Search - Pentangle :: The Pentangle

One of the great British folk albums

BENJAMIN MILER | Veneta, Oregon | 11/16/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I remember checking out an old LP of this in 1993 from a public library and I find this nothing short of amazing. This album was released before Steeleye Span even existed and Fairport Convention was still a West Coast-sounding folk-rock group with Judy Dyble instead of Sandy Denny, and yet this album bears more than a striking resemblance to Steeleye Span, except bluesier and jazzier, with all acoustic instruments (instead of electric like Steeleye Span). Vocalist Jacqui McShee sings in a soprano that seems like an obvious influence on Steeleye Span's Maddy Prior. While folk purists would not complain that the Pentangle's debut was too electrical, they would complain about the about jazz and blues included in their style, so this is truly recommended for the more open-minded folks who don't mind outside styles being incorporated. I have to admit some of the songs are rather dorky with some really laughable lyrics, such "Way Behind the Sun" ("Well, I'm going back baby/way behind the sun/I'm gonna find me some honey/I might just bring you some"), but there are some really great songs here like "Let No Man Steal Your Thyme", "Pentangling", "Waltz", "Bruton Town". "Bruton Town" sounds exactly like Steeleye Span, except all acoustic, which means their music seems to owe a lot to the Pentangle's, apparently. Especially since the vocals of Bert Jansch seems to remind me a whole lot of Tim Hart's. So if you can imagine the likes of Steeleye Span going completely acoustic with jazz and blues thrown in as well, you're sure to dig this album. I have heard the Pentagle's followup, Sweet Child, but I just don't remember that one being as good as their debut."

Nice start.

kireviewer | Sunnyvale, Ca United States | 09/19/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I rewrote my review. I was way too harsh the first time. I feel bad, because I got 4 people who agreed with me.



This album is very nice start. The sound is a little rough and raw, but that is good thing here. There are also some very beautiful parts.



The original album is only 33 minutes long. With this remastered version you get the remastered version, it some really nice bonus tracks (and some not so nice). This CD is now 53 minutes long.



The reason I was so harsh the first time is that there are times when McShee drones on, like on Hear My Call, Burton Town, and especially Way Behind the Sun. The songs sound very good in 20 second sound bites, but can be too much over 3 minutes. Way Behind the Sun is just 3 minutes of McShee dragging out lyrics. I was listening to this CD repeatedly, and playing it in the background while I read or did other things. My mind fixated on McShee's vocals, especially since I have the remastered version, with the bonus tracks, and all 3 songs are repeated twice.



So, after not playing this CD for awhile, I put it in my car stereo and was able to listen to the whole thing carefully and found that it was mostly very enjoyable. There is some remarkable playing and singing on the CD.



Normally, I really like McShee's vocals. Reflection is one of my favorite songs, that I play over and over. For some reason, her vocals just grated on me on this CD.



"

One star deducted for sound

Craig Weatherby | Waltham, MA USA | 10/27/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"To my ears, the first three Pentangle albums--titled Pentangle, Sweet Child, and Basket of Light--represent the band's apogee. This first album is great, and gets 4 stars instead of 5 because the sound is rather cold/thin, and because Sweet Child is their best album. I don't reallyagree with the other reviewer who liked the bonus cuts better. Great to have 'em, but ....
After Basket of Light (their 3rd album), Pentangle began to focus much more on traditional songs--and, for some odd reason, they abandoned their trademark jazz-inflected approach to trad songs, and began to render them in a rather stiff fashion--a sad shift from the band's early originality and verve. This trend was interrupted by isolated tunes on Cruel Sister, Solomon's Seal, and Reflections--exceptions that make these last three albums worth pursuing, but not essential."