Fotheringay - FOTHERINGAY***

Nothing More/The Sea/The Ballad Of Ned Kelly/Winter Winds/Peace In The End/The Way I Feel/The Pond & The Stream/Too Much Of Nothing/Banks Of The Nile

Self titled sole album release from the short lived folk group Fotheringay. Fronted by Sandy Denny after she left Fairport Convention, she would quickly move on to a solo career. (UK:18)

"After her successful and excellent beginnings with Fairport Convention, Sandy Denny carries on surprising us with new gems with Fotheringay. Unfortunately this new band would officially release only one album and Sandy carried on with a solo career. The three masterpieces are the haunting and emotional Banks Of The Nile, a thrilling war song with delicate acoustic accompaniment and very soulful singing. Winter Winds is another absolute folk beauty backed by a wonderful acoustic riff between each verse. The opener Nothing More is the third Sandy Denny gem here."

"Fotheringay is a pleasant little project from Sandy Denny and various backing musicians, who play in a manner highly reminiscent of Denny's former berth in Fairport Convention. Unfortunately, Fotheringay were hampered by not having a guitarist as imaginative and spellbinding as Richard Thompson, but for the most part they are still able to present a competent folk rock collection that is elevated from 'acceptable' to 'good' by the carefully balanced vocals of Denny and Trevor Lucas."

"These finely crafted songs by Sandy and Trevor Lucas stand up as well as anything from the traditional songbooks that other folk rock bands were raiding. It is almost a contradiction to have music this powerful to be played in such a gentle manner. And when they perform the work of other artists; (Dylan & Gordon Lightfoot) it blends in so well you are led to believe that Sandy or Trevor wrote these gems as well."

"Sandy Denny may well be my favourite female vocalist of all time. She sings like an angel, but that said, I never felt this album was the best showcase for her talents. It's soft and subdued acoustic guitar driven folk rock, featuring male/female vocal duets."

"Sandy Denny steps away from Celtic folk and delves into The Band-like roots America. She and her group do retain a European flavour, and that's what makes the album so good. The electric guitars here are wonderful and dreamy, lost in crystalline, bluesy wanderings. The interpretation's so passionate that the music seems other worldly, like very few other albums can sound."