Recorded during
Steeleye Span Mark II's early days,
Summer Solstice -- the most advanced of the three albums that they recorded together early in their careers -- has a very different feel from the
Steeleye work of the era.
Tim Hart (vocals, guitar, dulcimer, harmonium, psaltery, tabor) and
Maddy Prior (vocals) are working with
Sweeney's Men (whence
Steeleye Mark I's
Terry Woods came) alumnus
Andy Irvine and
Steeleye Mark I guest drummer
Gerry Conway. The sound is mostly fairly spare, just
Hart and
Prior backed by
Irvine on mandolin,
John Ryan on string bass,
Pat Donaldson on electric bass, and
Conway on percussion. The only exception is "Dancing at Whitsun," which features a very tasteful backing orchestral arrangement.
Hart and
Prior do a version of "False Knight on the Road" that's very different in pacing and nuance from
Steeleye's, and a beautiful, droning rendition of "Bring Us in Good Ale." Their voices mesh wonderfully on "Sorry the Day I Was Married," and
Prior gets a chance to shine as a solo on "Westron Wynde," "Fly Up My Cock," and the two most
Steeleye-like track here, "Cannily, Cannily" and "Three Drunken Maidens." ~ Bruce Eder