The Trees
The Garden of Jane Delaney - CBS 1970
Tracks: 1. Nothing Special / 2. The Great Silkie / 3. The Garden of Jane Delawney / 4. Lady Margaret / 5. Glasgerion / 6. She Moved Thro' the Fair / 7. Road / 8. Epitaph / 9. Snail's Lament
Comments:
The Garden of Jane Delawney from April 1970 was the debut album from the English band The Trees. The band usually got labeled as a folk-rock band, but although there obviously is a strong element of British folk in their music influences were much broader than just traditional folk. Several tracks might even be labeled psychedelia and the group had in Bias Boshell a prolific and original songwriter.
It's a really strong debut album with the title track as an unforgettable stand-out, beautifully sung by Celia Humphris. It is melodically a very beautiful song, written by Boshell in strong folk-tradition inspiration and with a somewhat mysterious lyrics, which further arouses the listener's interest. The song was already covered in 1972 by Francoise Hardy and also All About Eve gave their take on the song on a 1988 single.
Of Boshell's other songs, especially the quiet "Epitaph" is beautiful and melodic. Boshell also wrote the exciting opening number “Nothing Special” together with the other group members; here you experience the fusion of folk and psychedelia, with e.g. lots of distorted guitar.
Four tracks are traditionals which are all relatively long and give room for group's two guitarists to improvise. ”The Great Silkie” and ”Lady Margaret” are fine melodies with a structure reminiscent of Fairport Convention's ”Matty Groves”. Just like Fairport Convention did the year before, The Trees also offer a take on "She Moved Through the Fair", which is a floating atmospheric number.
Finally, there is "Glasgerion", which after a quiet first part goes into a heavier second part - also a fine track.
A great debut album and the group would be even better on their subsequent album "On the Shore" in 1971.
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