Basket of Light

My wife: "Why are you listening to mediaeval music?" Me: "It's that 1,001 albums thing." [She rolls her eyes and walks off, shaking her head] I approached this album with trepidation. Seeing it pop up on the generator was the equivalent of walking into your local and spotting the pub bore already sat on his favourite stool, dimple glass in hand, waiting to pounce on any unsuspecting saps with a thousand tedious tales and unwelcome opinions. As a teenager in the seventies, my knowledge of English folk-pop music consisted of not really liking All Around My Hat and vaguely knowing that Sandy Denny, the female voice on Led Zeppelin 4, was in some diddly diddly band that sounded like a business meeting. Even now it's not something I often make a bee line for, despite enjoying a bit of Unhalfbricking and Liege and Leif every now and then. So yes, I wasn't excited about this selection. And yet, some of it has been quite magical. Bert Jansch's guitar playing is spectacularly nimble at times and Danny Thompson's double bass playing is a jazz-tinged joy. It's all a bit Finger In The Ear At The Malt Shovels On Tuesday Folk Night (Hotpot Available!) at times but it does break out from its traditional folky heartland on enough occasions that you don't always feel like you're harvesting turnips in the rain in a Shropshire field in the 13th century. Though sometimes you do feel like that. Strangely, though, I know I will be playing this again. I must be getting old.

There were moments in the beginning, mostly when the glockenspiel and sitar featured prominently, when I couldn't decide whether I loved or hated this album. Ultimately, it won me over. The harmonies are tight and the guitar parts are impressive. It's a solid English folk album. Best track: Hunting Song

Man, this was the tune of my time. I remember hearing it first 1482 at the wine-fest of the kingdom of Baden. I swear I saw the ancle of princess Hiltrude this day.

Yesterday I gave Incubus a 1.5 rounded up. Today I’m giving this a 1.5 rounded down. Here’s the difference: if I were out and about and incubus were playing in the background, I would barely notice it. If this were playing in the background I would say “What is this. Why.”

There was some wild shit going around in 69 man

It was kind of interesting at first but it lost me over time. I ended up just not really liking it without being able to put my finger on why.

White British people playing the sitar will always be a little sus to me, but I'll also also always be a sucker for an album that blends genres so well. And folk, rock and jazz with some parts that just sound medieval European make for such a fun combo

Ooh Pentangle is a bit cider and Cornish pasties isn’t it. That’s lovely.

tom bombadil ass

Absolutely GORGEOUS and lush 60s baroque folk. So beautiful, one of my favorite genres ever!

Very oldtimey folk album. Should relisten when in the mood for ancient rituals.

"wow, the British folk revival of the 60s is a big deal!" -- no one who is not British alt name for this list: "fewer than 500 albums you should listen to before you die, plus a bunch of mediocre british acts from the 60s 70s and 80s"

Holy shit! This is one of the best records I have discovered on this his app so far. Listened to it twice because it’s so good.

I think I got this album on the perfect day. Something about this just clicked and now I might be a little bit obsessed with it.

Wow this is super cool. Psychedelic, almost medieval sounding folk full of funky time signatures. '69 really was possibly the best year in music history.

Great album with stellar musicianship. Not sure why there are three versions of Sally Go Round the Roses, though.

It reminds me of the band Renaissance, except not quite as good. Nevertheless it is very pleasant and enjoyable throughout. This music ignites my deep desire to live in an isolated pagan Nordic mountain village hundreds of years in the past. I wish the industrial revolution never happened. Globalism has destroyed everything that made the world beautiful and awe-inspiring Will definitely return

I feel like I'm in heaven listening to this, 5 stars, easy peasy

We listened to this album at the perfect time - driving through the Lake District, taking in the beauty of the scenery accompanied by this folky, jazzy, ethereal album. We both enjoy this genre and are surprised to have not discovered Pentangle before: we will definitely be listening again.

Basket of Light is a swirling, psychedelic mixture of folk, jazz, blues, sitar and traditional music that may be one of the most surprisingly great records I’ve ever heard. Surprising in that, typically, folk and medieval sounding music are not very enjoyable to me. Pentangle’s intricate guitar arrangements and interplay were the highlight of this record to me, but each member, whether on guitars, bass, drums or vocals all execute at a virtuosic level. Most importantly, Pentangle doesn’t let their ability outshine the song: They aren’t playing only to showcase their talents, but to serve the song. Each part of every song sounds considered and well written, transitioning smoothly from one to the next; playing with an edge that I would consider to be uncommon in most folk music. A truly enjoyable album experience.

How is this on any top list? Pentacrap, Basket of crap. Was this meant to be a comic effort? This is a great example of music that is unremarkable and forgettable. If nothing else, it has me fired up to listen to something good.

