I seem a bit late to discovering this Irish choral group. Having posted Pentangle’s 1969 single recording of ‘Once I Had A Sweetheart’ here a couple of days ago, YouTube’s algorithm threw up this 2023 live performance of the same song, clearly based on the ‘Tangle version. It seems to be Systir’s only studio release so far (a digital single). I find it mesmerisingly good. (video in comments)
The Pentangle’s finest moment?
I’ve been listening to Pentangle a lot recently (a couple of projects might be in the air). I have a feeling their finest hour is the five-minute instrumental break in the otherwise dreary side-long ‘Jack Orion’ (1970). It’s effectively a stand-alone composition and features everything that made Pentangle so distinctive – a could-be-no-one-else Bert Jansch guitar pattern, pugnacious, counter-melodic jazz bass and spooky xylophone from drummer Terry Cox (he hated playing it, but it was always brilliant – and few others were using the instrument at the time). In the mix for a couple of minutes we hear octavey electric guitar parts from Renbourn, then a clean solo, with his singular mix of distinctive low-volume ‘English blues’ licks and brinkmanship, then a wild, teetering on the cliff-edge foray into a fuzz solo, with everything building up, including Terry’s (again, highly distinctive) drums entering and laying down a groove. It’s a masterpiece.
There are no live versions of this – it’s a one-off slice of magic.
The only contender for peak Pentangle, I reckon, is ‘Reflection’ (1971) – for which there are two stunning televised versions.
The Rhombus, live at Cambridge, 1982
Terry Cox was unwell, hence a geometrical conundrum for this, the first Pentangle reunion.
Pentangle: Songs From a Country Church (1970)
Broadcast at 10.40pm on BBC2 on Christmas Day 1970, ‘Songs From a Country Church’ was a short film of the Pentangle performing four songs at the venerable Trumpington Church, brass rubbings from which had decorated the cover of John Renbourn’s 1968 LP ‘Sir John Alot of Merrie Englandes Musyk Thyng & Ye Grene Knyghte.
It was long believed erased, so I was surprised when a few seconds clearly from it appeared in some BBC4 thing, in passing, fairly recently (can’t remember what, though).
I’ve had off-air audio of the programme for years – probably unheard since the 90s. Given that even domestic-level audio enhancement tools have come on amazingly of late, I dug out the somewhat distant audio and applied some techniques… and it’s turned out rather well. I’ve created a fairly involved photo montage for it. Enjoy…
A sprightly cover of Pentangle single
We don’t often hear people covering Pentangle soings, do we? Here’s their near-hit in three time signatures given a spring clean by a woman from, I’m guessing, the Netherlands.
Pentangular magic – behind the curtain
I have a feeling this man is providing a tremendous public service by revealing how the magic was created…
Another vintage filmed Pentangle concert surfaces
I just noticed this on YouTube – a half-hour Belgian film from a concert hall in 1971 that I was otherwise unaware of. A few months ago we had 50 minutes of a Norwegian concert from 1968. Amazing.
The tracks (excerpted) here are: In Your Mind / No More My Lord / Goodbye Pork Pie Hat / I Loved A Lass / Hole In The Coal / Bruton Town / Sweet Child
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R83wOBh8DjU
Blimey – 50+ mins of live Pentangle, 1968
This has appeared out of the blue. Who knew? Over 50 minutes of prime ‘Sweet Child’ era Pentangle filmed with great sound by NRK (Norway).
The full concert is here (see link in this post) and comprises:
The Time Has Come Mirage A Woman Like You (Bert) Turn Your Money Green (Jacqui & John) Hear My Call Haiaitian Fight Song (Danny) Let No Man Steal Your Thyme Bells Bruton Town
Two further pieces from the same performance (at Oslo University, May 1968) are featured here: https://tv.nrk.no/serie/visefestival-i-kroa/FBUA07005968/19-07-1968
Travelling Song Pentangling
https://tv.nrk.no/serie/visefestival-i-kroa/FBUA07005768/07-06-1968
