ANNE BRIGGS – The Time Has Come (Repress) – LP – Green Vinyl [JAN 31]

LP – Limited Edition ‘Leafy Green’ Vinyl Repress with printed inner sleeve (no download code).

Anne Briggs second album appeared in 1971, but in sharp contrast to her debut, where shed sung traditional music with scarcely any accompaniment, this was virtually all contemporary material, most of it self-penned, with Briggs playing guitar and bouzouki. Included was the title track, which had already been covered by former boyfriend Bert Jansch, and showed Briggs to be a writer of some power (although, to be fair, Janschs slower, more reflective version remains the better), and its also the standout among Briggs material, followed by Wishing Well, where Jansch gets the co-writing credit. Ride Ride is a pastiche railroad song (obviously British railways dont have quite the same appeal), and the opening Sandmans Song harks back to innocent childhood, albeit a rather strange one. The choice of covers is far from obvious, but very tasteful. Steve Ashleys Fire and Wine could almost be a traditional piece, while the perkiness of Henry McCullochs Step Right Up works well with Briggs artless voice. Very much influenced by the folk revival which brought her into the public eye, her voice is untutored and unself-conscious, appealing in an offhand way. But it definitely quavers a little, even on her own work, and she seems most comfortable with the records only traditional piece, Standing on the Shore. To give credit, Briggs throws in a couple of bouzouki instrumentals, Highlodge Hare and Clea Caught a Rabbit, that show some command of the instrument.

Tracklisting:

Side A
1. Sandmans Song
2. Highlodge Hare
3. Fire And Wine
4. Step Right Up
5. Ride, Ride
6. The Time Has Come

Side B
1. Clea Caught A Rabbit
2. Tangled Man
3. Wishing Well
4. Standing On The Shore
5. Tidewave
6. Everytime
7. Fine Horseman