Yasss my liege, slayyyyeth 💅

Super cool! I felt like I was taken to a Renaissance fair and I loved every second of it.

Light Flight and Hunting Song are the masterpieces! All others are very nice! I never heard all them before! Vocal is perfect! Music is bright! Brilliant album! I like it.

I really enjoyed this album. lol @ the extended version that is 2s longer. Each song is a banger.

60's Folk just seems to scratch this itch in my brain, and this album is certainly no exception. Solid 5 Stars.

These guys really rock. Listen to those guitar chops. Marvel at the deep knowledge of folk music. The weirder it is, the more they probably *actually* believe in what they're making. They made a believer out of me, that's for sure.

It’s nice to finally dive into Pentangle. This album has been on my list for a while, and I’m glad I got around to it. Seeing Bert Jansch as a key member is a great bonus. It gives me a good starting point with his work too. For ‘60s psychedelic folk, this album really nails it, blending traditional British folk with jazz, blues, and rock. It has an ethereal feel with a haunting undertone that pulls you in.

Every now and then, you hear an album that you didn't know you needed in your life. This is one of those albums. It's deeply unique, while still referencing its own time. The arrangements are thought provoking and the playing is marvellous. I am not usually a sucker for folky stuff, but this is amazing!

Retro upon retro. Don't ask me why but this is the kind of Christian shit I can enjoy.

Aldrig hört förut men det är ju alldeles lysande.

This album is as old as I am, but I've never heard of Pentangle. When you hear the words "Folk Band" you might expect something else, but you're hoping for this.

I know already that Alan is going to dismiss this as English folk but in all love and affection give me 20 of these over French folk. With that out of the way, that British and Irish guitarists of the 1960s were incredible. This is Beck Page Clapton Townshend, Rory, etc. But the acoustic guys were better in a sense. On this album Jaensch and Renbourn. It’s a true fusion - jazz blues folk all mixing as if they always did. This, Solid Air, Planxty and Fairport. And this stuff leads to zeppelin, Jethro Tull and other such acts.

I loved this album. Had not heard of The Pentacle before, but had heard of Bert Janche. I listened to this on a 3 mile walk around Oak Park. The lilacs are blooming (along with everything else). Good smells everywhere, sweet sunshine, and this beautiful music straight to this big fat hippie's heart. This album took me down many pathways mentally. It started in the backyard of my family's house in Lombard. My thoughts were how much I would have enjoyed this if I had been a teenager in the 60's, smoking shitty weed and sneaking Seagram's 7 from my parent's liquor cabinet. Then I realized that's exactly what I was doing in the 90s, just listening to Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel, and Grateful Dead. The Pentacle is very much in the vein of The Mamas and the Papas, but I will go as far to say that this is better. Cleaner guitars, folkier, less pop, more elfish magic from across the sea. My favorite track here was House Carpenter, which took me straight to Applacia, then back across the ocean to the old Irish sod and my ancestors. Thank God for Alan Lomax. So much wonderful music sprung from his diligent work and passion.

Unbelievably creative, quite suprised at how much I liked it and the risks that they took

Great folk album. five out of five

This was awesome! Can’t believe I hadn’t heard of these guys. It’s folk meets blues meets jazz meets Renaissance.

Sensacional, sei nem explicar

This was weird. And great.

This was a surprise to me. The first song already had me hooked with its alternating 5/4 and 7/4. Overall really enjoyed this one.

10/10 I FUCKING LOVE BERT JANSCH

Before today I'd never heard of Pentangle before. The album cover provided no hints as to what I was in for, so I googled their name. The first thing that came up was the definition of Pentangle, which is "another word for pentagram". Given that definition, I figured I would be in for a heavy metal album perhaps? What I heard was the polar opposite! Pentangle are a folk group from the UK. Their music includes dual guitars (one artist who is Blues trained, and one who is folk trained), amazing bass grooves, and male and female vocalists. The singers are amazing, and the harmonies created by the two of them is beautiful. This album also prominently features sitar and glockenspiel parts, which is awesome!! These guys remind me a lot of Fairport Convention. This album combines jazz, Blues, and folk along with some psychedelica into one beautiful album. They may start a jazz number, then flawlessly switch genres half way through. Overall, an amazing album! Another one that blindsided me! I love discovering these kinds of records! I will absolutely listen again, I listened to it twice today! Favorite songs: House Carpenter, Hunting Song, The Cuckoo, Sally Go Round the Roses, Once I Had a Sweetheart, Springtime Promises, Lyke-Wake Dirge, Cold Mountain Least favorite songs: Train Song 5/5

My favourite Folk band. Supremely accomplished musicianship. Well produced- it's rockier and jazzier than other albums but these guys are at the top of their game. I understand most people don't like this at all but that's always the way and always will be.

