TIME

Several factors converged in 1996 to "Time" a favorable reception from critics and fans alike. First, it was the first STEELEYE SPAN album in since 1988's "Tempted and Tried", so it was long overdue and most welcome. While the band had been touring through most of the interim, having new material to promote always rallies the enthusiasm of supporters. Second, it marked Gay Woods' first album with the group in over a quarter century, and Steeleye suddenly had two frontwomen. Third, it featured several powerful cuts, namely "The Prickly Bush" (though it does drag somewhat); "the Old Maid in the Garrett/Tam Lin, IMO the best thing they EVER did, with its almost countryish verses, hilarious wordplay, an a fierce jam to close it out, oh my; and "Corbies".

Unfortunately, a dispassionate look behind the curtain is more troubling. The choice of material is a bit predictable, in particular the overdone "The Water is Wide" and the nonetheless well executed "The Elf-Knight". About the half the songs are placed on a redlining rack to make the whole a respectable CD length, when they aren't even engrossing enough to justify outlasting an egg timer, for example "Harvest of the Moon" thru "Go from my Window", "You will Burn" and "The Song will remain".

In spite of weaknesses that are obvious in retrospect, this is still good enough to lightly eclipse 2.5 stars, and significant enough to be rounded up. No wonder I was underwhelmed by the new material when I saw the touring group in 1997. Be selective with your time on this one.