Full House [Original recording remastered, Extra tracks]

Placed in its early-1970s context, Full House finds Fairport Convention at what seemed a crucial test: its strongest singers, Sandy Denny and Ian (now Iain) Matthews had departed for new group and solo challenges, and co-leader Ashley Hutchings had defected to found a rival ensemble, Steeleye Span, leaving guitarist Richard Thompson at Fairport's helm. Happily, the revamped quintet passed with flying colours, forging a leaner, more muscular sound that extended both ends of the folk-rock equation; the balance between spirited jigs and reels, and four-square rock back beats, is underlined by the fiery exchanges traded by guitarists Thompson and Simon Nicol and fiddler Dave Swarbrick, explaining why many regard this as Fairport's strongest instrumental lineup. And, on "Sloth", Thompson prefigures the dark, modal rock epics of future solo works on an antiwar dirge that evokes a British version of Neil Young & Crazy Horse. --Sam Sutherland

Placed in its early-1970s context, Full House finds Fairport Convention at what seemed a crucial test: its strongest singers, Sandy Denny and Ian (now Iain) Matthews had departed for new group and solo challenges, and co-leader Ashley Hutchings had defected to found a rival ensemble, Steeleye Span, leaving guitarist Richard Thompson at Fairport's helm. Happily, the revamped quintet passed with flying colours, forging a leaner, more muscular sound that extended both ends of the folk-rock equation; the balance between spirited jigs and reels, and four-square rock back beats, is underlined by the fiery exchanges traded by guitarists Thompson and Simon Nicol and fiddler Dave Swarbrick, explaining why many regard this as Fairport's strongest instrumental line-up. And, on "Sloth", Thompson prefigures the dark, modal rock epics of future solo works on an anti-war dirge that evokes a British version of Neil Young & Crazy Horse. --Sam Sutherland

UK digitally remastered reissue of the 1970 album for Hannibal. Includes four bonus tracks, 'Now Be Thankful' (mono & new stereo mix), 'Sir B. McKenzie's Daughter's Lament...' & 'Bonny Bunch Of Roses'.