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Music : 5000 Spirits or the Layers of the Onion
1 2 3 4
Rating: 
- 40 years on
I only just got this on CD.
When I first heard it (C1968) I loved it dearly, but only ever had access to a loaned and worn copy of the LP to play on a crappy BSR radiogram that partially achieved some stereo effect when you put your head in the cupboard provided for storing discs. The beautiful production by Joe Boyd was, therfore, a revelation when I played the CD.
The songs are a perfect pivot between the simple folky style of the Stringbands first album and the complex masterpiece that is "Hangman's". The numbers, particularly the more pop stylee ones, like "First Girl" and "Paintingbox" are just so evocative and beautifully crafted. Robin's virtuoso guitar and Mike's quirky songs are breathtaking. It is a wonderful snapshot of the hip dream, but with a terrific sense of humour.
I listen again and I'm wearing loon pants and a kaftan and believe that music, love and peace will prevail!
This album is both influential and influenced. Love it!
Rating:
- Please enter a title for your review:
I have nothing to add to the plethora of excellent reviews already here other than it reminded me a little of a mix between Jefferson Airplane and The Velvet Underground, yet was at the same time completely unique. I know almost nothing about ISB, but I once had them recommended to me by a hippie engineer (that is someone who worked as an engineer but subscribed to the point of note to a hippy lifestyle, not someone who engineers hippies), and I'm glad he did. Buy this album, then listen to it with your ears.
Rating: - Joy from Way Back in the 1960's
1967. Bob Dylan temporally out of action, but a whole load of exciting new music for the young mind to take in. The Beatles, The Byrds, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Country Joe and The Fish, Love, The Mothers Of Invention, Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band - they all entertained, amazed, warmed the spirit and carried us through those days.
Own up time. I unfortunately overlooked this gem when is came out. Maybe it was dismissed as being too fey and folky. After all, how could two chaps from Scotland compete with the psychedelic big guns and San Franciscan darlings? A variety of routes, most significantly an article in Mojo Magazine's recent excellent "Hendrix and The Summer Of Love" edition, now lead me to investigate this forty years on!
A happy surprise. What we have here is a marvellous collection of songs by this talented duo here reaching their peak form. Their special interaction with, and support for each other bursts forth and this along with their next release was certainly a golden interlude for Heron and Williamson. Folky this obviously is, but such a whole lot more besides. The use of Eastern instrumentation is truly trail blazing, being fully integrated and in no way merely incorporated as a facile fashionable gimmick.
It now appears to me to be an important, unique offering. Muchly of it's time, it may be said, but like all great albums, also beyond it. Often quoted as being Paul McCartney's favourite record of that year, at this distance it still stands as a mighty achievement, not to be underestimated.
The best album of 1967? Well, there's fierce competition - "Are You Experienced", The Doors' eponymous debut, Arthur Lee's masterwork "Forever Changes", "Safe As Milk" - but here's an unexpected candidate. A magical listening pleasure four decades down the line!
Rating: - just incredible
Timeless. Probably not for those who mail order knuckle-dusters from combat magazines or the jump up and down pretend you're a lesbian brigade. For dreamers and romantics and music fans - they all get a bad press these days. Leonard Cohen has a song about cracks letting the light in - looking back on the 60s it seems like there was a crack in Heaven letting the light out - so many original songwriters and performers one after the other. There's a good case that none were more original than the incredible string band. To find one talent like Mike Heron or Robin Williamson in the last 30 years would be hard. To have both in one band is miraculous. Like someone who has visited fairyland is supposed to always feel an aching sense of loss, this music could make you pine for a time and a world where this was possible.
Rating: - Music that plays over in your head after the record has finished
They are repeating some John Peel sessions on the radio at the moment, and I heard the Mad Hatters song for the first time in 35 years.
I had forgotten how completely this music gets under your skin. Got on to Amazon straight after the program and bought the record.
Folk/blues/Indian/whatever yes - but emotional, insightful and delightful. This sounds as fresh and fantastical as it did all those years ago.
If you are looking for a different sound, I'd urge you to try this. You can always flog it again on Amazon if you don't like it!
