The music here is difficult to categorize. It isn't warmed over Incredible String Band, though hints of that legacy appear in spots, and despite the instrumentation and obvious strong Celtic influence, it doesn't fall neatly into a generic Celtic pigeonhole, either. The album eases into a start with "Port London Early", a gentle instrumental piece where the parts often seem to chase each other. "Pacheco" is country on the surface, with guest Pete Grant's dobro work, the sweet vocal harmonies, and the mariachi-like guitar and harp figures, but underneath is the feel of an Indian evening raga. "Keepsake", about a youthful sexual encounter, is dark and brooding, propelled by the low end of a piano, enhanced by other low instruments like viola and alto flute. The beastly punfest of "Zoo Blues" is reminiscent of old Hoosier Hotshots numbers, or perhaps Incredible String Band at one of its sillier moments. "These Islands Green", a song of roving and homesickness, is one of the more Celtic-sounding selections, beginning with Williamson's voice against a bagpipe drone, before the other instruments and voices join the mix, ending with a bouncy, nameless tune. "The Man In The Van" is a disquieting account of a man being taken to a psychiatric facility, anchored by some unsettling harp notes, and tremoloed violin and guitar. "Sands and the Glass" states a determination to persevere despite the passage of time and the changes it brings. This one sounds like '70s West Coast pop, with its smooth yet driving instrumentation and layered vocal harmonies. "Her Scattered Gold" is an instrumental, starting sedately, then gradually accelerating to a reel tempo, where the flute and fiddle soar over an accompaniment of swirling harp and punchy mandocello. "When Evening Shadows Fall" is another one feeling like evening raga. No sitars, but the melody at times echoes ISB's "Nightfall". The original album closed with "Rab's Last Woolen Testament", a humorous paean to whiskey. The spoken passages here give a hint of the storytelling that Williamson would take up later in his career.
The lengthy (eleven minute) bonus track is a rare treat. It's a live recording of Williamson reciting his poem "Song of Mabon". Drawing from Welsh myth, the poem is the tale of the Wild Huntsman, Mabon son of Modron. I say Williamson recites this, but that isn't accurate. He recites, yes, but also whispers, chants, roars, and sings, at times accompanying the text with harp, and what I presume to be pipe and tabor. The master recording having been lost, this was transferred from a flexi-disc recording from a poetry magazine. Consequently, the sound quality is fuzzy at times, but the narration is captivating enough that it scarcely detracts.After listening to this old favorite (plus the mythic poem), I can only hope that more of Robin Williamson's early solo work and Merry Band recordings are re-released. I'll be waiting eagerly.
Other reviews of his material here at Green Man Review are here and here.
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