Joe Breen listens to a worthy Pentangle box-set and a reworking of Tony Joe White's work.

PENTANGLE

The Time Has Come 1967-1973

Castle Music

***

Has history been fair to Pentangle? This British five-piece folk-rock group had three of the most outstanding string players of their generation, a remarkable crystalline-voiced singer and a subtle but accomplished drummer.

In their six years together, double bassist Danny Thompson, guitarists John Renbourn and Bert Jansch, singer Jacqui McShee and drummer Terry Cox produced some sublime music that has lost little of its appeal in the intervening years, but also a fair smattering of the kind of po-faced, technically accomplished but emotionally light rhythmic exercises that got them a bad name.

These four CDs, along with a 62-page booklet, are a worthy tribute to an exceptional band - now on a comeback tour - and author and project compiler Colin Harper has done a good job in pulling it all together, leaving no story untold and no favourite out.

[ www.jacquimcshee.co.ukOpens in new window ]

JOE BREEN

Download tracks: Lord Franklin, Sweet Child, Cruel Sister

TONY JOE WHITE

Deep Cuts

Munich

****

There's not too many folks that can lay claim to founding their own genre. But swamp rock was Tony Joe White's gift to the world almost 40 years ago when the young Louisiana singer-songwriter/guitarist had his first hit with Polk Salad Annie. White's southern-fried blend of bluesy riffs and local lore had a narrow but consistent appeal over the years, but now his producer son Jody has helped him reinvent his style with this remarkable album.

Basically, White has re-recorded some of his best-known songs in a moody setting you can almost feel with tape loops, fat bass and booming drums underpinning his wiry guitar hooks and deep vocals. There is almost a sinister feel to the echo and swirling sound, especially on tracks such as Willie and Laura Mae Jonesand High Sheriff of Calhoun Parrish. It can be overdone, and at times is, but Jody White has done his dad, now 65, some service.

[ www.tonyjoewhite.comOpens in new window ]

JOE BREEN

Download tracks: Willie and Laura Mae Jones, Roosevelt and Ira Lee