Pentangle – Basket of Light – 180 Gram Yellow and Orange Vinyl Record

Description

Pentangle – Basket of Light – 180 Gram Yellow and Orange Vinyl Record

Pentangle’s third album, Basket of Light, is a defining example of British folk music opening itself to jazz, blues and contemporary songwriting without losing contact with traditional material. Jacqui McShee and Bert Jansch provide contrasting voices, while Jansch and John Renbourn create a remarkable acoustic-guitar dialogue. Danny Thompson’s double bass and Terry Cox’s percussion give the music rhythmic freedom far beyond a conventional folk accompaniment.

“Light Flight” opens in an unusual meter that feels effortless in the group’s hands. Written for the television series Take Three Girls, it became Pentangle’s best-known song without simplifying the band’s musical language. “Once I Had a Sweetheart” turns a traditional song into a fluid ensemble performance, and “Springtime Promises” brings Jansch’s writing into a brighter setting. McShee’s clear tone remains calm even as the instruments shift beneath her.

“Lyke-Wake Dirge” draws from an old English text, using vocal harmony and spare accompaniment to create a severe atmosphere. “Train Song” closes the first side with speed and intricate interplay. Thompson’s bass is especially important, moving melodically rather than simply marking roots, while Cox uses hand percussion and drum kit color to connect folk pulse with jazz responsiveness.

The extended “Hunting Song” anchors the second side, combining narrative, changing sections and instrumental passages into the album’s most ambitious arrangement. “Sally Go Round the Roses” brings an American pop song into Pentangle’s acoustic world, followed by the traditional “The Cuckoo.” “House Carpenter” closes with a dark ballad whose restraint makes the story more powerful rather than less.

This Music On Vinyl edition is pressed on 180 gram yellow-and-orange mixed vinyl and individually numbered. Issued in 2022 under catalog number MOVLP2353, it contains the original nine-track album and uses a sturdy audiophile-style presentation. The variegated color suits the sleeve while clearly distinguishing this pressing from standard black copies. It is a collectible edition of an album whose reputation rests on exceptional ensemble playing.

Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic

Track Listing

A1 Light Flight
A2 Once I Had A Sweetheart
A3 Springtime Promises
A4 Lyke-Wake Dirge
A5 Train Song
B1 Hunting Song
B2 Sally Go Round The Roses
B3 The Cuckoo
B4 House Carpenter