Categorized under a heading of Folk, you’ll be surprised. To me it isn’t but clearly there are undertones from this genre. And I can immediately say, within those first few bars of ‘Rowena’ it is so much better for it. The slide guitar immediately gets you listening a little more intently. Like expecting to watch a 12 rated film and then being hit with a shoot-out before you’ve met the main character which has you spilling the popcorn as you readjust your expectations.
Nothing more so than ‘The sailor and Madonna’ which is quite an intense song which to me should have been the final song on this side, as it leaves you wanting more. It leaves you wondering what is to come. Will he go down the early Dylan route on Side 2 or stick to his guns. Well if you look at the musicians on the credit list you’ll know the answer.
Allegedly compared with Syd Barrett, he of Floyd fame, I guess many in those days drew parallels with Dylan but what is special about this LP is that he went on to have a very successful career recording in the Welsh language. This LP, in contrast, is recorded in English and there is much on here to want you to return again and again. It’s a classy first recording which does not disappoint. The highlight for me being ‘Midnight comes’, which is a beautiful song. I could listen to it all day.
