A much-welcome Celtic-prog treasure trove
Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com | ...in Middle America | 01/17/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"An extraordinary 2-CD reissue of three early-'70s British folk-fusion albums by this little-known but quite accomplished English group out of Coventry. This collects all the material from the LPs "An Evening With Dando Shaft" (1970), "Dando Shaft" (1971), and "Lantaloon," from 1972, along with a few added outtakes and rarities. The musical calibre and adventurousness on all three albums was quite high: at a time when many of their hippie contemporaries were groping in the dark (both literally and figuratively...) the members of Dando Shaft were quite solid in their musical abilities and conceptual/compositional structure. Their original material was marked by jazzy, dancing mandolin work, hearty trad-folk vocals and a touch of loping Balkan melodies, the group sounded quite accomplished and assured, and yet loose and limber enough to be kinda fun as well... and still as fresh sounding today as it was back then! Fans of contemporary acts such as The Incredible String Band, Pentangle and Planxty owe it to themselves to check this one out."
Dando Shaft Anthology
Filzy | Australia | 03/03/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I purchased this CD as I was keen to hear again the track "Waves Upon the Ether" which I recall from the '70s.
I have been pleasantly surprised to find all three albums so enjoyable. In particular I like the tracks featuring Polly Bolton, whose voice is similar to Maddy Prior's. The albums have a freshness, an immediateness, not dimmed by time. All are original songs and have a rather folky feel. Often the subject is unusual, such as "Rain", "Railway" and "Riverboat" - slightly whimsical and a change from commonly over-worked themes. The skilled instrumentation is catchy - the mandolin in particular. I find most of the songs to be cheerful but at the same time with an appealing tinge of melancholy.
I gather that the group has reformed to perform from time to time and I hope that the members are still receiving royalties for the works on this anthology.
"
Track Listings (20) - Disc #1