At this point, there have been more
Pentangle compilations than some people have had hot dinners, and certainly more than the number of albums released by the original band. However, each new collection refines things a bit more, and this time around they might have come up with the ultimate version. Kicking off with "Let No Man Steal Your Thyme" from their first release, and working through to the epic "Cruel Sister," from the album of the same name, this is as fair an exhibition of their talents as you'll find (and it's different from the 1997 anthology also called
Light Flight). While the intertwining guitars of
Bert Jansch and
John Renbourn are the front-line joy, especially on songs like "Pentangling" and "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat," the contributions of other members shouldn't be overlooked.
Jacqui McShee's voice gave a rare beauty to so many of their songs, while the rhythm section of
Terry Cox and
Danny Thompson was unmatched for subtlety throughout, capable of driving without forcing, and proving a wonderful grounding for pieces like "Train Song." As with any collection like this, there are a few great pieces that didn't make the cut, like the band's definitive take on "Willy O'Winsbury," and their magnificent (but long) "Jack Orion." It's a reminder (if one were needed), that the scope of this band lays far past the boundaries of folk. However, you can't have everything in one package, and this is as good as it gets. No rarities (all of which were mined long ago), but most all of the high spots. ~ Chris Nickson