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Joined: July 29 2005
Location: None
Status: Offline
Points: 24391
Posted: July 04 2010 at 15:13
You could do worse than start with Basket of Light (read my review of it if you like), which is a real masterpiece. However, all the albums up to Solomon's Seal are worth getting. In my humble opinion, Pentangle are way better than either Steeleye Span or Fairport Convention (though I like both these bands quite a bit), and, if the rumours about their getting back together are true, I can't wait to see them live.
Joined: May 23 2010
Location: Pa. USA
Status: Offline
Points: 40
Posted: July 05 2010 at 12:22
Basket Of Light is the best of the individual albums (it's close though!) but if you're willing to go the compilation route, Light Flight is an excellent two-disc set. I believe it's OOP but it shouldn't be too hard to find at the usual outlets that sell used CD's.
Joined: July 03 2010
Location: Coho Country
Status: Offline
Points: 1302
Posted: July 05 2010 at 20:21
Just finished listening to the Basket of Light. Hauntingly beautiful. Just about brought tears to my eyes. I've been listening to too much neo-prog and prog/metal lately. Sure nice to hear some acoustic textures. There is such a thing as serenity. Thanx for the recommendations.
Joined: May 23 2010
Location: Pa. USA
Status: Offline
Points: 40
Posted: July 05 2010 at 20:34
cannon wrote:
Just finished listening to the Basket of Light. Hauntingly beautiful. Just about brought tears to my eyes. I've been listening to too much neo-prog and prog/metal lately. Sure nice to hear some acoustic textures. There is such a thing as serenity. Thanx for the recommendations.
Well done. Pentangle can be very addicting but it's a good kind of addiction. I'm sure you'll check out their other stuff too now that you've familiarized yourself with Basket of Light.
Basket of Light...definitely. I like Reflections though. Especially the song Reflections. Don't forget to bend an ear to Reflections. It contains the same diversity as Cruel Sister and Soloman's Seal but maybe darker for some reason. I don't know....there is something different about the effort. I've always enjoyed it.
Joined: March 15 2010
Location: Schnitzelland
Status: Offline
Points: 4675
Posted: July 06 2010 at 13:01
cannon wrote:
Just finished listening to the Basket of Light. Hauntingly beautiful. Just about brought tears to my eyes. I've been listening to too much neo-prog and prog/metal lately. Sure nice to hear some acoustic textures. There is such a thing as serenity. Thanx for the recommendations.
Awwww! ^__^ Welcome to the beautiful mystical dreamy haunting spectacular stress relieving and sometimes pagan world of progessive folk. Enjoy the journey! Guess you might want to try out some more of it. (Pentangle and Folk)
Joined: July 12 2014
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 3
Posted: July 12 2014 at 02:34
All the early Pentangle albums are magnificent. I have UK Transatlantic vinyl pressings of the debut and Basket of Light that sound exceptional. A somewhat new discovery for me and currently one of my favorite bands hence the avatar!
Joined: August 22 2010
Location: Indiana
Status: Offline
Points: 20468
Posted: July 12 2014 at 16:15
TODDLER wrote:
Basket of Light...definitely. I like Reflections though. Especially the song Reflections. Don't forget to bend an ear to Reflections. It contains the same diversity as Cruel Sister and Soloman's Seal but maybe darker for some reason. I don't know....there is something different about the effort. I've always enjoyed it.
^this
BOL is really nice but I have always liked the Cruel Sister and Reflection lp's for their diversity.
One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin
Joined: August 28 2010
Location: Melbourne, Oz
Status: Offline
Points: 1781
Posted: July 12 2014 at 18:50
Raff wrote:
You could do worse than start with Basket of Light (read my review of it if you like), which is a real masterpiece. However, all the albums up to Solomon's Seal are worth getting. In my humble opinion, Pentangle are way better than either Steeleye Span or Fairport Convention (though I like both these bands quite a bit), and, if the rumours about their getting back together are true, I can't wait to see them live.
Considering Bert Jansch died in 2011, a Pentangle reunion would be akin to the Beatles getting back together without John Lennon. In essence, Bert was the soul of Pentangle. So a reunion of the other members would not be Pentangle.
As for which album to get.....I never quite get this question for any artist. Why not JUST BUY THEIR FIRST ALBUM and go chronologically? That's what I did with Pentangle and this gives you a much better appreciation of their development.
Some of their stuff can be almost AOF (Adult Orientated Folk) but there are also some ground breaking acoustic jazz/folk which everyone needs to listen to and appreciate.
Start from the beginning and work your way through. Even the reincarnation; Jacqui McShee's Pentangle of the 90s and 2000's has some really interesting stuff as well.
Joined: April 11 2014
Location: Kyiv In Spirit
Status: Offline
Points: 20497
Posted: July 16 2014 at 09:07
To not go in chronological order would be doing yourself a disservice as the groups 1968 self titled debut album 'The Pentangle' showcased and introduced their unique folk/jazz/blues fusion sound. It also introduced the great stereophonic acoustic guitar interplay between Bert Jansch and John Renbourn. (A hint: The circular ryhthms and percussive string pulls are from Jansch, the blusesy slide like playing is from Renbourn but both could imitate each others style at will.) All of the albums are good from the 'The Pentangle' up through "Cruel Sister' given the context of the times and the strange dynamics that existed within the band. Basket Of Light is probably their most accessible album but is not usually the first one I want to listen to.
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The Pentangle: Introduction
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What album would you recommend that I start off to introduce me to the band. Would it be Basket of Light?
clarke2001 wrote:
Great album that one! I'd put it second on the list after BoL.
), which is a real masterpiece. However, all the albums up to Solomon's Seal are worth getting. In my humble opinion, Pentangle are way better than either Steeleye Span or Fairport Convention (though I like both these bands quite a bit), and, if the rumours about their getting back together are true, I can't wait to see them live.
