New Folk Routes [PA]

Performer: Various Artists
Distributor: Infinity Entertainment Gr

Notes: Whether this is intended to be a best-of for British folk-rock of the late '60s and early '70s is unclear from the packaging, but New Folk Routes is a pretty good 18-track survey of the scene (though one cut is of a fiddler from the early 1900s). As you might expect, Fairport Convention and their spinoffs are the main axis, with selections not only by Fairport, but also Sandy Denny, Fotheringay, Richard & Linda Thompson, the Albion Country Band, and other projects in which Fairporters appeared (like the Bunch). Other major names aren't neglected, though, with selections by Nick Drake, the Incredible String Band (and one of their members, Mike Heron), John Martyn, Amazing Blondel, and the Incredible String Band's Irish counterpart, Dr. Strangely Strange. Traffic's famed "John Barleycorn" is also here, and probably the only cut that's familiar to most classic rock fans, especially in the U.S. If you're looking for the best early British folk-rock compilation, Rhino's Troubadours of British Folk, Vol. 2 remains the top choice; even though it has many of the same artists (and a couple of the same tracks), its range of artists is a little wider and the songs a little more outstanding. But as kind of a second dip into the same well that favors somewhat lesser-known songs (especially Denny's spooky "Man of Iron," for a long time available only on a rare 1972 soundtrack EP), this is a good route for further investigation, with good liner notes by Andy Morten. ~ Richie Unterberger

Uncut (p.113) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[T]he selections...show how British folk was not only a force in its own right but connected to soul, funk, even dub." Record Collector (magazine) (p.105) - 5 stars out of 5 -- "[T]he music is folk-based, intelligent and imaginatively performed. As an introduction to that era of music it is quite superb..."

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