The Pentangle – PENTANGLE****

Let No Man Steal Your Thyme/Bells/Hear My Call/Pentangling/Mirage/Way Behind The Sun/Bruton Town/ Waltz

Self titled debut album from two of the best known talents in the sixties British folk scene, Bert Jansch and John Redbourn, who came together to form the nucleus of Pentangle. (US:192 UK:21)

"This is where my Pentangle journey began, and I can tell you that the album was good enough to make me hungry for more. And when you think about it, that's what debut albums are supposed to do."

"The debut offering from this well known UK folk/prog outfit is certainly promising. It's not their best, but far from their worst as well. On tap is some acoustic guitar driven, female vocal folk rock. But on this one, points were deducted for too many solos."

"Pentangle's debut is actually inferior to both Bert Jansch and John Renbourn's solo albums from the same period. The rhythm section already swings but Jacqui McShee does sound a little stiff compared to the group's later output. Actually, my favourite tracks here are the instrumentals: Bells in particular has an ease and grace the band itself will only really capture the next time around."

"In spite of, but also because of, pointing in several directions and the hesitations in following a pattern, this album established Pentangle as the creators of a new style. An inexhaustible source of creative force and skilled playing that would serve the folk scene, and its derivatives, for many years to come."

"There's a mixture of styles to be found here, mainly British trad/folk, but with tinges of jazz and blues. The players, especially Jansch and Renbourn on guitars and McShee on vocals, are delightful. The rhythm section (Thompson and Cox) are no slouches either. All in all a delightful album, one that I would happily recommend."

"This is a really nice album. The rhythm section is strong, and the band manages to make something new out of the confined folk formula. Tracks like Waltz and Pentangling stick in your mind long after the record is over. Recommended."

"While Fairport Convention remain more traditional, Pentangle reveal a more jazzier side of British folk, which is more to my liking."