The Incredible String Band: Albums 1966 - 1970 | URBANASPIRINES (9 albums)

The Incredible String Band 1966 - 1970 - URBANASPIRINES

"The Incredible String Band (sometimes abbreviated as ISB) were a British psychedelic folk band formed by Clive Palmer, Robin Williamson and Mike Heron in Edinburgh in 1966. The band built a considerable following, especially in the British counterculture, notably with their albums The 5000 Spirits or the Layers of the Onion, The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter, and Wee Tam and the Big Huge. They became pioneers in psychedelic folk and, through integrating a wide variety of traditional music forms and instruments, in the development of world music."

Now I have said quite lot about following The Incredible String Band and I only recently posted ‘Painting Box’ as a song of the day and this therefore from Kostas is a great introductory biog and introduction to their music starting as it does with their work with Clive Palmer. I followed them about the time of the release of 5000 Spirits and left them when Mike started his solo work (Smiling Men With Bad Reputations is still a favourite) and have pretty much everything he released on his own as well. The last time we saw them was in Leicester when I was at the Art school there and we noticed posters or handbills possibly done by students that they had stuck on lampposts advertising “The Increbidle Strong Bond” which we began to refer to them as for the rest of the time we followed them. 

Around the time the scientology message was coming through I fell out with them and was bitterly disappointed they had followed anything thing so crass and controlling as the thought control cult. Robin and his partner and Mike continue to make music as far as I am aware and it is reported that Rose became Lady Mayoress of the Welsh town of Aberystwyth [sic]. Licorice seems to have disappeared into the Arizona desert where she is said to have set off hitchhiking and has not been heard of since 1990. Whether she nestles still in the malign bosom of Scientology is doubtful but possible and when last heard from Rose certainly mentioned that there was a strong ‘possibility she was dead'

 Mike talks about Smiling Men . . . . . . . 

every year I usually post Mike’s Feast of Stephen as a memory of the time of year and to remember my brother Steve . . . . . . . . it makes me feel safe and winterful! (it’s a word!)

so here’s another track from the album

Flowers of The Forest

something you can dance to on a Saturday?

Why of course

Call Me Diamond . . . . . . . (check out the sax solo Dudu Pakwana!)

Remembering . . . . here on the extraordinary TV show with Julie Felix far ahead of its time here Robin and Mike do the Half Remarkable Question . . . . . . 

The Incredible String Band  - Live