Black Balloon [CD-single] [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
The fourth single from the hit American alternative rock act's huge 1998 album 'Dizzy Up the Girl'. The Aussie edition contains 'Black Balloon' and three backing tracks NOT on the European edition, 'Lazy Eye', 'Naked' (Remix) and 'Flattop'. A limited edition release, it also contains a full color 13 inch x 15 inch foldout poster featuring a group shot of the band that is attached to the digipak that the disc comes in. The border of the poster that is attached is also perforated allowing easy removal of it! 1999 release.

Tracks:

The Moon Shines Bright
The English Dance
Bourree I And II
Medley: The Mist Covered Mountains Of Home/The Orphan/Tarboulton
The Pelican
The Black Balloon

Customer Reviews:

A thing of beauty.......2005-12-27

Although The Hermit is a close contender, I would claim this to be Renbourne's finest album, and this from a man who has a respectable body of work behind him. This is an instrumental album displaying the virtuosity of Renbourne's guitar playing. The dazzling display of fingerwork shown on all these tracks would impress a Segovia or a Bream, with whom, to these ears at least, I would not hesitate to place him. The first three tracks are stately baroque pieces played without accompaniment. The final two tracks are composed by Renbourne and have a lovely accompaniment by a flutist and, through the use of double tracking, Renbourne on electric guitar. In case you think the use of an electric guitar clashes with the acoustic purity displayed elsewhere, the playing is so masterly that he manages to make it sound like the most natural thing on earth.

The Black Balloon is a thing of beauty from the opening note to the last. For fans of the acoustic guitar, I recommend it whole-heartedly.

Sublime acoustic guitar music.......2005-04-15

This is a very special recording indeed - and one I first loved in the mid eighties. Standout tracks are "The Pelican" with inspired use of harmonics with cleverly swooping and diving melody, and the beautiful "Black Balloon". There is something intensely moving about this music - I always did "fill up" when hearing it,- something wistful and bitter sweet about it! John Renbourn is an amazing guitarist - as all who've seen him live will testify! I cannot imagine any guitarist/acoustic lover being disappointed after buying this gem.

A Wonderful Collection of Instrumentals.......2000-12-03

On this collection of mostly solo instrumentals (Renbourn is occasionally joined by flute and tabors), the listener is treated to a series of folk pieces--the last three all in excess of seven minutes.

The liner notes get a bit technical for this listener. For example, of the opening track we are told: "After establishing the theme in sedate quarter-notes, it launches into a fascinating set of variations in typical Elizabethan manner, moving into progressively more animated figurations in slightly altered harmony. At the fifth variation, the theme migrates beneath lively motifs in the upper voice in eighth--and sixteenth notes, before introducing fresh but related material leading to a closing restatement of the original theme intact." I think what that really means is that Renbourn plays some of the most amazing fingerstyle guitar you're ever likely to hear.

In addition to his solo albums, Renbourn has recorded a series of duo albums with former Pentangle bandmate Bert Jansch as well as with American Stefan Grossman, all of which are worth seeking out. If you enjoyed the folk music of Pentangle or the John Renbourn group, but are more interested in simply hearing Renbourn's unadorned guitar playing, this album is an excellent introduction. RECOMMENDED