by Bruce Eder & William Ruhlmann
Richard Thompson exits the Fairport lineup, leaving the band reduced
to a quartet of Simon Nicol, Dave Swarbrick, Dave Pegg, and Dave Mattacks.
The loss of big guns Thompson and Denny was felt, but amazingly, although
it isn't nearly as well known as Liege and Lief or Full House, this record
reached the highest chart position of any Fairport LP, making number eight
in England. Swarbrick led the group in even more of a traditional British
folk vein. By now everybody involved was singing (with Nicol and Swarbrick
usually alternating on lead), and they managed to pull it off, mostly
by virtue of the honesty of their voices and instrumental work almost
as vital and animated as any in their history. From the beautifully sung
and exciting opener "Lord Marlborough," the album should strike
a responsive chord with any folk or folk-rock enthusiast--especially enjoyable
are the singing on the buoyantly humorous title track and the viola/violin
duet between Swarbrick and Nicol on "Bridge Over The River Ash."
|