Folk Ungewöhnliche Instrumente: Sitar, Glockenspiel Sehr klangvolle Sängerin

Harmless, pleasant fun. Listening is like hanging out in a nice field on a warm sunny day, with flowers and drinking mead. some of the chants and vocals are Medieval

This is the kind of thing I was hoping for doing this. Really liked it, had never heard of them before.

ahh this is...not attractive. Yeah pretty but dull. I love some of the baroque elements, but speaking of baroque pop, I think I have better choices, non? Thank you for reminding me that I'm not into acoustic music. Almost 2.5/3.

I give ones when I’m actively annoyed. If it was instrumental I think I could have handled it.

I’ll preface with…I can’t stand Joni Mitchell and her pretentious wandering around the scale bullshit. So this album lost me at track 1. But it in fact got worse. It never knew what it wanted to be. Folk, gospel, rock, Gregorian chants…like what the fuck? Garbage

Damn, this hippie shit sucks. All that's missing is my weed/LSD and long hair. Jokes aside, this is just not very good, I don't know how anyone could find this enjoyable. 2/10.

This is one of the albums I wonder “why is it on this list!”. I mean, if you’re going to include a hit-less unknown of this flower-power genre, I expect to see every Peter Paul & Mary album, as well as every Beatles record, Jefferson Airplane, etc. cMon, some of the choices on this list are head scratchers.

Occasionally you can admire the musicianship, craft and artistry while finding the entire thing unlistenable to.

I can think of 1002 albums that are better than this.Who made up this list of albums to hear before I die…think I died after hearing this

Possibly the worst thing I've had to listen to on the list.

Folky nonsense

lasted 3 tracks. the shrill voice *shiver* shite

Really liked this, was nice and light and fun.

I'm starting to come round to the fact that I actually seem to like British folk music. I wasn't one hundred percent sold on the vocals to begin with, but they grew on me by the time the album was done. The acoustic instrumentation is glorious throughout. The first track, Light Flight, sets a high standard, and the rest of the album is a magical journey through various styles.

Polished yet full of raw power. Lots of harmony singing. Would listen again 4.5/5

I was not expecting this to be so damn good. Those key changes and harmonies are borderline miraculous. They're a sort of unplugged Led Zep.

Quite surprised that this album has turned up on the list. I know it well but always thought it was a bit obscure. It was popular at time of release largely due to the hit Light Flight but then forgotten in the mist of time. Which is my own experience as I’d also forgotten what a corker of an album it is. I guess the reason why it is on the list is to include and highlight the mastermind behind the album Bert Jansch. He was a brilliant guitarist and his list of influences is a who’s who of great musicians. So again following this list has come up with the goods. This time not for introducing me to a new album but for reminding me of a great one I loved back in the day and lost touch with but not anymore. 5/5 14/2/25

Oh, this is lovely. The vocals are so enchanting, and so is the medieval-esque instrumentation.

interesting. never heard of this kind of music before

A masterpiece from the late 60s British folk rock scene - what a spellbinding album! It's a hauntingly beautiful and creative collection of folk rock songs with jazz, blues, medieval and eastern influences. Incredible musical talents (Bernt Jansch, John Renbourn and Jacqui McShee with her angelic voice) accompanied with taste and judgement. A timeless classic.

I have a pretty expansive Steeleye Span collection. This was right up my alley

9.5/10. The music is absolutely lovely. I love its medieval vibes very much! I love this kind of folk music!!! It’s relaxing, but not boring. I love the various things that go on in this fantastic album!!! :)

great witchy folk music

The first song, with it’s Beatle-esque riff, folk guitar and jangly pop could only have been released in the 60s. I also loved “The Hunting Song” with its dual lead vocals and jazzy instrumentation, which includes some crazy double-bass. Also, “House Carpenter” with the banjo and sitar playing off each other. Jacqui McShee and Bert Jansch are good vocalists but when they share the vocals the contrast is amazing. And the fact that the whole band sings makes for some very untraditional harmonies. As much as I liked those tracks (and "Lyke-Wake Dirge") there were a couple of stinkers on the album and it was a no more than a 4 for me. Then I watched the 1971 live performance of “The Hunting Song” on YouTube and was blown away (as much as you can be by watching five people sitting around) so it’s +1.

Took me back a few years to a time before crude and non-musical music took over the world. A joy to behold.

