Old-New-Borrowed-Blue

by Bruce EderThis is Fairport Convention's first all-acoustic album in their 29 year history. The material, recorded variously in the studio and at December 30, 1995 concert, displays the eclectic nature of the 1990's version of the band, folk-styled originals such as "There Once Was Love/Innstruck" juxtaposed with covers of James Taylor and Loudon Wainwright III songs, reprises of vintage Fairport numbers like Richard Thompson's "Genesis Hall," "Crazy Man Michael," and the epic "Matty Groves," and even some vintage swing elements. The playing is exquisite and the vocalizing by Simon Nicol and Dave Pegg is extraordinary, particularly on "There Once Was Love," "Frozen Man," "The Hiring Fair," and "Lalla Rookh."