It will come as no surprise to anyone that I’m fond of the Fairport Convention song “Here’s To Tom Paine”. That song was originally composed by the fine English folk guitarist, Steve Tilston. While he must have over a dozen albums, the only one I own is Swans at Coole (1990). Though it nowhere says so on the album, this refers to the William Butler Yeats poem, “The Wild Swans at Coole”, a wistful allegory of transitory beauty. The album fits that mood. Tilston’s fine, controlled, but not flashy guitar playing is balanced with varied accompaniments on banjo (Kevin Boyle), violin (Stuart Gordon), flute (Maggy Boyle), and cello (Tony Hilligan). If you want to have something playing on a cold winter evening, gathered by the fireplace, with old friends not inclined to chatter, this is just about right.