Paul Levinson - Twice Upon a Rhyme (Happysad records. USA. 1972)

Listen to: "You are everywhere"

Simply incredible private pressing from New York that took three years to record, mix and release. The opening track "You are everywhere" sets the tone for this Folk Rock/Psych album. The record has so many elements swirling around in the mix that at times it's hard to pin down exactly where Paul is coming from. That's no criticism though, infact quite the opposite. It keeps the album fresh and vibrant.

Listen to: "Forever Friday"

Sometimes when i listen to this album, it somehow transports me forward in time rather than back in time. Many of the songs make me think of the whole Elephant 6 label scene back in the early 1990's with bands such as The Olivia Tremor Control and The Apples in Stereo. It mixes up enough styles and influences to keep the album constantly interesting. What really caught me out with this album was something i could never quite put my finger on. It's as if Paul has poured part of his being into the grooves. It's a very personal album and you get a real shot of Paul.

Listen to: "Antique shop"

I'd go as far to say that i became obsessed with this album to the point where i contacted Paul. Before i knew what had hit me i had started a record label, licensed the album from Paul and pressed up 250 copies on heavyweight virgin vinyl! If i wasn't ready for that, i really wasn't ready for Paul. I sent Paul the advance and thought i'd quietly get down to work. However, from the very start this repress was a joint effort. I've lost count of the emails that have fired back and forth across the Atlantic, both work an personal. Paul is such a kind and warm man whose enthusiasm has no limits and being involved with Pauls album has been an experience i will never forget.

The album was taken into the studio for a superb remaster. There's been no remixing, we've made the bottom end stronger and brightened up the top end. Paul has said that it sounds better than the original and i have to agree. However, we have had the advantage of modern technology.

The soundfiles here are from my original copy and not the remastered repress.

The repress is available wholesale from Whiplash Records in the UK: sales@whiplashrecords.co.uk

and Vea Music in Greece:

It will be on sale in the Whiplash Records ebay shop from Sunday evening on 5th December 2010.

John Sase - Aessence

JOHN SASE - Aessence (Private Press. USA. 1975/85)

Listen to: "Industrial Age"

Obscure USA private press folk album that's already got interest in the world of bloggers. However, i think it's worth adding as previous blogs have missed what could be a different fan base for this album. It was recorded around 1975 but not released until 1985. Despite the 1970's recording this album has tracks that i feel are closer to the Neo Folk style of the late 1980's onwards, than the Acid Folk tag other bloggers use. Listening to Industrial Age is for me akin to the Death In June sound from the All Pigs Must Die album. Artists like Nurse with Wound and Current 93 have always been open in their love of Folk, especially artists like Shirley Collins and Comus.

Listen to: "New Life"

The album was released in a limited edition of 300 autographed and hand numbered copies with two inserts, housed in a plain sleeve with screen printed title and pasted picture. John Sase was based in Detroit, hardly well known for producing Folk music. There are a wealth of instruments on the album which are played well enough to lift it above the usual private pressing. If i was to have a criticism of the album then it would be that the tempo seems to remain pretty much the same through the entire album. The songs themselves are strong so keeping it interesting.

Joshua - Joshua

JOSHUA - Joshua (Key Records KL 014. UK. 1973)

Listen to: "The Word"

I really do wish i could tell you more about this album, but even the record label state on the liner notes they know nothing of this band! The band were a three piece from Texas, who entered Athena Studios in Texas, laid down this monstrous Acid/Fuzz album & then promptly dissapeared into the desert to pray and were never heard from again. The drums were added later in one long session. By the time Key Records in the UK released the album the band were no more.

Listen to: "New Life"

A solid album that is right up there in the Acid & Fuzz guitar stakes. The guitar work is incredible, it just screams in from nowhere & just lifts the whole album. Most tracks are uptempo & the guitarist takes every opportunity possible to crank up the Acid & Fuzz licks.
If there was to be any criticism of the album, the songs do veer towards Country Psych, sometimes sounding a little like a harder edged, three piece Eagles. Not necessarily a bad thing, just not always to my taste.

Meic Stevens - Mwg

MEIC STEVENS - Mwg EP (Wren Records WRE 1073)

Listen to: "Myfi yw'r Dechreuad"

How could i resist adding some Meic Stevens to the Acid Folk section?

No longer what you could describe as an obscure artist, Meic has been an important & well loved figure in Wales for many decades. Not only did he produce some of the most wonderful music to come out of Wales, he was also the inspiration, catalyst & vehicle for many Welsh bands to make & release music.

Mwg is my favourite Meic Stevens ep & this track is the most "Acid" from this particular release. I do belive that Meic Stevens is best listened to in Welsh. Although most people will not understand the words, there is an interplay between the Welsh language, Meics' delivery & the interplay with his guitar playing that just isn't present on Outlander, his English language album.

There is plenty of information on Meic on the web & there are also two compilation albums that bring together all his EP tracks including this one.

Sounds of Salvation - An exploration in worship

SOUNDS OF SALVATION - An exploration in worship LP (Reflection RL 310)

Listen to: "Love III"

This is the album that has inspired this blog (obvious from the title really!). What they call a blind punt, quite literally picked up off the floor of a local flea market where someone had unceremoniously dropped it.
This is one difficult album to explain.

Released in 1974 by a Christian group from Cambridge University, it ranges from a long introduction of sound collages depicting everyday life (strangely akin to the KLF's Chill out album), through a very dark Psychedelic track "Overseers", then through prayers, acid folk & twisted rock.

It really does need to be listened to in it's entirity as it does flow despite the strange marrying of styles.

Listen to: "What is it like Lord?"

The female voices are particulary strong, along with some superb guitar work, especially in the more acid moments. What manages to really make this work for me are the arrangements, they are very different from traditional arrangements, and that makes for a refreshing listen.

I don't feel that the soundfiles i've uploaded are representative of the album as a whole, but they are an introduction to a strange world; a world where people ask the Lord what it is like to burn & where peoples eyes are scratched out so we can see through them.

As a foot note, the stamps on my copy show that it once belonged to a hospital radio station. Now there's a thought!

Although inactive for many years the group behind Refection records have now come back together & are releasing the albums on CD.

I hope i have inspired at least one or two of you to buy the CD.

If anyone connected with this album is reading, we would love to hear your recollections.

Listen to: "Overseers"