The Attic Tapes

The great British guitarist died in March this year, shortly after penning the warm, detailed liner notes that accompany this collection of 20 reel-to-reel recordings from the early 60s. It begins with a nascent version of ‘Anji’, pinned down before it became the de rigeur old standard to which every budding guitarist had to pay their dues. An equally early take on Jackson C Frank's ‘Blues Runs the Game’ follows, and there are fabulous live duets with Beverley Martyn as well as a spot with Davy Graham on the closing ‘Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out’.

Renbourn's folk-baroque style, melding English and Celtic folk with jazz, blues, classical and early music, was in part the template for Pentangle's many musical explorations. You can hear it all being worked out here; the guitar apprentice not quite the sorcerer. These recordings have a real warmth to them, made and stored by fellow player Mac MacLeod in his attic for five decades. It's a warmth that's rare in the world; even as young as he is here, Renbourn is compelling. It's not only for collectors and completists; it should draw the ears of anyone who ever picked up a guitar with intent. And it adds another layer of colour to the rich field of the British popular music of the 60s.