review by daniel

I wish Fairport Convention would have relied entirely on the treasures of traditional British folk music. Like on their previous effort, “Unhalfbricking”, their own material is not half as good as the traditional songs. Fortunately the traditional songs are dominating on this one, which makes it a more even and better affair than its predecessor, even though it lacks a song of the same calibre as “A Sailor’s Life”.

Most songs are good, or at least decent (the jig is an exception as always), with highlights in the great songs “Matty Groves” and “Tam Lin”, that are both catchy and melancholic at the same time. The former is a ballad dealing with infidelity, jealousy and tragic death (themes that seem to be common in British folklore) and the lyrics are straightforward in a charming way that I like a lot. Like when the betrayed husband Lord Donald challenges the young lover Matty Groves for a duel:

“…It is true I have two beating swords and they cost me deep in the purse, but you will have the better of them and I will have the worse.
And you will strike the very first blow and strike it like a man and I will strike the very next blow and kill you if I can.
So Matty struck the very first blow and hurt Lord Donald sore. Lord Donald struck the very next blow and Matty struck no more.
And then Lord Donald he took his wife and he sat her on his knee saying: who do you like the best of us Matty Groves, or me?
And then out spoke his own dear wife, never heard to speak so free, I’d rather a kiss from dead Matty’s lips than you and your finery.”

The two mentioned songs are also the longest of the album, at around eight minutes each, but two great songs and a few decent ones still aren’t enough to justify the reputation of the album. It is quite good, but certainly overrated.