Basket of Light

Nothing that stuck with me. Forgetful album it seems

Reminds me a lot of Fairport Convention, just not quite as good.

A pleasant, and ultimately uninspired work of traditional folk music. Well played, well recorded, but neither experimental enough to feel exciting, nor catchy enough to be memorable.

Deserves a place on the list. I don't think this will be anyones 'favourite' album though. 3/5.

This was different. British psychedelic folk? Seems so pastiche and niche but whatever.

Music for ren faire weirdos! I found it delightful, but then, I'm a ren faire weirdo.

I didn’t think 60s Folk Rock was for me … I was right.

The first time I listened to this one I wasn't in the right mood for it at all, second time I really enjoyed it! Genuinely sounds like medieval music in places, but tastefully updated for the times. At times I felt like I was meant to be dancing around a May pole. Some excellent guitar playing all over this, and nice flourishes of othe instruments. I thought the sitar was maybe a bit too much, but I can forgive that given the year it was released. The singing gets a bit too warbly in places, but overall I enjoyed it. 8/10

don’t love the more medieval songs, but some songs are really beautiful!

Renfest Core

Her voice. I can't.

Loved the folk vides and the dirge. Not quite up to five stars for me, but darn close.

I went in crossbows blazing ready to hate on some annoying ren-faire bullshit, but it gradually won me over with the gentle power of the interlinked acoustic guitar parts, sitar drones, and surprisingly intricate percussion. It's basically acoustic prog. The vocals - where the bulk of the dragons and maidens larping folk stuff is dominant - are very annoying, but the instrumental sections are warm and relaxed and lively. You can imagine these songs being really great performed in the right environment like an grand old cathedral or an abandoned abbey. It's not fair to judge them based on the 2025 stench of real ale that it gives off, though. It's cool that there was a scene around revisiting and enliving musical traditions going back centuries and pairing them with blues based guitar playing, and this is a nice document of that that moment that pairs well with folk horror from the era like Wicker Man, Blood on Satan's Claw and Witchfinder General.

Favorites: Train Song, Once I had a Sweetheart

Medieval diddling in the 20th century does not make for a timeless album. The few sparse moments of nice instrumentation improves a bit but not by much. 1.5/5 - > 2/5

It turns out I Iike English folk rock, although these guys aren't as good as Fairport Convention

Folk Music as its meant to be, as in Ye Olde Folk Tune for Thine Soul... They getting Medieval on your ass here.

I could imagine that this would be nice to hear in a castle with some mead or a cider.

quando falam que eh FOLK eh isso que eu espero
música para viver como um camponês fudido esperando a peste negra chegar!
pelo menos tem uns instrumentos interessantes né

Bastante bien para mi gusto. Un folk inglés con un toque de jazz. No los conocía y me he guardado Light flight, Train song y Hunting song. Muy años 60.

Interesting album, with a lot of variety and excellent musicianship, but it's very dated and has a bit too much cheesy Ren Faire vibe (especially the lyrics on The Cuckoo - "She sucketh white flowers for to keep her voice clear"...ugh). I also felt Bert Jansch should let Jacqui McShee do all the singing, but there are some times when his vocals work (e.g., House Carpenter). I was originally leaning 3 and I feel like I've been giving too many 4's these days, but damn if this album didn't grow on me. Just really appreciated the interesting arrangements and outstanding musicianship. Favorite tracks: Light Flight (cool guitar pattern and vocals, particularly in the second half of the song), Once I Had a Sweetheart (I'm a sucker for sitar), Lyke-Wake Dirge (fascinating old English lyrics - knowing it's about the dead passing through purgatory makes it more powerful), Train Song (liked the frenetic nature of the song, like, um, a speeding train?), House Carpenter (I liked the driving nature of the music, with interplay between drums, sitar, and banjo - how's that for an unusual combination? I also loved the second to last verse where McShee sings a capella).