Psychedelic Frequencies - Various Artists

Psychedelic Frequencies is probably one of my most favourite CDs of all times. It is a compilation of some of the best Psychedelic music that was ever created.

It starts off with the seminal work, "White Rabbit" by Jefferson Airplane. The soaring, sexually charged voice of Grace Slick on this song (which owes a great deal for its musical structure to Ravel's Bolero) is a definitive musical moment of the 1960s counter culture. ...
...Springfield is not so much psychedelic at the beginning, but pure hard rock, which then segues (clumsily) into something that sounds (with its piano playing) like it could have been sung by Billy Joel or perhaps Neil Young.

Track six, Evening of Light, is by Nico. Wow. What is this song? Influenced by the mediaeval French romantic troubadours? Or something else, entirely? The jangling experimental music, backed by cellos, provides ... more

Psychedelic Frequencies is probably one of my most favourite CDs of all times. It is a compilation of some of the best Psychedelic music that was ever created.

It starts off with the seminal work, "White Rabbit" by Jefferson Airplane. The soaring, sexually charged voice of Grace Slick on this song (which owes a great deal for its musical structure to Ravel's Bolero) is a definitive musical moment of the 1960s counter culture. (Oops, I think I went a bit OTT then!)

The second track, King Midas in Reverse, by The Hollies, has some exceptionally fine acoustic guitarwork. It tells the story of someone who is "King Midas with a curse, he's King Midas in reverse" The use of strings and orchestral instruments and tambourines adds greatly to this song.

Track three, War In Peace, by Skip Spence, is probably typical of the late 1960s. Slowly, dreamy "echoing" thoughtful vocals, counterpoised with eastern influenced guitars, played in a languid style that admirably emphasises the vocals.

Track four, Keep Your Mind Open, by Kaleidoscope, starts off with the almost obligatory eastern influence, which then slides into vocals that seem to owe much to traditional English folk styles, backed by the music. Odd though it seems this, together with the sound of crashing waves, works with the very well as a satisfying musical whole.

Track five, Broken arrow, By Buffalo Springfield is not so much psychedelic at the beginning, but pure hard rock, which then segues (clumsily) into something that sounds (with its piano playing) like it could have been sung by Billy Joel or perhaps Neil Young.

Track six, Evening of Light, is by Nico. Wow. What is this song? Influenced by the mediaeval French romantic troubadours? Or something else, entirely? The jangling experimental music, backed by cellos, provides a fantastic backing to the beautiful and ethereal but throaty voice of Nico.

Track Seven by George Lowell "Gather Your Rosebuds while you may" is another song that references back to the traditional English folk music forms, intermingled with Psychedelic sensibilities, as it were… Incidentally, the lyrics are based on the poem by Robert Herrick who lived between 1591-1674.

Track eight, Frantic Desolation, by the unlikely named Sopwith Camel (you just have got to hand it to the guys who invented the names for the Psychedelic bands of the 1960s!). This song is not as interesting as the name of the group suggests, as it is a fairly standard (though enjoyable) love song. "It's frantic desolation, without you." There's a bit of fx guitar to pander to the love and peace crowd, but that's about as far as it goes.

Defecting Grey, The Pretty Things. This starts with some heavily treated guitar music, that sounds sonorous and important, but then drifts into waltz style, which then shifts to sitar (with some reversed sitars) and then makes a crashing shift into some acid rock, which them reprises the waltz- influenced section. There's a good deal of R&B, and this song pretty much reflects the musical history of the Pretty Things, at one time considered even more "dangerous" that The Rolling Stones. The whole process is repeated until the end of the song.

Track Nine, Omaha, by Moby Grape. Now, this is back to the really Psychedelic stuff! Harmonising vocals and urgent, intense but exceptionally together guitarwork, which with the groovy, intense percussions makes this song a joy to hear. Not my favourite song of all time but still mighty good listening.

Track Ten, Happenings Ten Years Time Ago, by the Yardbirds is a weird mixture of styles. Yes, there are typical West Coast influenced guitars and musical forms, but there is also what sounds like riffs that could have been played by Hank Marvin, and some good solid and driving R&B guitar playing, too. With what sounded like vox pops, this song could also have been performed by the Bon Dog Doo Dah Band. Mind you, let's face it. Almost every song by any band could have been performed by the multi-talented Bonzos!

Track Eleven, Electricity by Captain Beefheart. Don Van Vliet, wow! Don Van Vliet is the man. If you EVER wondered where the rock group The Electric Six got the inspiration for Danger! Danger High Voltage! Then listen to Electricity, and you will know without a shadow of a doubt. I thought Danger! Danger! High Voltage! Sounded somewhat familiar, now I know why…

Track Twelve, Psychotic Reaction by Count Five is a fantastic Blues R&B cross-over that sounds like it has been recorded by fans of Bo Diddley. Hard, pumping guitars, good, rapping drums, yeah. Makes me remember why I love blues and R&B. The band hailed from San Jose, California, and formed in 1964. This was, oddly, their only hit and after releasing an LP they broke up in 1969

Track Thirteen. I Just Don't Know, by Banshee. Only 1 minute 16 seconds long, this song is at least 1 minute longer than the song really deserves. It's workman like, but that's about all you can say.

Track 14 Can You Please Crawl Out of Your Window, by the Vacels. He sits in his room, his tomb, with a fistful of tacks, Preoccupied with his vengeance. Cursing the dead that can't answer him back, I'm sure that he has no intensions of looking your way, unless it's to say that he needs you to test his inventions." Weird lyrics, especially when married with the sub-Beach Boy guitar playing (with hints of Tex Mex) and trumpet riffs. Never quite sure what on earth this song is about.
The lyrics were written by Bob Dylan, and sometimes, well, you get to thinkin' that maybe bob doesn't want you understandin all of his lyrics!

Track Fifteen is Golden Earrings by Gandalf. Laidback guitars, melodic strings and sparse, though well-used keyboards, supporting powerful lyrics that were very well presented.

Track Sixteen Land of Their Dreams by Autosalvage. Good, interesting typical psychedelic tune, impressive use of a wide variety of instruments, the guitars are backed with acoustic guitars and strings. Apparently the group was multi-talented and on the LP Autosalvage, they used, as well as guitars and drums, oboe, piano, trombone, guitar, krummhorn, recorder, banjo and dulcimer. And if THAT isn't a typical psychedelic band, then I don't know what is!

Track Seventeen is another of my all-time favourite songs. Or tunes. It is Standing on the Moon (Space Hymn) and is performed by Lothar and the Hand People. Lothar, apparently, was a Theremin (an electronic instrument you played by waving your hands near it) and Standing on the Moon (Space Hymn) is bizarre. And uplifting, and all sorts of crazy weird a** stuff like that. It also contains a deep relaxation exercise but worryingly does not include something to waken you up! Who knows? Maybe I am still asleep?!

It then nicely and neatly segues into a rather moving song about what it would be like to stand on the moon, looking at the Earth. "Standing on the moon, filled with thoughts of home, Earth so slowly turning, 20,000 years, human hopes and fears, are we finally learning, riders together on a starship of stone, living together, trying together, dying alone." At some point towards the end of the track, the Theremin is joined by a drum set, which helps the song move gracefully to its conclusion.

I can heartily recommend this CD. For current price, please check the Ciao price comparison service.
 

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