone better known in the folk scene (rumours of Sandy Denny and Maddy Pryor being checked flew around at the time), you just had to hear the first notes of her voice on the opener Let No Man Steal Your Thyme to realise they had chosen the right vocalist.

I can only imagine the impact this album might have had at the time. It was so groundbreaking in 1968! I wonder if their mix of folk, jazz, blues, gospel and eastern sounds could ever be matched! Prog folk indeed! Those intricated arrangements, the virtuosity of all the musicians and the brilliant perfomances were very unique in the folk scene. The Pentangle members played almost only acoustic instruments all the way thru the record (a sole electric guitar was sometimes used) and they proved they need little more than that to prove they were amazing.

the production was very good for the time and the record had no fillers. If the Cd is a bit short in time (31:32), it is not in quality. This is a must have for any prog folk fan. Or music lovers in general.

I still think this debut was not as varied as their second, Sweet Child, or as brilliant as their third (and best) Basket Of Light. But it was outstandig nevertheless. A good starting point if you want to know this legendary band that had, unfortunatly, a short career in their original form. But they left quite a discography behind. Highly recommended