Ship of Fools

Renbourn's departure from the complications of much of his previous recorded work is like a fresh breeze. His minimalist approach on this album perfectly suits this collection of traditional and new-traditional Celtic songs. The key ingredient herein is the enchanting, almost dreamlike work of singer Maggie Boyle: indeed, the driving cadence of the title track highlights her ethereal voice to the extent that, once heard, you simply cannot get this tune out of your head. Maggie's recorder playing accentuates her vocals and, in combination with Renbourn's restrained, yet punchy guitar work, create a musical faerie tale that is not soon forgotten. One of Renbourn's rarest solo album, this is indeed a welcome addition to Castle Music's ongoing reissue program, and though it briefly appeared on CD in the US, this marks its first appearance on CD in the UK. 2005.