- 40 years onI only just got this on CD.
When I first heard it (C1968) I loved it dearly, but only ever had access to a loaned and worn copy of the LP to play on a crappy BSR radiogram that partially achieved some stereo effect when you put your head in the cupboard provided for storing discs. The beautiful production by Joe Boyd was, therfore, a revelation when I played the CD.
The songs are a perfect pivot between the simple folky style of the Stringbands first album and the complex masterpiece that is "Hangman's". The numbers, particularly the more pop stylee ones, like "First Girl" and "Paintingbox" are just so evocative and beautifully crafted. Robin's virtuoso guitar and Mike's quirky songs are breathtaking. It is a wonderful snapshot of the hip dream, but with a terrific sense of humour.
I listen again and I'm wearing loon pants and a kaftan and believe that music, love and peace will prevail!
This album is both influential and influenced. Love it!
Rating:
- Please enter a title for your review:I have nothing to add to the plethora of excellent reviews already here other than it reminded me a little of a mix between Jefferson Airplane and The Velvet Underground, yet was at the same time completely unique. I know almost nothing about ISB, but I once had them recommended to me by a hippie engineer (that is someone who worked as an engineer but subscribed to the point of note to a hippy lifestyle, not someone who engineers hippies), and I'm glad he did. Buy this album, then listen to it with your ears.
Rating:
- Joy from Way Back in the 1960's1967. Bob Dylan temporally out of action, but a whole load of exciting new music for the young mind to take in. The Beatles, The Byrds, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Country Joe and The Fish, Love, The Mothers Of Invention, Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band - they all entertained, amazed, warmed the spirit and carried us through those days.
Own up time. I unfortunately overlooked this gem when is came out. Maybe it was dismissed as being too fey and folky. After all, how could two chaps from Scotland compete with the psychedelic big guns and San Franciscan darlings? A variety of routes, most significantly an article in Mojo Magazine's recent excellent "Hendrix and The Summer Of Love" edition, now lead me to investigate this forty years on!
A happy surprise. What we have here is a marvellous collection of songs by this talented duo here reaching their peak form. Their special interaction with, and support for each other bursts forth and this along with their next release was certainly a golden interlude for Heron and Williamson. Folky this obviously is, but such a whole lot more besides. The use of Eastern instrumentation is truly trail blazing, being fully integrated and in no way merely incorporated as a facile fashionable gimmick.
It now appears to me to be an important, unique offering. Muchly of it's time, it may be said, but like all great albums, also beyond it. Often quoted as being Paul McCartney's favourite record of that year, at this distance it still stands as a mighty achievement, not to be underestimated.
The best album of 1967? Well, there's fierce competition - "Are You Experienced", The Doors' eponymous debut, Arthur Lee's masterwork "Forever Changes", "Safe As Milk" - but here's an unexpected candidate. A magical listening pleasure four decades down the line!
Rating:
- just incredibleTimeless. Probably not for those who mail order knuckle-dusters from combat magazines or the jump up and down pretend you're a lesbian brigade. For dreamers and romantics and music fans - they all get a bad press these days. Leonard Cohen has a song about cracks letting the light in - looking back on the 60s it seems like there was a crack in Heaven letting the light out - so many original songwriters and performers one after the other. There's a good case that none were more original than the incredible string band. To find one talent like Mike Heron or Robin Williamson in the last 30 years would be hard. To have both in one band is miraculous. Like someone who has visited fairyland is supposed to always feel an aching sense of loss, this music could make you pine for a time and a world where this was possible.
Rating:
- Music that plays over in your head after the record has finishedThey are repeating some John Peel sessions on the radio at the moment, and I heard the Mad Hatters song for the first time in 35 years.
I had forgotten how completely this music gets under your skin. Got on to Amazon straight after the program and bought the record.
Folk/blues/Indian/whatever yes - but emotional, insightful and delightful. This sounds as fresh and fantastical as it did all those years ago.
If you are looking for a different sound, I'd urge you to try this. You can always flog it again on Amazon if you don't like it!