I’m rather cheating with this one, as this is already a favourite album of mine. Imbued with dark magic, this wonderful collection of harmonic songs marrying the ancient and modern is delivered with remarkable artistry by the twinning guitars of Renbourn and Jansch and one of British Folk Music’s very finest voices

This is delightful. This album has shades of 70s prog rock blended with the sensibilities of a medieval bard.

I truly don't understand the low scores, that's something beautiful! Incredibly interesting fusion of genres

Oh I do love some wonderful folk music. It was a lovely blend of voices and acoustic instruments, and a lovely blend of traditional and new songs.

The opening bars of the first track had me super interested...then the vocals came and became quite hesitant...but then after I got my ears adjusted to what this album would be introducing me to, I REALLY dug it!

Loved it! Indeed a basket of light. Super sunny.

I was not aware of my need of some rock-tinged-renaissancy-baroque-folk until this fell into my lap. Fantastic! How I wish I could have seen this performed in the Royal Albert Hall.

I thought it was rather fabulous. Normally this sort of folk ages pretty badly but this endures through pure quality. Excellent

Beautiful.

Love the instrumentation and vocal style. Would love to hear this stuff live.

Say what you want about this record, but, for better or for worse, there aren’t many that sound like it. To state the obvious: it’s a jazz-folk-psychedelic trip through Renaissance England. And I am here for it. John Renbourne and Bert Jansch provide the most solid instrumental foundation for any album to succeed, but Jacqui McShee’s vocals flit weightlessly around the whole record. It conjures the same eerie juxtaposition of contemporary and profoundly folkish as the Wicker Man soundtrack (songs like Luke-Wake Dirge almost demand a Maypole to be truly appreciated). It’s a product of its time, and by no means perfect. But I love it, and that’s why I’d give it 4.5 (rounded up).

Groovy

They didn’t have to go so hard

This is my favorite album ever I think. I love almost every song.

One of Pentangle's best.

pretty

Brilliant. One of the most beautiful albums ever produced

Excellent album, avec des petites sonorités particulières et une sensation un peu religieuse, mais appréciable.

hippy, sitar, Gregorian chant

Heck yeah. Witchy.

Jazzy folk, and it somehow works.

I was skeptical of this one at first, in spite of the interesting time signatures in the lead track. But by the time it got to Lyke-Wake Dirge, it drew me in. I enjoyed the mixture of folk, medieval, and psychedelic rock, and the tight vocal harmonies. Rounded up from 3.5. Standout tracks: Once I Had a Sweetheart, Hunting Song, House Carpenter, The Cuckoo

Folk rock may have been snuffed out in America but it got a major shot in the arm in the United Kingdom, and Pentangle proved to be one of the defining bands of that moment with Basket of Light. Featuring a mixture of originals, traditionals and the intoxicating blend of contributions from the members of the band that leaves an indelible impression, Basket of Light provided a light of sorts (hehe) in a tunnel that was becoming increasingly bleak in a vastly changed landscape. Favorites: Light Flight, Once I Had a Sweetheart, Springtime Promises, Train Song, Sally Go 'Round the Roses.

Pleasant surprise.

Big Wicker Man vibes

Fun

Hey nonny nonny

Very chill listen.

Ok, I do love myself a bit of folk, but I just think this is a really good album anyway. Sandy Denny had a wonderful, ethereal voice and the music really complements it. Thoroughly enjoyed this.

its like tavern and video game dessert music a the same time. i kind of like it idk. what a coincidence Bert Jansch plays guitar and sings on this, I just listened to his self titled album yesterday. this way more interesting than that album, enjoyed this way more

This album is definitely a product of its time. It's very 60s, filled with sitars, light drumming, with light airy tracks like listening to a fairy tale in song. There's some very hippy-dippy love and nature themed songs, such as "Springtime Promises." All stuff I'd associate with that era. There were some clear medieval and religious themes throughout the album, which it sounds like the band was partial to and pulled inspiration from. I'd say it wasn't my type of thing when I started my listen but it totally grew on me and I actually enjoyed most of it by the end! I was very impressed with the guitar and other stringed instrument skill throughout the album. Same for the female vocalist, Jacqui McShee, who crushed her parts and made several of the songs hauntingly beautiful (see "House Carpenter"). Standouts: "Light Flight," "Once I Had a Sweetheart" - the sitar solo was great! - "Sally Go Round the Roses" - had a cool bluesy sound, and "House Carpenter" - the sitar parts in addition with McShees solo folky vocals were phenominal. Overall this album was very good. Had some definite highlights and I wouldn't mind hearing more. Props to the band for putting out a solid effort and the vibe of the album was pretty cool, if not something I'd actively seek out. In the end I enjoyed it a lot, and it's a very solid 4 out of 5 for me just because a few songs were kind of meh on an otherwise pretty unique album.