SO EARLY IN THE SPRING

In the afterglow of hearing the freshly revitalized group on "In the Round", I at first considered this follow up to be its equal, modern jazz tinged folk with heaping helpings of "cool". But the songs lack both the immediate and lasting appeal of those on the predecessor. The melodies are weaker, the tempos too constant from song start to finish, the vocals dispirited, and the choice of material uninspired.

"Reynardine" and the overlong "Baron of Brackley" both highlight the disc's weaknesses, but even the title cut, notwithstanding excellent bass work, and "Lassie Gathering Nuts", while strong vocal performances by MacShee, never emerge from their stupor. This is a style CLANNAD worked better even during their own declining period. "Eminstra" and "Lucky Black Cat" are probably the best of the lot, the first a jangly instrumental and the second a better than average stab at acoustic blues.

Overall, this one seems to have escaped too early in the spring, before its participants had emerged from their winter slumber. Perhaps Pentangle's weakest album.