THE BLACK SWAN

In what I believe is the late Bert Jansch's last recorded album, Black Swan, is as good as anything he has produced in the sixties and seventies, and is light years above his highly vaunted "return to form" album, 1995's When The Circus Comes To Town. The Black Swan is everything that When The Circus Comes To Town was not . Whatever it is that inspires gifted artists to raise their game was definitely evident on this album as Jansch's songwriting is once again stellar and his guitar playing, though still a bit restrained, is as impressive as ever with Jansch occasionally but briefly taking off in flights of fancy that come to close to Flamenco styles runs along with his ever present percussive string pops and his basic ability to sound like a guitarist born with an extra hand.

Jansch's voice shows only a sliver of hoarseness, which is amazing considering the abuse he had put it through. Indeed, it makes songs like the title track even more heartfelt with his world weary delivery

The title track is also the album's lead off song and it's one of Jansch's best. Just Bert and his guitar explaining about the hopelessness of space travelers searching for a new home. The Black Swan is their vehicle, and the planet they have escaped is no logner habitable. (Earth in the future?). A beautifully mournful cello accompanies this song along with ominous percussion that sounds off in the song's coda.

High Days is a Jansch remembrance song of a long ago love that brilliantly features just Bert and his guitar.

When The Sun Comes Up is a Jansch original song by guest vocalist Beth Orten, who has a beautiful voice with a slight hoarseness similar to Janschs' and it complements his own very well, especially on the traditional song Watch The Stars, which is song as a duet and is an old Pentangle standard that was originally sung by Pentangle member and past Jansch solo collaborator, the late great John Renbourn.

Jansch also resurrects his signature Pentangle song A Woman Like You which is infinitely more soulful and heartfelt this time around, and is given a country lilt thanks to a change in the song's arrangement by Jansch.

Bring Your Religion and Texas Cowboy Blues give Jansch a chance to rock out with a full rhythm section and deft slide guitar work from guest player Richard Wood. Both songs also give Jansch a chance to be topical, especially on Texas Cowboy Blues, which is an unabashed swipe at the then presiding Bush policies regarding the Iraq invasion.

Madellina's Dance is a banjo duet with Jansch and guest player Paul Wasif that also features flute from guest Maggie Boyle. It's not the best instrumental that I've ever heard forn Jansch but it's a good set up for closing track Hey Pretty Girl. Another quality Jansch original featuring just Bert and guitar performing the the guitar wizardry stated in my opening. Great stuff and a wonderful return to form from one the greatest, and deeply missed, acoustic guitar masters. 4 stars.

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