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Prog Britannia - Album Reviews

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Psychedelic Paul View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psychedelic Paul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 27 2024 at 02:28
Prog Folk Britannia

CAN AM DES PUIG       One of the rarest albums in the world of Prog Folk (with only 500 copies pressed), Can Am des Puig are named after a house in Ibiza where the band members lived at the time, although this album of gentle pastoral folk is far removed from the chilled out house music of Ibiza, so you can leave your dancing shoes behind for this album. Smile

3 stars 1978: Can am des Puig - The Book of AM - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmg6lNHStg0

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psychedelic Paul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 27 2024 at 04:53
Prog Folk Britannia

CANDIDATE       A five-piece Indie Folk band formed by brothers Joel and Alex Morris, who also co-wrote an alternative travel guide to days out in the UK, with the refreshingly honest title, "B******s to Alton Towers". Smile



Robert Redford - The Other Candidate. Smile



Edited by Psychedelic Paul - January 27 2024 at 08:31
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Psychedelic Paul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 27 2024 at 08:17
Prog Folk Britannia

CARMEN      Scaramouche, Scaramouche, Can you do the fandango? It's all flamencos, maracas and castanets for the most exciting Latin-American-influenced band since Santana, although this Anglo-American band sound nothing like Santana, having a unique sound all of their own. In fact, Carmen are probably the proggiest Prog Folk band you've never heard, so prepare to be surprised. Fandangos in Space is Carmen's best-known album, although not necessarily their best album, but trying to choose a favourite Carmen album can-can drive you bananas, just like Carmen Miranda. Smile

 4 stars 1973: Carmen - Fandangos in Space - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vxbwqRL18o
 4 stars 1975: Carmen - Dancing on a Cold Wind - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=381LUfWBcDE
 4 stars 1975: Carmen - The Gypsies - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5h22JzLHSQ



Edited by Psychedelic Paul - January 27 2024 at 08:26
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote omphaloskepsis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 27 2024 at 09:46
Originally posted by Psychedelic Paul Psychedelic Paul wrote:

Prog Folk Britannia

CARMEN      Scaramouche, Scaramouche, Can you do the fandango? It's all flamencos, maracas and castanets for the most exciting Latin-American-influenced band since Santana, although this Anglo-American band sound nothing like Santana, having a unique sound all of their own. In fact, Carmen are probably the proggiest Prog Folk band you've never heard, so prepare to be surprised. Fandangos in Space is Carmen's best-known album, although not necessarily their best album, but trying to choose a favourite Carmen album can-can drive you bananas, just like Carmen Miranda. Smile

 4 stars 1973: Carmen - Fandangos in Space - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vxbwqRL18o
 4 stars 1975: Carmen - Dancing on a Cold Wind - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=381LUfWBcDE
 4 stars 1975: Carmen - The Gypsies - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5h22JzLHSQ



Please, Mr. Postman deliver Fandango to me.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Psychedelic Paul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 27 2024 at 10:11
^ Signed, sealed, delivered, it's yours. Smile

==========================

Prog Folk Britannia

STEPHEN CAUDEL       The Mike Oldfield of the north, Stephen Caudel had already experienced  the height of sophistication in Sheffield city centre at night, but wanting to broaden his horizons,  he moved further north to the bustling bright lights and big city of Leeds where he studied Classical, Jazz and Rock music theory at the Leeds College of Music. Armed with his new-found knowledge, Stephen Caudel moved  to London where he began work as a composer and performer,  producing his semi-classical New Age masterpiece: Wine Dark Sea. Clap

4 stars 1986: Stephen Caudel - Wine Dark Sea - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LU-F3fNVek
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psychedelic Paul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 27 2024 at 10:56
Prog Folk Britannia

CHICKEN SHED      No relation to Christine McVie, children's theatre company Chicken Shed hatched a plan to produce a proggy maelstrom based on Alice in Wonderland, and if their one and only album "Alice" isn't a shining egg-sample of psych-folk at its best, then I'll be left with egg on my face. Smile

