Divided about half-and-half between traditional folk covers ("The Great Silkie" is the best) and
Tobias Boshell originals, this is very much in the mainstream of 1970 British folk-rock. But the material is often plain, and the arrangements simply too drawn-out, even bombastic at times. The band takes on
Fairport head-to-head on "She Moved Thro' the Fair" (sung by
Sandy Denny on
Fairport's second LP) and loses. The title track, though, is their best song, an atypically light piece for acoustic guitar and harpsichord that has a beautifully haunting melody. ~ Richie Unterberger