Customer Reviews

The Nine Maidens

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

With a wholesome rich sound that transcends from piece to piece, its one of John's finest albums. The masterful blend of sound John achieves makes the musical mind ponder at his abilities. Each track leaves you anticipating the next, much like John's older LPs such as Sir John Alot. 5 Stars does this an injustice. The opening piece, New Nothyng is one of my all time Renbourn favorites. A build up from "Lady Nothynge's Toy Puffe," this piece expounds on the original with 2 guitar pieces together. Absolutely beautiful!

Renbourn is unique and this profound harmonious blend of medieval/celtic music is the measure by which the best of European music should be measured.

This is just one more of the very fine works from John Renbourn's catalog, much of which explores the moods and music of Renaissance, Celtic, and English traditional sources. Renbourn is one of the most easily identifyable guitarists playing; his style is light, bright, and technically astounding as necessary. Here we have all of these elements, and again they all work marvelously. One note: Here Renbourn resurrects his 'Lady Nothynge's Toy Puffe' (or some such; I don't have the original handy!) as 'New Nothynge.' The original version was in one of his first albums from the 60s; his friend Bert Jansch later recorded the piece for his album "L. A. Turnaround" (currently unavailable, unfortunately) in a much slower, more stately, manner. The version on this album has pretty obviously drawn on Jansch's arrangement, and gives some real perspective on how Renbourn's music has changed through the years: not so much in terms of its virtuosity and fingering, but more in its increasing attention to pacing and timing.

On this session, Renbourn proves again that he is one of the undisputed masters of the guitar. The tracks are generally minor-key medieval/renaissance-era mood-pieces adapted for solo guitar, and as such they work beautifully. This is a perfect winter/early morning/rainy day album, and I believe it's a masterpiece both for the amazing playing and the unique, marvelous compositions. A couple of the tracks also include fife and drums, and do so to good effect. This is my favorite Renbourn recording. If you're a fan of his, of great steel-string guitar work, or of interesting early music, don't miss this one.

There's a symmetry in this music. Each piece interweaves with the previous and the next to work a simple magic. Baroque, Medieval and Contemporary. Here we have a guitar player who uses the instrument so beautifully it literally evokes tears. Listen to the title piece. Earlier in 'My Lady Carey's Dompe' he brings in likeminded musicians - drum and recorder - one a busker I recall - to carry the mood - and they do not disappoint. The opening piece, 'New Nothynge' is wonderful - just for the way the notes hang. How does he get this tone so consistently. For me Renbourne is a guitar player of unusual depth. This set of guitar pieces is his own landmark. Thank you John.

A gorgeous, transendant acoustic guitar album that easily lives up to the high standards of such '70s classics as "The Black Balloon". Highly recommended.

John Renbourn is one of the most talented and influential acoustic guitarists ever to come out of Great Britain. Here is more irrefutable evidence attesting to that.