The Incredible String Band — Self Titled/ The 5000 Spirits/The Hangman’s
The reissue comes in a double jewel case set, which features in a colourful cardboard slip sleeve. You do get a 24 page inlay booklet- this takes in new 11 page write-up about the band & the three albums. Plus original liner notes & lyrics. The new write-up is well enough done, though didn’t really add anything to what I already knew- but I’d imagine if you’re new to the ISB, then you’d find it informative.
So moving onto the two CD’s themselves, and first up on disc one we have the bands Self Titled debut from 1966. It offers up sixteen fairly short ‘n’ sharp songs, that are a lot more stripped back & traditional folk like. If compared with their later often multi-layered instrumental sound, blend of psychedelic, world music & other genres. It’s a lot more innocent & less quirky sounding too- with the band been just a three piece made-up of: Robin Williamson on violin, whistle, mandolin, guitar and of course vocals, Clive Palmer on banjo, guitar/ & vocals, and Mike Heron guitar & vocals. Many of the songs are centred around a blend the three acoustic guitars, some banjo and the lead vocals- with these often been taking up in distinctive manner by Mike Heron. As debut albums go it's fairly balanced & consistent, with hints at what is to come.
Next up we have we have 1967’s The 5000 Spirits Or The Layer Or The Onion. And this shows the band forging their own distinctive & unique sound, moving mostly away from the more formal folk song structures, to more wondering & complex, sometimes haphazard, but strangely spell-biding brand of Psychedelic folk, that’s tripped with often surprising genre twists & darts. With the song craft blending together the more common garden folk instrumentation of acoustic guitar, harmonica, and mandolin- with a host of more exotic instruments of African and Middle Eastern origin. Also lyrically the songs became more rich & detailed with weird & wonderfully imagery- taking from quirky myths & legends, eastern & western religious, children's stories, and general quirky tales. The album takes in thirteen tracks in all (with six on disc one, and remaindering seven at the start of disc two). On the whole it’s a great, quirky, twisting ‘n’ turning adventure of an album- sure at times it feels a little too quirky, haphazard & playful- but also that’s a big part of its charm.
Taking up the lion-share of disc two with its ten tracks is 1968’s The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter; and put simply this was the bands masterpiece. It extended & deepened the sound that started on The 5000 Spirits…, to new glorious strange & wonderful heights. Each of the albums ten tracks is the perfect balancing act of the weird & wonderful, which manage to be both memorable & atmospheric, highly creative, and daring. As they blend quirky mixed genre song craft, with original use of instrumental. Added to this you have more rich, heady, and complex lyrics. Like all great albums it feels like it creates it’s own universe- that’s both idiosyncratic, undated, and still surprising after to many-many plays.
Really if you’ve never heard any of ISB work- this two disc set it a perfect place to start. As you get two of their most celebrated releases along side their debut, which while it’s not as vital as the other two releases- is a good opening shot from the band, that shows hints at what the band would go on to do.