I’m quite sure there never was a category of ‘Pastoral Psychedelia & Funky Folk,’ even back in the early 70s when rock music was fusing with everything and anything. However as a catch all term for ‘The Magic Forest,’ – sequel to the earlier ‘Deep In The Woods,’ – then it serves quite well. Pulling from obscure corners, outliers, material buried deep besides more obvious sources, what’s presented is as thorough a search as could be expected, even then with some surprises…Zior, Maldoon, Ancient Grease anyone?

So we get a trio of CDs packed tight with music which has rootsy, bucolic grounding whilst dabbling with jazz, blues, pysch and whatever took a band’s fancy. Your average seeker might come up with The Incredible String Band as a reference but we’re even off their map here, however folk rockers will find much to celebrate, Carolanne Pegg – ex of Mr. Fox – being one such ‘ A Witch’s Guide To the Underground,’ representing her rare as hen’s teeth lone album from 1973, there ‘s Comus B sides, The Ghost’s ‘Hearts & Flowers,’ Natural Acoustic Band ‘Learning To Live,’ all inviting more exploration when you’ve digested the sixty plus tracks enclosed.

Let’s be honest I’m a sucker for this stuff, yet even  an anorak like me found selections that I’d already got tucked away on the shelf and had to reassess them, Oberon – a bunch of school boys who made a very worthwhile album in their summer holidays – their take on Gershwin’s ‘Summertime’ is downright brilliant and manages to sound Albion rather than spiritual. Shelagh McDonald’s ‘Stargazer’ is an epic, wide and swooping in it’s grandeur which I hadn’t really acknowledged before preferring to concentrate on her more melodic, observations with a catchy chorus. No doubt there’ll be more as I delve further.

As ever the Cherry Red packaging is essential as it gives not only context but vital information which you actually need to appreciate the contents. Very often there was little background information in the first place and you’d never find interviews with most of the acts here in the music press of the day, so this really is a first class example of musical archaeology. Absorbing stuff, take your time and let it all soak in.

cherryred.co.uk

Simon Jones.