Fairport Convention Wishfulness Waltz

Although there's nothing here as overpowering as "Sailor's Life" or "Sloth," this record is still a choice release, as Sandy Denny's official return to Fairport. She wrote or co-wrote seven of its 11 songs, and dominates most of the others with her voice. This lineup (Denny, Dave Swarbrick, Dave Pegg, Jerry Donahue, Trevor Lucas, and Bruce Rowland, with Dave Mattacks - who quit partway through - drumming on some of the tracks) went for the gold with rock veteran Glyn Johns in the producer's spot. The result was the only Fairport album done after the departure of Richard Thompson that doesn't sound anemic in the electric guitar department. Some of the songs, especially the title track and "Restless," have the feel of compact, breezy pop/country-rock, reminiscent of the Eagles or Firefall, although it's hard to imagine either of those groups turning in anything with the ethereal beauty of Denny's performance on "White Dress" or "Dawn"…

After the disastrous "Gottle O' Geer" album from the previous year (which had been intended as a Dave Swarbrick solo album), stalwart Simon Nicol returned to the group and provided the group with the crucial ingredient it had been missing since he departed in 1972 with his perfectly sympathetic guitar. Here we have them sounding like Fairport Convention again, tackling traditional fare with great enthusiasm and aplomb. Their joy in playing as a reconstituted group shines through on tracks like "The Eynsham Poacher", with its lovely harmonies, and as a formidable instrumental group it's tracks like bassist Dave Pegg's "Jams O'Donnell's Jigs" that satisfy most. The title track is one they attempted clear back in 1970 and is a sure-fire jaw-dropping classic. A fine return to form.

Universal will issue a seven-CD Fairport Convention box set in July that features ‘key album tracks’, non-album singles, radio sessions and previously unreleased live recordings from all of the classic line-ups. This collection celebrates Fairport’s first 10 years, beginning with their eponymous debut for Polydor in 1968, through all of their albums for Island Records and finishing with tracks from their two albums for Vertigo, The Bonny Bunch of Roses and Tippers Tales.

Myths and Heroes is the twenty-seventh studio album from Britain's best-known folk-rock band Fairport Convention. Featuring thirteen new songs and tunes, this eagerly-awaited release is the first new Fairport studio album for four years. The tracks on Myths and Heroes include five compositions by Chris Leslie and two by Ric Sanders (both members of Fairport) and six guest compositions including a new song from renowned songwriter Ralph McTell. Recorded and mastered by John Gale, the album epitomizes Fairport Convention's consummate musicality - Myths and Heroes shows British folk-rock's founding fathers at the top of their game.