No Roses
The era of English folk-rock might have begun a couple of years before, butNo Rosesmarked its leap into maturity. Shirley Collins already had an established (and justified) reputation as one of the best traditional singers around. This, putting her music in a different context, surrounded player players from folk, rock, jazz, and early music backgrounds, pushed her--and everyone else--hard. It could have been an unholy mess; instead it was a triumph of integrity and art. The songs were reinvented, without ever losing their innate beauty, and introduced to a whole new generation. "Hal-An-Tow" is close to perfection; the creaking cart in "Murder of Maria Marten" sets the atmosphere; and above it all shines the voice of Shirley Collins, a glorious soft instrument.--Chris Nickson