Artist: Bert Jansch

'a magic wand to wave...', 2002-06-12
This album, like several of bert's, is uneven, seemingly un-themed or without even a consistant mood or constant style to tie its disparate pieces together. That said, the notion that albums must all be concept pieces is a mistaken one, and what we have here is an excellent innovator & skilled interpretor presenting us with a cluster of diverse, highly imaginative songs in 'folk, blues & beyond', with a voice & guitar style that are uniquely personal; dissonances & harmonies of unexpected shapes emerge continuously through both. He is joined by excellent, complementary musicians (often absent from his later releases) who are allowed themselves to contribute to oblique, open-ended mini-masterpieces such as 'a woman like you' & 'i am lonely'. For the artist's individuality & the way in which he passes through uncharted musical realms with both emotional vigour & casual whimsy, this album belongs to the the special family of innovative albums created in the late sixties

Artist: Bert Jansch

after all these years, 2009-08-15
After all these years it's great to have this on CD. (There was Three Card Trick which had selections from the 3 Charisma albums)The opening sequence of tracks is one of Bert's very best.

Artist: Bert Jansch

Five star review 10 star album, 2008-08-11
Ok let's get the guest star issue over with first.

Yes they are wyrdy beardie folkies but speaking as one who loves the lysergic twist this is not a bad thing. Beth Orton has a modicum of beatastic fame and has come out the other side relatively unscathed. The Espers crew know how to spook things up deliciously. Love that Cello. Devendra is just Devendra and keeps things mellow, So far so wyrd,

All of this frippery obviously keeps young Bert atuned to the contempoary ether because this is a fine album. The title song is the best one here; it is a belter and stands in my top 5 Bert tunes (I accept I have not heard all of 304 odd or something but a fair smatterring over the years.) Anyway the hairs on my neck tell me it's a goody.

As regards the vocals - they're rough and ready. They do what they say. On "Katie Cruel" Devendra and Beth work magic but if you are expecting precision singing you've come to the wrong CD.

The beauty and strength of this CD is the diversity of tone even if the moods is maintained. I am not a fan generally of guest stars, figuring that they obscure the main event (Come in Carlos Santana) but here they add and compliment - and it works a treat. At times it is a bit like a fab home made compilation. Bert's playing is spot on and joyful - when compared on a a scale of dourness 1-5, Bert usually ranks just below Gordon Brown - but here he must only be a 3.5.

On "Texas Cowboy USA" is a bass driven polemic about Bush Jnr - yes really! Even the his Bobness should cover this. "Magdalina's dance" an instrumental features the banjo and brings to mind Sufjan Stevens - again contemporary stuff that is rooted in the past. What goes around comes around.

Not everyones cup of tea, granted. Not everyone likes and 18 year old malt. That said, can we arrange a whip round for a new set of ears for those who only gave this less than 5 stars?

I commend this CD to the house.

Artist: Bert Jansch

Wow Bert !, 2010-02-13
Entering the orbit of Bert via the usual route (Pentangle) did me no harm. On his own he stretches out and really unleashes his talent. At times I am not even sure which century I am in, such does Bert manage to transport me away from my sofa and into another realm. I shall now buy all his albums. Thank you Bert.

Artist: Bert Jansch

Great, 2010-02-08
I love this. Discovered the album on Spotify, brought on Amazon.
The music is great and the recording is perfect.

Artist: Bert Jansch

One of the Best, 2010-03-11
This is one of my favourite Jansch CD's and it is a Classic which you will enjoy and be safe with. Enjoy it for now as in his later years Bert loses the plot.

Artist: Bert Jansch

This'll get you picking..., 2010-02-11
Anyone with an acoustic guitar should own this album if only for "Anji", the tune that turned a folkophobe into a folkophile in under four minutes.

Buy it then buy Jansch's most recent album "The Black Swan" then buy all the ones in between and you will never look back. You may end up with sore fingers, though.

Artist: Bert Jansch, John Renbourn

Inspired, 2007-07-15
Why does Amazon attribute this to Bert Jansch? If ever you were looking for an inspired collaboration of two equal partners, then surely this delivers the goods. More than forty years on and it still gives me shivers. I have several versions of 'Goodbye Pork Pie Hat' and this version stands with the best of them. 'Stepping Stones' continues to make me wince with delight, though I must have heard it a hundred times. And 'After the Dance' always leaves me wanting more. John Renbourn came up, less than two years later, with 'Sir John Alot Of Merrie Englandes Musyk Thyng And Ye Grene Knyghte', surely one of the most cringemaking titles ever contrived but also a seminal and utterly brilliant album which I still rank amongst my top ten of all time. Virtually simultaneously, the first of the Pentangle albums was released. Three gems.

Artist: Bert Jansch

Gentle and Relaxing, 2009-09-18
In my opinion Crimson Moon is one of those CDs best enjoyed when the party's over, your guests have gone home and you've thrown another log on the fire. If you're a stranger to the legendary Bert Jansch then this CD might not have instant appeal. But often in life, some things are worth getting to know better and the gentle, laid back quality of Crimson Moon confirms that adage. Although there is much variation between the songs, from English folk influences to American-style country, rock, and traditional blues, the whole album hangs together seamlessly and exudes an effortless quality. It also has a contemporary feel to it and therefore should appeal to a younger and more discerning listener as well as to the greybeards such as myself. Go on - throw another log on the fire and enjoy this soothing CD.

Artist: Bert Jansch

Outstanding, 2010-03-11
Classic Bert thank God it's not one of his new CD's. If you love Bert as he was before he went all weird then this is for you. It is almost a relief to play this CD.