The Lady and the Unicorn
John Renbourn · 1970
35 min · 8 tracks · folk music
A tapestry of intricate melodies and harmonies that seamlessly blend medieval influences with contemporary folk sensibilities.
Top tracks — play these first
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Trotto / Saltarello — This track exemplifies Renbourn's ability to merge intricate fingerstyle guitar work with lively rhythms, establishing an enchanting opening to the album.
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The Lady and the Unicorn — The title track encapsulates the thematic essence of the album, blending poetic storytelling with a rich harmonic landscape that reflects a sense of historical depth.
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My Johnny Was a Shoemaker / Westron Wynde / Scarborough Fair — This medley showcases Renbourn's skill in intertwining different traditional melodies, creating a captivating journey through various folk traditions.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends medieval and folk influences with intricate arrangements, establishing Renbourn's distinct style.
What we noticed
- The final track combines multiple traditional songs into a medley, creating a rich tapestry of sound that encapsulates the album's themes.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- intricate melodies for detail lovers
- short, engaging bursts of history
- evening relaxation with gentle harmonies
- playful rhythms for lighthearted moments
Maybe skip if you
- prefer lengthy, immersive albums
- want high-energy dance tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1970, The Lady and the Unicorn marked John Renbourn's first album after co-founding the influential folk group Pentangle. At this point in his career, Renbourn was beginning to carve out a solo identity while still drawing on traditional themes and instrumentation, showcasing his unique blend of folk baroque styles.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Bert Jansch· Nick Drake· Davey Graham
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Trotto / Saltarello 2:34
- 2 Lamento di Tristan / La Rotta 2:58
- 3 Veri Floris / Triple Ballade 2:44
- 4 Bransle Gay / Bransle de Bourgogne 2:50
- 5 Alman / Melancholy Galliard 4:41
- 6 Sarabande 2:45
- 7 The Lady and the Unicorn 3:28
- 8 My Johnny Was a Shoemaker / Westron Wynde / Scarborough Fair 13:07
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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