Renbourn's last solo album for the next six years overlaps with his
Pentangle work, featuring
Terry Cox playing hand drums and glockenspiel, with future
John Renbourn band member
Tony Roberts and violinist
Dave Swarbrick. The repertory consists of medieval and early classical pieces, interspersed with the expected folk material -- keyboard works from the Fitzwilliam virginal book (transcribed for guitar) stand alongside traditional tunes such as "Scarborough Fair," which turns up as part of an 11-minute track that also incorporates "My Johnny Was a Shoemaker," with Swarbrick at the top of his form on violin. The album is entirely instrumental, but as with other
Renbourn releases, one hardly misses the vocals. ~ Bruce Eder