Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Strawbs
Label: A&M Records / Interscope
Released: 1970
Runtime: 36:44
Rating: 3/5
Strawbs, legends of the British prog folk rock scene, are best known among fans of this kind of music for three things: they were one of the pioneers of British (prog) folk rock, the late Fairport Convention singer Sandy Denny kicked off her professional career with them, and for a short time their ranks included the famous keyboardist Rick Wakeman, who later made a worldwide name for himself as a member of Yes. Wakeman joined Strawbs, first as an occasional session player and later as a full member, right around the time of »Dragonfly«, their official second outing, if you don’t count the album »All Our Own Work« with Sandy Denny, which was recorded back in 1967 but only came out in 1973, and »Strawbery Sampler Number 1« (1969).
»Dragonfly« was in many ways an “extension” of the rather modest, beginner-level debut »Strawbs« (1969), even though here they polished up the acoustic folk rock elements that were revolutionary for the time. It’s ruled by plenty of traditional folk instruments like acoustic guitar, tambourine, bass viol (double bass) and cello. The electric guitar, handled by the band’s unofficial boss, guitarist and singer Dave Cousins, was just a sprinkle at this stage of their career, while the modest amount of drum parts was played by guest drummer Bjarne Rostvold. They still didn’t have an official drummer or bassist. This thoroughly pastoral album, where besides the mystically tinged acoustic guitar chords it’s the rustic string arrangements on the cello that impress most, was produced by the famous Tony Visconti, who also played recorder on a few tracks.
»Dragonfly« is made up, with one single exception, of shorter, pastoral little songs with pleasant melodies and lovely vocal harmonies courtesy of Cousins and the other acoustic guitarist, Tony Hooper, which you can hear right from the opener »Way Song«. The string arrangements, the domain of Ron Chesterman on bass viol and Claire Deniz on cello, bring in rustic visions of the idyllic English countryside. The title track, ruled by watchful acoustic guitar harmonies and mischievous strings, could easily serve as the soundtrack for shepherds lounging by a village pond where dragonflies buzz around. The rhythmic patterns of most songs are slow, which isn’t surprising given the near-total absence of drums. On »I Turned My Face Into the Wind« the piano talent of a then still wet-behind-the-ears Wakeman chimes in, while »Jospehine, For Better Or Worse« is a rather fiery yet melancholic folk ballad. Plenty of people listening to Cousins’ singing will think his tone of voice was quite reminiscent of a young Peter Gabriel (ex-Genesis), even though his vocal range was never as elastic.
On »Another Day«, which has a lovely chorus from the Cousins-Hooper vocal duo, the strings step into the foreground, typical of English folk music and evoking the countryside of Victorian England. »’Till The Sun Comes Shining Through« is yet another pastoral little number with a friendly atmosphere and fairly naive lyrics, while on »Young Again« Strawbs, with the lively use of recorder courtesy of producer Visconti, show off a somewhat livelier side too.
The almost 11-minute folk prog rock epic treat »Vision of the Lady of the Lake«, ruled by lively string arrangements and gorgeous acoustic guitar melodies, is the most ambitious and also the best piece on the album, where the band’s true potential shines in all its glory. It’s also the only one with dramatic drum fills, and the one where Strawbs sound like a prog rock band. The lyrics tell of a boatman who, while crossing a lake with the help of the sword Excalibur, a gift from the legendary fairy known as the Lady of the Lake from the legends of King Arthur, fights off a whole swarm of mystical monsters. The album closes with the short, under-a-minute pastoral lullaby »Close Your Eyes«.
Strawbs went on to release quite a few much better albums than the still fairly naive, almost entirely acoustic, beginner-level »Dragonfly«, but it’s still an important record when it comes to its influence on the development of the British folk (prog) rock scene.
Lineup
Dave Cousins – vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, percussion, dulcimer
Tony Hooper – vocals, acoustic guitar, tambourine
Claire Deniz – cello
Ron Chesterman – double bass
GUEST MUSICIANS:
Rick Wakeman – piano
Tony Visconti – recorder
Bjarne Rostvold – drums
Paul Brett – electric guitar
Production
Tony Visconti
Track list
1. The Weary Song
2. Dragonfly
3. I Turned my Face into the Wind
4. Josephine for Better or for Worse
5. Another Day
6. ‘Til the Sun Comes Shining Through
7. Young Again
8. The Vision of the Lady of the Lake
9. Close Your Eyes
