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If any musical combo ever meshed perfectly with the times it was the Incredible String Band. And here's the proof: their 1966 debut, The Incredible String Bann their '60s heyday, the Incredible String Band were a brilliant evocation of the Aquarian idealism and anything-goes experimentalism of their time. On their self-titled 1966 debut, its 1967 followup The 5000 Spirits Or Layers Of The Onion, and the seminal 1968 classic The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter, the innovative Scottish visionaries—led by singer/guitarists Robin Williamson and Mike Heron as its two constants—merged ancient Celtic folk traditions with exotic Eastern instruments and psychedelic flights of fancy. The result was utterly unique music that perfectly captured the spirit of the era in which it was made. In recent years, these classic albums have served as a source of inspiration for a new generation of alt-folk artists who've embraced the Incredible String Band's free-spirited eclecticism. Echoes of the group's influence can be heard in such prominent young acts as Fleet Foxes, Devendra Banhart, and Joanna Newsom and Animal Collective. But, to the ISB's new fans and longtime admirers, there's beating the originals—now restored to their original glory on deep-grooved, high-definition Sundazed vinyl!
For their second album, Robin Williamson and Mike Heron recruited Pentangle’s Danny Thompson on double bass, Nazir “Soma” Jairazbhoy on sitar, Licorice McKenzie on vocals/percussion and John “Hoppy” Hopkins, proprietor of London’s famed UFO Club, on piano to help them realize their vision. With producer Joe Boyd once again at the helm, Williamson and Herron guided their compatriots through a collection of all original compositions. Released in July 1967, just over a year after their debut, The 5000 Spirits of Layers of the Onion showed considerable growth and established an identifiable “sound” for ISB. As with the first album, their sophomore effort met with wide acclaim, reaching #1 on the UK folk chart. Legendary DJ John Peel was an early champion, playing multiple tracks from the pirate vessel Radio London. Paul McCartney chose it as one his favorites of the year, a year that also included the release “Sgt. Pepper.” The Fab Four connection extended even further, as The 5000 Spirits’ striking cover art was created by The Fool, the art collective that would soon be creating works for The Apple Boutique. While the album art pegged the music as psychedelic, in truth, it extended far beyond that, incorporating traditional British folk themes as well as classical Indian music. It proved to be an extremely influential body of work whose echoes can still be heard today. And nowhere do those echoes ring clearer than on this Sundazed edition, sourced from the original Elektra analog tapes and pressed on archive quality high-definition vinyl. All that awaits is for you to peel back the sonic layers of this timeless recording.
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