British psychedelia folk style. Between them Robin Williamson and Mike Heron play 17 different instruments - including sitar, harpsichord, pan pipe, oud and water harp. Not surprisingly the result is a cacophony of experimental folk that in places sounds somewhat dated today. For the most part, however, this is truly incredible music.
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Basket of Light Pentangle 1969 [Edsel]
Many would choose Sweet Child from the previous year as Pentangle's finest, but Basket of Light wins out as a significantly more focussed effort. The band's progressive folk sound is largely built around established guitarists Bert Jansch and John Renbourn. The Fairports were undoubtedly the best, but these guys weren't far behind.
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On the Shore Trees 1970 [Columbia]
Often accused of being Fairport wannabes, the Trees frequently stray into rock psychedelia that is hardly Conventional. In fact, it was the band's cult status in the prog-rock community that ensured this album's welcome reissue on CD. As with similar efforts from the era there are a few excesses, but mostly just nice progressive folk.
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John Barleycorn Must Die Traffic 1970 [United Artists/Island]
Traffic's third studio album began as a Steve Winwood solo project, but when two former members came on board the band was reborn. Gone were most of the psychedelic trimmings and popular stylings of earlier efforts, replaced with a more relaxed concoction of jazz and folk. The outstanding title track is a folk-rock classic.
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From the Witchwood Strawbs 1971 [A&M]
Somewhere in between their acoustic folk and prog-rock phases the Strawbs made this transitional album. The record benefits immensely from digital remastering, with Rick Wakeman's (later of Yes fame) keyboards and synth brought to the fore. The Strawbs never quite found their place in the world… maybe this was it.
Imagine a druid witches dervish set to prog-rock music laced with LSD. The band's name comes from a John Milton poem, while their acid folk style is a cross between British folk-rock (Fairport Convention, Pentangle) and prog-rock in the King Crimson/Genesis vein. Long an LP collectors favourite, recent CD reissues are a welcome sight.
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Swaddling Songs Mellow Candle 1972 [Deram]
Another of the great 1970s English prog-rock records currently being dusted off and wearing the 'wyrd folk' tag. While the arrangements are certainly progressively complex, unlike a lot of the music it is lumped with the record is not lyrically weighed-down with mystical excesses. Gets more electrical as the album goes on, finishing on a rock note.
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Thick As a Brick Jethro Tull 1972 [Warner/Chrysalis]
Hot on the heels of mega-hit Aqualung, Jethro Tull leader Ian Anderson concocted this epic masterpiece of folk eclecticism. Unlike the hard rocking Aqualung, this record is typified by quieter acoustic folk passages interspersed with well-placed bursts of electric rock. Intended as a single track opus, which translates well onto the CD format.
