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Marianne Segal Featuring Circulus — The Gathering
(Fruits de Mer Crustacean 105, 2007/2026, LP / DL)

by Henry Schneider, Published 2026-09-02

The Gathering Cover art

In the early 70s, Marianne Segal emerged as the principal songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist for Jade, one of the more cherished cult names of the British progressive folk movement. Although Jade produced only a single album, Segal continued writing and recording over the decades, issuing a sporadic series of solo releases between 1988 and 2007. The Gathering, originally released in 2007, found her surrounded by an unlikely but inspired cast that included members of the neo-medieval psych-folk ensemble Circulus, Root Cartwright of Prince Edward's Magic Theatre, producer and multi-instrumentalist Michael Tyack, and even Napalm Death guitarist Bill Steer. On paper it sounds like an improbable combination; in practice it proved magical. Nearly twenty years later, Fruits de Mer revisits the album with a newly remixed and remastered edition, expanded with additional material and housed in striking new artwork. Limited to just 300 copies, it has all the makings of another highly sought-after collector's item. More importantly, the music has lost none of its charm. The Gathering occupies a delightful space somewhere between acid folk, progressive folk, and pastoral psychedelia, while occasionally wandering into unexpected territory. “Circle Round the Sun” introduces a subtle jazz-inflected dimension, aided by Bill Steer's harmonica and a richer instrumental texture than one might expect from a folk record. Throughout the album, Segal's warm, expressive vocals remain the focal point. Around them swirls a tapestry of lute, recorder, Mellotron, strings, crumhorns, saz, and other period-flavored instrumentation that recalls the spirit of classic British folk while avoiding mere retro reconstruction. Among the highlights, “Lapis Wings” is captivating in its pastoral beauty, its lute, piano, and string arrangements creating an almost timeless atmosphere. “Kicking Up the Sands of Time” blends a memorable melody with delicate orchestration, while “Sussex Downs” suggests an intriguing meeting point between English folk traditions and the easygoing character of early 70s West Coast country rock. The closing “Dreamers” drifts away on Mellotron-drenched textures and gentle melancholy, providing the album with a perfect farewell. What makes The Gathering so rewarding is that it never feels like an exercise in nostalgia. Instead, Segal absorbs the vocabulary of classic British folk rock and reinterprets it through contemporary musicianship and production. The result is an album that feels both rooted in the early 70s and entirely at home in the 21st Century: elegant, evocative, and quietly enchanting from beginning to end.

Filed under: Reissues, 2026 releases, 2007 recordings

Related artist(s): Marianne Segal

More info
http://www.fruitsdemerrecords.com/gathering.html
http://mariannesegal-jade.bandcamp.com/album/the-gathering

 

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