Psychedelic folk
| Psychedelic folk | |
|---|---|
| Other names |
|
| Stylistic origins | |
| Cultural origins | Mid-1960s, United States |
| Derivative forms | |
| Subgenres | |
| Other topics | |
| Part ofa serieson |
| Psychedelia |
|---|
Psychedelic folk(sometimesacid folkorfreak folk)[2]is a loosely defined form ofpsychedeliathat originated in the 1960s. It retains the largely acoustic instrumentation offolk,but adds musical elements common topsychedelic music.
Characteristics[edit]
 | This sectionneeds additional citations forverification.(November 2016) |
Psychedelic folk generally favorsacousticinstrumentation although it often incorporates other instrumentation.Chanting,early musicand various non-Westernfolk musicinfluences are often found in psych folk. Much like its rock counterpart, psychedelic folk is often known for a peculiar, trance-like, and atmospheric sound, often drawing onmusical improvisationand Asian influences.[3][self-published source]
History[edit]
1960s: Peak years[edit]
The first musical use of the term psychedelic is thought to have been by the New York–based folk groupThe Holy Modal Rounderson their version ofLead Belly's "Hesitation Blues"in 1964.[4] Folk/avant-gardeguitaristJohn Faheyrecorded several songs in the early 1960s that experimented with unusual recording techniques, including backward tapes, and novel instrumental accompaniment.[5]His nineteen-minute "The Great San Bernardino Birthday Party" "anticipated elements of psychedelia with its nervy improvisations and odd guitar tunings".[5]Other songs from Fahey'sThe Great San Bernardino Birthday Party & Other Excursions(recorded between 1962 and 1966) also used "unsettling moods and dissonances" that took them beyond the typical folk fare. In 1967, he performed with the psychedelic/avant-garde/noise rock bandRed Krayola(then Red Crayola) at the Berkeley Folk Festival which was recorded and later released asLive 1967.Among other descriptions, their performance has been likened to earlyVelvet Undergroundbootlegs and "the very weirdest parts of late-'60sPink Floydpieces (like the shrieking guitar scrapes of 'Interstellar Overdrive') ".[6]
Similarly, folk guitaristSandy Bull's early work "incorporated elements of folk, jazz, and Indian and Arabic-influenced dronish modes".[7]His 1963 albumFantasias for Guitar and Banjoexplores various styles and instrumentation and "could also be accurately described as one of the very first psychedelic records".[8]Later albums, such as 1968'sE Pluribus Unumand his live albumStill Valentine's Day 1969,which use experimental recording techniques and extended improvisation, also have psychedelic elements.[9][10]
Musicians with several groups that became identified with psychedelic rock began as folk musicians, such as those with theGrateful Dead,Jefferson Airplane,Country Joe and the Fish,Quicksilver Messenger Service,The Beau BrummelsfromSan Francisco;the Byrds,Love,Kaleidoscope,andthe Peanut Butter ConspiracyfromLos Angeles;Pearls Before Swinefrom Florida; andJake and the Family Jewels,andCat Mother & the All Night Newsboysfrom New York.[11][12]The Serpent Powerwas a psychedelic rock group with a strong folk influence. The Byrds was the most important american folk rock band to incorporate psychedelia in their sound and themes.
