Customer Reviews

The Black Balloon

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been a Renbourn fan ever since his Pentangle days, and this is my favorite solo recording of his (although "The Nine Maidens" and "Sir John Alot of" are close runners-up). It's mostly solo guitar, with discreet flute and percussion accompaniment, and Renbourn is nothing short of spectacular the whole way through. The tunes range from the lively to the meditative, and from the straight-ahead to the discursive (his improvised dialog with the flute in "The Mist-Covered Mountains" is wonderful). And this to me is the sign of a true professional: in the virtuoso "English Dance," he muffs a note, laughs, and picks it right up again; very few musicians would have the guts to put THAT on a CD! I practically wore this album out when I had it on vinyl, and was delighted when it was reissued as a CD. (The recording quality, by the way, is excellent -- nothing was lost in the translation.) This one always lands high up on my ever-changing list of 10 Albums I'd Take to a Desert Island.

On this collection of mostly solo instrumentals (Renbourn is occasionally joined by flute and tabors), the listener is treated to a series of folk pieces--the last three all in excess of seven minutes.

The liner notes get a bit technical for this listener. For example, of the opening track we are told: "After establishing the theme in sedate quarter-notes, it launches into a fascinating set of variations in typical Elizabethan manner, moving into progressively more animated figurations in slightly altered harmony. At the fifth variation, the theme migrates beneath lively motifs in the upper voice in eighth--and sixteenth notes, before introducing fresh but related material leading to a closing restatement of the original theme intact." I think what that really means is that Renbourn plays some of the most amazing fingerstyle guitar you're ever likely to hear.

In addition to his solo albums, Renbourn has recorded a series of duo albums with former Pentangle bandmate Bert Jansch as well as with American Stefan Grossman, all of which are worth seeking out. If you enjoyed the folk music of Pentangle or the John Renbourn group, but are more interested in simply hearing Renbourn's unadorned guitar playing, this album is an excellent introduction. RECOMMENDED

Although The Hermit is a close contender, I would claim this to be Renbourne's finest album, and this from a man who has a respectable body of work behind him. This is an instrumental album displaying the virtuosity of Renbourne's guitar playing. The dazzling display of fingerwork shown on all these tracks would impress a Segovia or a Bream, with whom, to these ears at least, I would not hesitate to place him. The first three tracks are stately baroque pieces played without accompaniment. The final two tracks are composed by Renbourne and have a lovely accompaniment by a flutist and, through the use of double tracking, Renbourne on electric guitar. In case you think the use of an electric guitar clashes with the acoustic purity displayed elsewhere, the playing is so masterly that he manages to make it sound like the most natural thing on earth.

The Black Balloon is a thing of beauty from the opening note to the last. For fans of the acoustic guitar, I recommend it whole-heartedly.

This is a very special recording indeed - and one I first loved in the mid eighties. Standout tracks are "The Pelican" with inspired use of harmonics with cleverly swooping and diving melody, and the beautiful "Black Balloon". There is something intensely moving about this music - I always did "fill up" when hearing it,- something wistful and bitter sweet about it! John Renbourn is an amazing guitarist - as all who've seen him live will testify! I cannot imagine any guitarist/acoustic lover being disappointed after buying this gem.

I don't know if I would consider this Renbourn's best album (and I have everything else he's ever produced to compare it with), but it certainly is a very good one. 'As good a place as any to begin if you had to choose one as a starting point. For the unitiated: Renbourn sounds a bit like Pierre Bensusan, though the latter performer cannot match his speed and elegance.

John Renbourn composed this album as a modern version of the eight standard musical forms of midieval Britain. Consisting solely of Renbourn's guitars, accompanied by traditional percussion instruments and a flute, it gives a completely new identity to the concept album. Listen late at night, with candles and red wine, and float away on "The Pelican" and "The Black Balloon." A fiery dance, the "Tarboulton" allows guitar and flute to show off. A classic.

At this moment I think is the best of all records by John Renbourn

The best John Renbourne by far. I have the vinyl album, worn though it may be -- but I've since bought the CD. If this is your first Renbourne, get the Black Balloon.

Mr Santa Fe has it right in his spotting the chuckle over the muffed note. Also, if you listen to 'The Pelican' through headphones it's almost comic how verging on the inept his electric guitar part is against the driving and sonorous acoustic. Odd considering how almost flawless he is on the albums with McShee and how his 'lectric plunking with Bert in those Pentangle concerts really drove the tunes along. The flute duet inspired 2 folkies I know to beef up their own blowing and it's a model of what guitar backing can and should be - ringing the changes around the chords, working that pinkie, putting some effort into the bass lines. (Does he use pingpong balls to beef up the tone? That don't sound like nail-to-string timbre as God intended, but nor does it sound like a thumbpiece. Hmm). But yes, adoring reviews about this being his best apart, it *isn't* actually bad and if you're going to have 2 JR albums, this is the other one to go for.

I agree with all of our Renbourn cronies below, this is a great album. It was always my favorite of his when I was a kid, too. I just didn't give it 5 stars because I like to reserve some space for something better.