ANOTHER MONDAY

Still embracing acoustic southern blues and leaving his native British Isles folk as a flower on the wall, RENBOURN's selection of material on this second release is far wiser than on his debut, and his arrangements suggest further evolutions in this area. Inviting future PENTANGLE collaborator JACQUI MCSHEE for vocal support is a strategic coup and especially effective on the infectious "Can't Keep from Crying", and his accessible virtuosity bolsters lively instrumentals like "Buffalo" and "Debbie Anne". His acquiescence to DYLAN is evident on the lyrically sensuous "I Know my Babe". The best is saved for the medieval "One for William", a dare that the likes of THIRD EAR BAND must have taken up a bit later, with its surreal oboe floating over all. It's only a shame that it's an anomaly on this album. While "Another Monday" checks out at about 3.5 stars, its ability to improve upon any day of the week, let alone its overshadowing of most UK folk of its day, warrants both a bump up and a shout out.