Birthday Blues

ペンタングルのリズム・セクションを迎えて制作されたソロ6作目(1969年発表)。ペンタングルの『スウィート・チャイルド』と対をなす完成度を誇る円熟の域に到達した金字塔。ベースやドラムスを取り入れたバンド形式でヴォーカルもたっぷりと聴かせる。フォーク、ブルース、ロックなどを取り入れたシンプルだがパワーを感じさせる演奏もある。オリジナル・テープから完全リマスター音源。

It's no accident that Jansch's 1969 album sounds like a modified version of the Pentangle. He was a member of the great British folk-rock group at the time of this album's release, which was produced by Shel Talmy (who also worked with the Pentangle). And he's backed by the group's sterling rhythm section of Danny Thompson (bass) and Terry Cox (drums), with occasional touches of harmonica (played by British blues singer Duffy Power), alto sax, and flute. The effect is akin to hearing an unbalanced Pentangle, with no John Renbourn on dueling guitar or Jacqui McShee on vocals. That's not at all a bad thing -- Jansch was one of the group's main motors, and can still be a compelling writer and performer on his own. All of the cuts on this LP are originals, showing the artist leaning a little more toward bluesy styles than usual, though the mood is predominantly British folk. It's a pleasant effort, but not his best work, either as a solo performer or within a group context. ~ Richie Unterberger|