4 stars 1977: Chicken Shed - Alice - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRvaMqUhwQA


Edited by Psychedelic Paul - January 27 2024 at 11:01
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psychedelic Paul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 27 2024 at 11:56
Prog Folk Britannia

CHIMERA       The aptly-named female folk duo Chimera recorded an album in swinging London in the late 1960's under the guidance of Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, but the album disappeared like a chimera due to various record label problems (ie. their record label went bust) and didn't reappear again until 2002, but I'm glad to say, it was well worth the wait. Smile

 4 stars 1969/2002: Chimera - Chimera - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO77wUADBQg



Edited by Psychedelic Paul - January 27 2024 at 13:28
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psychedelic Paul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 28 2024 at 04:31
Prog Folk Britannia

CIRCULUS      A wonderful modern Psych-Folk band with music firmly rooted in the classic tradition of the best of British 1970's Folk, including Fairport Convention, Pentangle and the Strawbs. The founder member of Circulus, Michael Tyack, is said to believe in elves, fairies and pixies, which is presumably why Circulus play their live shows with the audience sitting cross-legged on the floor like pixies. Tongue

 4 stars 1999: Circulus - Giantism * - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdn89NKY0UE
 5 stars 2005: Circulus - The Lick on the Tip of an Envelope Yet to Be Sent - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUpu10Gl93I


* Giantism album not listed on ProgArchives Unhappy


Edited by Psychedelic Paul - January 28 2024 at 04:58
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psychedelic Paul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 02 2024 at 03:55
Prog Folk Britannia

CLANNAD       Originally known as Clann as Dobhar (Family from Dore) in County Donegal, this Irish band of brothers, sisters and various uncles are led by Moya Brennan. The vast majority of Clannad's early songs were sung in their native Gaelic language, which is indecipherable, unpronounceable and totally inscrutable to foreigners (a bit like the rules to Gaelic football), although that doesn't appear to have done Clannad's early career any harm, having gained their big breakthrough with the soundtrack to ITV drama Robin of Sherwood back in 1984. Clannad's early line-up also featured Eithne Padraigin Ni Bhraonain, better known to us all mononymously as Enya. Smile


 3 stars 1989: Clannad - The Angel and the Soldier Boy - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nFcxtQ5Rma7N7DAW2UE1AlfG70_CvBqbw


Edited by Psychedelic Paul - February 02 2024 at 04:29
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote dr wu23 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 02 2024 at 12:25
Originally posted by Psychedelic Paul Psychedelic Paul wrote:

Prog Folk Britannia

CIRCULUS      A wonderful modern Psych-Folk band with music firmly rooted in the classic tradition of the best of British 1970's Folk, including Fairport Convention, Pentangle and the Strawbs. The founder member of Circulus, Michael Tyack, is said to believe in elves, fairies and pixies, which is presumably why Circulus play their live shows with the audience sitting cross-legged on the floor like pixies. Tongue

 4 stars 1999: Circulus - Giantism * - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdn89NKY0UE
 5 stars 2005: Circulus - The Lick on the Tip of an Envelope Yet to Be Sent - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUpu10Gl93I


* Giantism album not listed on ProgArchives Unhappy

I have Lick ,Clocks ,and THought......good fun psychy folk rock.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote progaardvark Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 02 2024 at 15:40
^I agree. Fun band. I have Lick and Clocks. Still need to listen to their 2009 album.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psychedelic Paul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 03 2024 at 07:08
Prog Folk Britannia

 4 stars 1971: Comus - First Utterance - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFmqHiHMC1Q
 4 stars 1974: Comus - To Keep from Crying - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wgqv0ZabGd0

COMUS       Comus were a dark, paganistic Prog-Folk band who crept out of the shadows from Bromley in Kent in 1969. The nighmarish music of Comus was reflected in the ghoulish image on their first album cover, "First Utterance" (1971). Comus' first unearthly album is their best-known album by far. They followed it up with the "To Keep from Crying" album in 1974 which passed by virtually unnoticed by the record buying public. The band got together again in 2012 for the long-awaited comeback album, aptly-titled "Out of the Coma", which contained three new songs as well as featuring songs from a 1972 live session. It's time to descend into the dark abyss now and check out the "First Utterance" album. The 2001 CD reissue added three bonus tracks to the original seven songs on the album.

