Moonshine - BERT JANSCH***

Yarrow/Brought With The Rain/The January Man/Night Time Blues/Moonshine/The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face/Rambleaway/Twa Corbies/Oh My Father

Moonshine was the first solo album released by Bert Jansch after the break up of the folk group Pentangle. It comprises a mixture of his own compositions, traditional material and covers.

“If you like Pentangle and you don't mind pure folk without progressive or psychedelic elements in it, you will absolutely love this. Moonshine is a magical record with a warm feeling to it, just the music you need for a cold autumn or winter night. Bert had a beautiful voice and his guitar playing was amazing.”

“Superbly crafted, especially the opener Yarrow which contains some of the most wonderfully flowing/intricate ensemble playing that you're likely to hear anywhere, and The January Man which is the most poignantly understated and beautiful track that I've heard in a while.”

“Its easily one of Bert's best albums, full of imaginary lyrics, stripped down compositions, delicate singing, and heartfelt lyrics. Some of the songs were written by Jansch himself, some traditional and some are covers, all of them very beautiful.”

“The opening track, Yarrow, is a stunning arrangement of a traditional song spiced up with a beautiful ninth chord tonality. Other highlights include The January Man which contains probably some of the most beautiful lyrics you'll ever hear, as well as a gorgeous musical arrangement of guitar and harp. Twa Corbies, a traditional Scottish song, is full of power and Bert’s voice and guitar work both shine.”

“It combines nostalgic medievalism with a visionary appreciation for the works of contemporary songwriting. The songs seem to rise from some old and fragrant mist, revealing glimpses of strange and beautiful landscapes, mortality and its darkness, and mythic depths of a world that lives apart from its human tenants. This is all accomplished with an almost homespun straightforwardness.”

“Moonshine is an album where jazz, British folk and blues come together in a typically unconscious Jansch way. No other artist has the instinct for this kind of balancing act where one of the most important ingredients is good taste. From the opening gentle approach of Yarrow through to the fabulous electric groove on Oh My Father with its sting in the tail lyrics, Moonshine is a mesmerizing masterpiece, a timeless tale of the human condition; past, present and future