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PENTANGLEOut of the utter confusion ttiat has become charactistic of the English rock scene, a unique group, and with it a unique musical experience , has emerged. England has spawned a myriad of bands in the recent past and many of them have proven their talent unquestionably.But musical proficiency alone does not necessarily insure either greatness or artistic value* To obtain this, a group must also create its own atmosphere, fashion its own realm of musical and artistic experience which the listener can experience himself* in which he can sense life and feelings, and in which he is participant as welt as observer. It is only then that a group transcends the potpourri ot contemporary music and stands forth as unique, as true music.The Pentangle has accomplished this, something which all re* cent English bands have failed to do (notable exceptions: Procol Harum, Moody Blues). As individual performers all members of The Pentangle are brilliant, Bert Jansch and John Renbourn rank among England’s foremost musicians and are -considered by many to lie the two best acoustic guitar* ists in the country. Bassist Danny Thompson and Terry Cox (drums and glockenspiel) have done extensive studio work and have played together for years with Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated, “you know, with hom-playcrs and things like that.” Undoubtedly. Thompson is the most phenomenal bass player you have ever see. Vocalist Jacqui McStiee has, over years of experience, built up her reputation as a blues and folk singer, and is one of the* most ver satile female vocalists in rocK today.The Pentangle is at on re soft and subtle, yet dynamic and penetrating, using only one amplified instrument, Danny Thompson’sdouble bass. Their sound is a fusion of many styles, cutting across practically every stratum of contemporary music: classical, folk, jazz, blues. The Pentangle nas taken this great diversity of individual style and talent, and the multiplicity of musical forms, and infused them with a spirit that is completely their own. This, in a sen^e, makes their music very complex, a complexity that results in unity, not conflict. The Pentangle has thus merged into acompletely homogeneous entity, a musical organism that is much more than just the sum of its individual parts.The group’s first LP, released several months ago by Reprise,combines Pentangle’s talent with brilliant arrangement and production, and is one of the most remarkable albums of *68. A two-record set, currently being prepared for release, promises more ofthe same. Yet any attempt tu explain their sound is doomed toinadequacy, for The Peataagle is a phenomenon that must be seen and experienced. Their first two U.S. appearances — two weeksago at N.Y.'s Fillmore East anolast week at The Unicom — surpassed all expectations. The very nature of their music, of their personalities as musicians and performers, compels one to participate, to feel that one has communicated.—Jim Blose
Newspaper Details
Boston Heights
Boston, Massachusetts, US
Tue, Feb 18, 1969
Page 15
Full Page
Clipped by
Patrick G.
NA, 29 Jan 2020
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