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