The first spooky song "Diana" conjures up a dark satanic image of nefarious goings-on at a witches coven. The focus of this supernatural hocus pocus hokum is mainly on the unsettling violins and off-kilter harmonising from the witches choir giving the music a dark macabre sinister edge. It's creepy and disturbing folk (although that's no reflection on the band members themselves) which is very reminiscent of the eerie folk music in the paganistic horror movie, "The Wicker Man" starring Edward Woodward and Christopher Lee. The hair-raising lyrics to "Diana" are pretty scary too:- "Lust he follows virtue close, Through the steaming woodlands, His darkened blood through bulging veins, Through the steaming woodlands." ..... It's enough to send a shiver up the spine and give you a touch of the heebie-jeebies. You might be tempted to leave the lights on at night after listening to this creepy witches brew of Halloween music, but try not to have nightmares. The next song "The Herald" is a 12-minute Psych-Folk masterpiece, which still has the same sinister air of a midnight mass at a witches coven, but it's a strangely beautiful song at the same time. The music is carried along on a wave of gently rippling guitar strings and violins with the hauntingly-beautiful vocals of Bobbie Watson sounding somehow sweet and angelic, so maybe she's a harmless white witch and not a dark satanic black witch after all. If the first two songs haven't already given you the creeps though, then the third song "Drip Drip" surely will. The music is a 10-minute-long barrelling ghost train ride, ending in a helter-skelter Psych- Folk frenzy, featuring some absolutely manic violin playing and tortured and strangulated vocals from lead singer Roger Wootton. The lyrics are very dark and disturbing too so I won't recite them here, other than to say, the "Drip Drip" refers to the drips of blood from a hanging corpse. Enough said. This is definitely not the kind of folk album you'd want to buy your dear old aunt for Christmas as it'd probably scare the living daylights out of her.

The seven and a half minute "Song to Comus" opens Side Two. It's a dark and disturbing tale of a damsel in distress having her virginity forcibly taken by the monstrous Comus of the title. The music is an infectious fluty Prog-Folk number which sounds like a mad and unhinged version of Jethro Tull. The demented vocalist is clearly going ever so slightly mad here, sounding like a deranged inmate on day release from a lunatic asylum, where "care in the community" clearly hasn't worked. It brings to mind the manic 1966 novelty record "They're Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!" ..... Watch out! There's a werewolf about in the next song "The Bite". This guitar, violin and flute melody gallops along at an absolutely insane pace, with the musicians barely coming up for air in this manic 5-minute psychedelic freak-out. The dark mood deepens with "Bitten", a brief 2-minute instrumental, featuring the lonely sound of a mournful violin. The final song "The Prisoner" is another manic manifestation of deeply disturbing music, which takes us on a terrifying paranoid schizophrenic ride to hell. It's quite literally a tale of sheer lunacy, because it's all about a disturbed mental patient being given electro-convulsive "therapy" against their will. It's shocking! "The Prisoner" is pretty scary, but it's probably not as scary as the thought of watching back to back episodes of Prisoner Cell Block H.

Dare you enter the weird and sinister world of Comus? There's nowt so Wyrd as the paganistic freaky folk of Comus. This unsettling and disturbing Psych-Folk music is as unnerving as a stay in a haunted house on the night of a full moon during a thunderstorm at Halloween. This frightfully good album contains more Black Magic than a box of dark chocolates. It's a dark descent into madness, death, witchcraft and supernatural fairy tales, but it's also a very good album too. "First Utterance" might not appeal to Prog-Rock fans generally, but if you're in the mood for a scary Friday the 13th outbreak of infectious freaky folk, then this might just be the album for you. Just make sure you secure all of the doors and windows before settling down to listen to this dark and menacing album in the middle of the night, because you never know who or what might be lurking out there in the darkness.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psychedelic Paul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 04 2024 at 03:18
Prog Folk Britannia

