Lal and Mike Waterson: Bright Phoebus review – folk masterpiece rereleased

“Folk music” can mean radically different things. Hardliners objected to two of the storied Waterson clan writing traditional-sounding but original songs on this legendary album from 1972, largely unavailable for 45 years, now lovingly remastered. Few voices capture the ancient strangeness of the genre like Lal Waterson’s (1943-98), never more arresting than on the dreamlike, sensual and eerie Fine Horseman, while brother Mike Waterson’s (1941-2011) title track closes the album with a reedy power. A few songs here – best of all, Shady Lady – are full of the kind of 60s harmonic whimsy associated with the Beatles, locating the album in the 20th century, but The Scarecrow remains timeless and terrifying.