Prolific Folk Guitarist John Renbourn Rediscovered

Like many folk artists from the 1960s, British-born John Renbourn is not a household name to most. But now, thanks to Riverboat Records, some of his best early recordings (including live ones) are available on The Attic Tapes. From the first warm bluesy acoustic guitar notes you will be mystified. Renbourn’s riffs are spontaneous and unexpected, traveling all over the place, curling around hidden corners. Largely regarded as a prolific acoustic guitarist, The Attic Tapes gives a taste of Renbourn’s talent and influence.

Even if sole instrumentals aren’t your thing, Renbourn’s wandering melodies are so inviting, and they’re ultimately the main reason to explore this collection. A live version of Renbourn’s original tune “Judy” is hypnotic with deep folds and layers, and “Anji” (written by Davy Graham) has a Spanish twang to its mysterious chords. “The Wildest Pig in Captivity” is frenetic, as its title suggests, and “Buffalo” is a big, visual soundscape.

On the occasion that he sings, it would not be off target to compare Renbourn’s vocals to Bob Dylan’s, though that’s likely been said before. On a duet with Mac MacLoed titled “Cocaine”, he hits those same reedy notes, his voice flawed and raw, almost sleepy. The songwriting is uncomplicated, as he rhymes “hashish” with “wish” and “cocaine” with “brain”, but simplicity is key with Renbourn’s lyrics, as they don’t distract from his excellent guitar picking. And his cover of “Candyman” has that old world charm a great folk song should, like you’ve known it forever.

Renbourn’s sophisticated style of playing incorporates everything from country, Celtic and English folk, blues and classical, and it is timeless. And guest appearances from contemporaries like Graham, MacLoed, and blues singer Beverley Martyn (formerly known as Beverly Kutner) to name a few, add dimension and a kind of communal warmth. There is some mystery surrounding the sources of some of these songs, which makes it all the more intriguing.