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After the momentum of songwriters folk music of the mid sixties the second halve of the sixties would facilitate a wave of traditional and rock influenced folk groups in England. The Pentangle is one of those groups, reinventing and rewriting folk classics and writing new songs with intelligent arrangements.

The Pentangle uses mainly string-instruments, but sometimes we can hear the pleasant glockenspiel. The band focusses on English traditional folk, but the use sitar and other eastern string-instruments sometimes evokes the feel of world music. Some tracks have a pastoral feel, are more like up-tempo folk tracks. All tracks dwell in a layer of reverbs, as if the album was recorded in a church.

Female vocalist Jacqui Mc Shee has a voice reminding us of Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span, but she sings a bit more 'noble' - the reason for which my brother gave me this record; "folk should be folky and for the people". And indeed, it's all very serious. The male vocals on some tracks sound a bit Canterbury like, reminding me of Caravan.

On this particular record of The Pentangle the arrangements very well developed, evoking that intelligent progressive feel. It also makes the record quite intensive to listen to and not as accessible as other folk rock albums. The multiple layers of guitar lines and bass sound a bit like how Gentle Giant would later arrange its folk parts.

Conclusion. Great folk rock album that's recommended to those interested in the more traditional sounding acoustic folk rock. Let's not forget that this is a very early effort and it's quite far ahead for it's time. Four stars.

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