Bert Jansch‘s album ‘Avocet’ gets the reissue treatment via Earth Recordings. The bird-themed release was regarded as a concept album when released over 25 years ago.

Available on 12″ or CD, the vinyl release comes as an ‘Art edition’ with six lithograph prints by UK illustrator Hannah Alice representing each of the birds represented on the album.
The CD version come with a 20 page book.

The six tunes begin with the 18-minute-long title track, inspired by traditional song ‘The Cuckoo’. The five following compositions, also named after birds, are instrumental passages also named after birds.

The album was recorded in February 1978 at Sweet Silence Studios, Copenhagen, Denmark and released the following year via Charisma. As well as the Scots-born guitarist the album features ex-Pentangle bandmate Danny Thompson alongside the late Martin

The feathered feel to the release will come as no surprise to Jansch aficionados. Prior to this album was a split 7” single with Shirley Collins ‘Black Birds Of Brittany’, proceeds of which went to the RSPB. The sleeve notes come from Jansch aficionado Colin Harper the author of ‘Dazzling Stranger: Bert Jansch and the British Folk and Blues revival’.