In addition to being called
Ship of Fools, this album is credited to
John Renbourn's Ship of Fools, signaling that it is not a
Renbourn solo album, but rather a group effort. Previously,
Renbourn has used the credit "
the John Renbourn Group," but since the personnel is different, he seems to have opted for a new moniker. The chief difference is that, in this case, the female singer is not his old
Pentangle partner
Jacqui McShee but rather
Maggie Boyle, who takes lead vocals on four of the ten tracks, in addition to playing flute.
Tony Roberts plays wind instruments, as he did in
the John Renbourn Group, with
Scott Breadman, producer
Mitch Greenhill, and
Michael Tempo adding various percussion instruments.
Renbourn is joined on the guitar by
Steve Tilston, who also adds mandolin. The music is stately traditional British folk in
Renbourn's familiar manner, and the mixture is also familiar, with "Cobbler's Jig/Maltese Brawls" the instrumental and the album concluding with an a cappella hymn, "Travellers' Prayer." The album is thus a worthy successor to
the John Renbourn Group albums
A Maid in Bedlam and
The Enchanted Garden. ~ William Ruhlmann