ROGER COOK      England's answer to John Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas, Roger Cook was a former member of Blue Mink and a singer-songwriting partner of Roger Greenaway, and not to be confused with the overweight doorstepping reporter of the same name. Smile

 4 stars 1970: Roger Cook - Study
 4 stars 1972: Roger Cook - Meanwhile Back at the World - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mzjJ4kN-PHWxI6zYODeVfWE51RRYvn0BU
 3 stars 1976: Roger Cook - Alright 

Roger Cook - Close Encounters of the Violent Kind. Ouch



Edited by Psychedelic Paul - February 04 2024 at 03:19
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Floydoid Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 04 2024 at 03:50
^Blue Mink, very much a studio project of Roger Cook were very underrated IMO - their album catalogue is well worth a listen. The band included such luminaries as Madeline Bell with her silky soulful vocals, and Herbie Flowers on bass (also to be a future member of T.Rex and Sky).

They had hits with 'Melting Pot', 'Banner Man', 'Randy', 'Stay with Me', and 'By the Devil I Was Tempted'.

Edited by Floydoid - February 04 2024 at 03:51
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Floydoid Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 04 2024 at 04:20
Originally posted by Psychedelic Paul Psychedelic Paul wrote:

The aptly-named female folk duo Chimera recorded an album in swinging London in the late 1960's under the guidance of Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, but the album disappeared like a chimera due to various record label problems (ie. their record label went bust) and didn't reappear again until 2002, but I'm glad to say, it was well worth the wait.


Ooh one more to investigate - according to Discogs Rick Wright also played a bit of keyboards for Chimera.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psychedelic Paul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 04 2024 at 04:41
Originally posted by Floydoid Floydoid wrote:

^Blue Mink, very much a studio project of Roger Cook were very underrated IMO - their album catalogue is well worth a listen. The band included such luminaries as Madeline Bell with her silky soulful vocals, and Herbie Flowers on bass (also to be a future member of T.Rex and Sky).

They had hits with 'Melting Pot', 'Banner Man', 'Randy', 'Stay with Me', and 'By the Devil I Was Tempted'.

Surprise! Surprise! It's our Cilla and Blue Mink with a song I have a lorra lorra love for. Heart



Edited by Psychedelic Paul - February 04 2024 at 04:43
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Floydoid Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 04 2024 at 06:54
^ Her 'voice' was worse than listening to fingernails scraping down a blackboard.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psychedelic Paul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 04 2024 at 07:05
Originally posted by Floydoid Floydoid wrote:

^ Her 'voice' was worse than listening to fingernails scraping down a blackboard.

You wouldn't want "Our Cilla" turning up on your doorstep to sing you a song then in a Surprise Surprise moment. Tongue

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psychedelic Paul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 04 2024 at 15:04
Originally posted by Floydoid Floydoid wrote:

^Blue Mink, very much a studio project of Roger Cook were very underrated IMO - their album catalogue is well worth a listen. The band included such luminaries as Madeline Bell with her silky soulful vocals, and Herbie Flowers on bass (also to be a future member of T.Rex and Sky).

They had hits with 'Melting Pot', 'Banner Man', 'Randy', 'Stay with Me', and 'By the Devil I Was Tempted'.
Blue Mink - Stay with Me (featuring Roger Cook and Madeline Bell but not our Cilla - you'll be glad to hear). Smile


Blue Mink remind me a lot of the US Soul-Pop band 5th Dimension Heart



Edited by Psychedelic Paul - February 04 2024 at 15:05
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Hrychu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 04 2024 at 15:27
This is very trivial but as a person who does home recording, the fact the artists are "singing" (miming) to small diaphragm condenser mics (hand held), literally the last thing an audio engineer/sound technician would choose to use as a vocal microphone, especially in a live setting, drives me crazy. :P
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