Mr. Fox – Mr. Fox (Transatlantic 1970)

Mr. Fox were a shortlived, but excellent English folk rock band. They mainly wrote their own material, which is actually very unusual in this genre – but the material is of the traditional kind anyway. The core of Mr. Fox consisted of the couple Bob and Carole Pegg, who both sang and wrote the material. They both had a voice that can be described as ‘an aquired taste’, but personally I like them both. Carol also played fiddle, while her husband Bob played some sparse organ and synths to good effect. The songs on this album are short and, as I mentioned, traditional. Their self titled debut album opens with ‘Join Us In Our Game’, which is a memorable and cheerful number. It is however not that representative of the album. Many of these songs are quite dark and brooding, both musically and not at least lyrically. ‘The Hanged Man’ is, as the title implies, also a dark number. The melody, however, is very cozy and makes an interesting contrast to the lyrics. Other songs are in the more melancholy vein, but they’re all good actually. The melodies are often simple, but very effective, and the atmosphere is so incredibly English and archaic that it’s a joy to listen to – if you’re into this sort of thing. The album may require several listens before it really sinks in, but it’s worth it. Recommended for the serious folk rock fan, but good luck finding the vinyl!