LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

Disc 1 (An Evening With) Cold Wind Rain Cat Song In The Country September Wine Drops Of Brandy Lazily Slowly Spring Clog Dance End Of The Game Digging Up The Roses Thruxton (Dando Shaft) Coming Back To Me Railway Whispering Ned Sometimes Riverboat Kalyope Driver Waves Upon The Ether Dewet 'Til The Morning Comes Pass It On Prayer Disc 2 Magnetic Beggar * (Lantaloon) Road Song Is It Me Down To You-Up to Me Melancholy It Was Good Harp Lady Black Prince of Paradise When I'm Weary I Heard Somewhere Soul Music Don't Forget The Animals Sun Clog Dance* Lullaby* (*Bonus) - Named after a character in a novel, Dando Shaft began as a five-piece folk-band formed in Coventry in 1968 and comprised of Kevin Dempsey (acoustic guitar/vocals). Martin Jenkins (vocals, mandolin/fiddle/ guitar), Ted Kay (tabla/percussion), Roger Bullen (bass), and Dave Cooper (guitar/vocals). They were one of the many acoustic folk influenced bands, which sprang up in the wake of the commercial, and artistic success of the Incredible String Band . As was the norm, they took acoustic instrumentation and folk roots and created a unique sound of their own, high on musical dexterity and compositional ability. Their three albums from the early 1970's An Evening With..., Dando Shaft and Lantaloon each unveiled a rich imagination and a fertile plot of musical integrity. Preferring to play 'unplugged' with none of the instruments electrically amplified, Dando Shaft initiated a unique mixture of acoustic folk with driving rhythms and impeccable inventive musicianship. Using acoustic instrumentation, clear vocals and delectable harmonies allied to complex and unusual yet melodic and lilting song structures they easily inhabited the land occupied by The Natural Acoustic Band, Spirogyra and Tir Na Nog, yet there was also something special about Dando Shaft. The first album was released in 1970 on the Youngblood label, and gained a release in the US through the major MCA corporation. In October 1970, Dando Shaft acquired the services of a female singer, Polly Bolton from Leamington Spa, who had a pure and very expressive voice. Polly had previously sung with June Tabor. A change of label to RCA's short-lived Progressive imprint Neon in 1971 for the second album, Dando Shaft, followed by a release on RCA proper for the third, Lantaloon in 1972. After the band split in the mid 1970's Martin Jenkins had great success in the band Whippersnapper which also numbered Dave Swarbrick in its ranks. Polly Bolton in turn followed a spell out of the business by launching a successful solo career, initially helped by Ashley Hutchings. While Dando Shaft remains a curious entry to the English psychedelic folk era, their music is curious but wonderful nonetheless.