GOTTLE O' GEER

Perhaps because of their considerable influence and the highly respected artists passing through their ranks, Fairport Convention has tended to receive more than their fair share of accolades relative to the actual quality and standalone appeal of their work. This is especially true when you consider the enduring high standards of peers like Steeleye Span, Spirogyra, Strawbs, Horslips and Lindisfarne among others. The tendency to overrate Fairport does not, however, extend to this awful effort from 1976, which even die-hards cannot endorse. It makes the backsliding works of the aforementioned groups seem brilliant by comparison.

I suppose one could cut them some slack given that the group had just splintered and the remnants were left with a contractual obligation, but it would help if they at least sounded like they were trying to do something, even appeal to a certain audience or get a hit single. In other words, "Gottle O'Geer" just sounds apathetic and lazy, which is perhaps the biggest sin for an artist, and cannot be excused. It also registers absolute 0 on the prog-o-meter, and the style of playing is very dated for a folk rock band. Every point (that is, both of them) takes forever to get across, with only "When First into this Country" reaching competency level.

Truly for collectors only.