Bert Jansch - Edge Of A Dream (2002)

I did have a bit of a folk-rock phase at one time, and have never lost my affection for the late 60s / early 70s Fairport albums, but I find I admire the folk legends more than I love their work.

Bert Jansch of Pentangle was one of those legends, certainly one of the finest guitarists of his day, so it's no surprise to find this album here, probably picked up for a quid somewhere.

There's nothing startlingly good or bad here. It's a simple set of songs, all of which make for pleasant listening without any wow factor.

There's a lot of excellent acoustic guitar mastery from Jansch (What Is On Your Mind, La Luna Black Cat Blues), a couple of cameos from Dave Swarbrick (Sweet Death, Gypsy Dave), some pleasant folk-rock (On The Edge Of A Dream, Quiet Joys Of Brotherhood), more bluesy stuff (I Can't Keep From Crying) and finishing with Bright Sunny Morning, where Jansch channels his inner Dylan.

So, a solid enough album, and a pleasant listen, but nothing you'd crawl over hot coals for.

Link to opening track - others are there, but non one's threaded them into a playlist!

3* - some lovely acoustic guitar here brighten up otherwise unremarkable songs