Album: The Incredible String Band <!-- none onestar twostar threestar fourstar fivestar -->

Introducing... The Incredible String Band, RHINO/WEA

Andy Gill
Friday 21 July 2006 00:00 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Those of us who have quietly upgraded our old Incredible String Band albums in recent years need no longer fear the contempt once accorded our secret vice, as the ISB, hailed as godfathers of the current "psychedelic folk" movement, are now hipper than at any time since the late Sixties. Hence this splendid anthology culled from the band's peak Elektra years, charting their progress from whimsical strummers to sitar-stroking spiritual explorers and mummers. Such tags, however understate the complex dynamics of the songs, both in the mix of folk, blues and "ethnic" flavours, and the broad lyrical range. It is impossible to imagine a musician today sustaining a comparable balance between fairy-tale fancy, cosmic contemplation and shrewd social commentary, and indeed, the ISB didn't manage it for long. But this compilation happily covers the years when Robin Williamson's spiritual musings were in perfect equilibrium with Mike Heron's more grounded observations.

DOWNLOAD THIS: 'First Girl I Loved'; 'Way Back in the 1960s'; 'Koeeaddi There'; 'You Get Brighter'; 'Half Remarkable Question'

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in