In the UK, folk artists who were particularly significant includedMarc Bolan,with his hippy duoTyrannosaurus Rex,who used unusual instrumentation and tape effects, typified by the albumUnicorn(1969), and Scottish performers such asDonovan,who combined influences of American artists likeBob Dylanwith references toflower power,and theIncredible String Band,who from 1967 incorporated a range of influences into their acoustic based music, including medieval and eastern instruments.[13]During the late 1960s and early 1970s, solo acts such asSyd BarrettandNick Drakebegan to incorporate psychedelic influences into folk music with albums such as Barrett'sthe Madcap Laughsand Drake'sFive Leaves Left.[14]
1970s: Decline[edit]
In the mid 1970s psychedelia began to fall out of fashion and those folk groups that had not already moved into different areas had largely disbanded. In Britain folk groups also tended to electrify as did acoustic duo Tyrannosaurus Rex which became the electric comboT. Rex.[15]This was a continuation of a process by whichprogressive folkhad considerable impact on mainstream rock.[16]
Since 1990s: Revival[edit]
Independent and underground folk artists in the late 1990s led to a revival of psychedelic folk with theNew Weird Americamovement.[17]Also,Animal Collective's early albums identify closely with freak folk as does their collaboration with veteran British folk artistVashti Bunyan,[18]andThe Microphones/Mount Eerie,[19]who combine naturalistic elements withlo-fiand psychedelia. Both artists received significant exposure in theindie music scenefollowing critical acclaim from review sitePitchfork Media[20][21][22]and soon more artists began experimenting with the genre, includingOCS,Quilt,Grizzly Bear,[23]Devendra Banhart,Rodrigo Amarante,Ben HowardandGrouper.[24]
In 2022,Uncutmagazinepublished a CD calledBlackwaterside: Sounds of the New Weird Albion[25],featuring artists including Jim Ghedi, Henry Parker,Jon Wilks,Sam Lee,and Cath Tyler.This subsequently led to the publication of an extensive exploration of Britain's new "weird folk" in Japanese music magazine,Ele-King.[26]The lead article looked at artists including Nick Hart, Burd Ellen, Elspeth Anne, Frankie Archer, Shovel Dance Collective andAngeline Morrison.[27]
Freak folk[edit]
| Freak folk | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | Psychedelic folk |
| Cultural origins | Late 1990s, United States |
| Typical instruments |
|
| Other topics | |
Freak folkis a loosely defined[28]synonym[29]or subgenre of psychedelic folk[1]that involves acoustic sounds, pastoral lyrics, and a neo-hippieaesthetic.[28]The label originated from the "lost treasure" reissue culture of the late 1990s.[28]
Vashti Bunyanhas been labeled "the Godmother of Freak Folk"[30]for her role in inspiring the new crop of folk experimentalists.[31]David Crosby's 1971 albumIf Only I Could Remember My Namehas been described as an early progenitor of the genre.[32][33]Other major influences on later freak folk artists includeLinda Perhacs,[28][34]Anne Briggs,Karen Dalton,Shirley & Dolly Collins,Animal Collective,the Incredible String Band,Xiu Xiu,andPearls Before Swine.[28]Devendra Banhartwould become one of the leaders of the 2000s freak folk movement,[35]along withJoanna Newsom.[36]
List of artists[edit]
Psychedelic folk artists
See also[edit]
- Jam bands
- Folk rock
- Anti-folk
- Freak scene
- Neil Young
- Folk music
- New Weird America
- Ptolemaic Terrascope– a psychedelic folk & rock magazine
References[edit]
- ^abZeger, Eli (January 13, 2013)."Panda Bear Releases New Album: The Evolution of Noah Lennox in 10 Songs".The Observer.
- ^Unterberger, Richie."Rough Trade Shops - Psych Folk 2010".AllMusic.
- ^Van Waes, Gerald (February 10, 2014)."A Brief Overview of Psych-Folk and Acid Folk, from 60s until the present".RetrievedOctober 25,2022.
- ^Hicks (2000), pp 59–60.
- ^ab Unterberger, Richie."The Great San Bernardino Birthday Party & Other Excursions — Album Review".Allmusic.Rovi Corp.RetrievedJuly 25,2013.
- ^ Unterberger, Richie."The Red Crayola Live 1967 — Album Review".Allmusic.Rovi Corp.RetrievedJuly 26,2013.
- ^ Unterberger, Richie."Sandy Bull — Biography".Allmusic.Rovi Corp.RetrievedJuly 16,2013.
- ^ Greenwald, Matthew."Fantasias for Guitar & Banjo— Album Review ".Allmusic.Rovi Corp.RetrievedJuly 16,2013.
- ^ Eder, Bruce."E Pluribus Unum— Album Review ".Allmusic.Rovi Corp.RetrievedJuly 26,2013.
- ^Westergaard, Sean."Still Valentine's Day 1969— Album Review ".Allmusic.Rovi Corp.RetrievedJuly 26,2013.
- ^Auslander (2006), pp. 76.
- ^Unterberger (2002), pp. 183–230.
- ^DeRogatis (2003), p. 120.
- ^"Five Leaves Left review".Allmusic.RetrievedJune 7,2011.
- ^Sweers (2005), pp. 40.
- ^Macan (1997), pp. 134–5.
- ^"Lady of Carlisle" and the New, Weird America-Sing Out! New Weird AmericaArchivedApril 21, 2019, at theWayback MachineRetrieved 13 May 2021
- ^"Splendid Magazine reviews Animal Collective (featuring Vashti Bunyan): Prospect Hummer".Splendid. September 13, 2005. Archived fromthe originalon July 9, 2009.RetrievedJune 30,2009.
- ^"Splendid E-zine reviews: The Microphones".Splendid. Archived fromthe originalon January 18, 2008.RetrievedJune 30,2009.
- ^"Animal Collective: Sung Tongs".Pitchfork Media. May 2, 2004.RetrievedJune 30,2009.
- ^"Animal Collective / Vashti Bunyan: Prospect Hummer EP".Pitchfork Media. May 15, 2005.RetrievedJune 30,2009.
- ^"The Microphones: The Glow, Pt. 2".Pitchfork Media. September 10, 2001.RetrievedJune 30,2009.
- ^"Grizzly Bear Feeds on Psych-Folk".The Harvard Crimson.February 11, 2005. Archived fromthe originalon June 29, 2011.RetrievedJune 30,2009.
- ^"Grouper – Dragging A Dead Deer Up A Hill review".Mojo.December 2008. Archived fromthe originalon May 23, 2009.RetrievedJune 30,2009.
- ^"Inside Uncut's new visionary folk CD".UNCUT.February 18, 2022.RetrievedJuly 3,2022.
- ^"ele-king vol.29".ele-king.RetrievedJuly 3,2022.
- ^Hadfield, James (July 3, 2022)."Exploring the re-emergence of 'Weird Folk'".Tradfolk.RetrievedJuly 3,2022.
- ^abcdeCarew, Anthony."Genre Profile - Freak-Folk".About.com.Archived fromthe originalon February 25, 2012.RetrievedJune 9,2018.
- ^Unterberger, Richie."Rough Trade Shops - Psych Folk 2010".AllMusic.
- ^Nypress.comArchived2 December 2008 at theWayback Machine
- ^Rogers, Jude (January 2, 2008)."Lie back and think of ukuleles".The Guardian.RetrievedAugust 1,2008.
- ^Hornaday, Ann."Review: 'David Crosby: Remember My Name' finds famously prickly musician has mellowed – but not by much".The Spokesman-Review.RetrievedJanuary 28,2023.
- ^Giles, Jeff (February 22, 2016)."Revisiting David Crosby's 'If I Could Only Remember My Name'".Ultimate Classic Rock.
- ^Jurek, Tom."Linda Perhacs".AllMusic.
- ^MacNeil, Jason."Devendra Banhart".AllMusic.
- ^Mason, Stewart."Bobb Trimble".AllMusic.
Bibliography[edit]
- Auslander, Philip (2006).Performing Glam Rock: Gender and Theatricality in Popular Music.Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.ISBN978-0-472-06868-5.
- DeRogatis, Jim(2003).Turn On Your Mind: Four Decades of Great Psychedelic Rock.Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard.ISBN978-0-634-05548-5.
- Hermes, Will (June 18, 2006)."Summer of Love Redux".The New York Times.
- Hicks, Michael (2000).Sixties Rock: Garage, Psychedelic, and Other Satisfactions.University of Illinois Press.ISBN978-0-252-06915-4.
- Leech, Jeanette (2010).Seasons They Change: The Story of Acid and Psychedelic Folk.London: Jawbone Press.ISBN978-1-906002-32-9.
- Macan, Edward (1997).Rocking the Classics: English Progressive Rock and the Counterculture.New York: Oxford University Press.ISBN978-0-19-509888-4.
- Sweers, Britta (2005).Electric Folk: The Changing Face of English Traditional Music.New York: Oxford University Press.ISBN978-0-19-515878-6.
- Unterberger, Richie(2002).Turn! Turn! Turn!: The '60s Folk-rock Revolution.San Francisco: Backbeat Books.ISBN978-0-87930-703-5.
External links[edit]
- PsychedelicFolk.com, by Gerald Van Waes
- Prog Archives: resource for psych folk and all other types of psychedelic music
- Ptolemaic Terrascope: resource for psych folk and all other types of psychedelic music
- Dream Magazine: resource for psych folk and all other types of psychedelic music
- Contemporary Psychedelia: From Transcendence to Immanence – An essay on psych folk and spirituality
- Dirty Linen Magazine feature article on New Psych Folk
- Freak Folk Flies Highby Derek Richardson at SFGate.com
- Poecke, N. van.The New Weird Generation
- Freak-Folk GenreArchivedFebruary 25, 2012, at theWayback Machine
