Various Artists — The Magic Forest

The Magic Forest is a three-disc, sixty-one-track compilation focusing on late 60s to mid-70s pastoral, psychedelic, and funky folk/ lite folk-rock. It’s a sequel to 2022’s compilation Deep In The Woods, which, like this collection, was compiled/ arranged by Richard Norris(Beyond The Wizards Sleeve/The Grid). This new collection focuses more on the singer-songwriter side of things.

The release appears on Strawberry, which is part of the Cherry Red family of labels. The three CDs come presented in a six-panel fold-out digipak, which is fittingly theme-decorated with colourful forest illustration abounding with mythical beasts  & eyes looking out of the shadows. The set is finished off with a glossy/ colourful inlay booklet- which features a short write-up about the compilation from Mr Norris, as well as small write-ups/ pictures for each of the sixty-one tracks. So another nice-looking/well-presented release from the folks at Cherry Red.

The three disc collection darts between the years 1968 and 1972- so it’s not a chronological affair, though it all nicely flows well together- remaining fairly varied, and largely engaging throughout, which is just what you want from a good compilation.

So I'll run through each disc, picking out a few stand-out/interesting tracks from each. So with disc one, we go from Shelagh McDonald’s “Stargazer” with its felt wavering lead female vocals, dramatic piano climbs, string swoons, and some nice atmospheric male and female choral vocals appearing towards the end of the track. There’s the acoustic strum, lightly jiving organ, and almost sing-song Neil Young-like vocalising of “Leit Motif” by Keith West. We have the steady strumming ballad “I Was Fooling” with its urgent guitar, layered male vocals, and dreamy flute embellishments.

Moving on to disc two. We go from the layered guitar, male harmonies, lulling tip-tapping percussion, and moments of mellow jazzy groove of “Ice Cube Island” by Merrell Frankauser & H.M.S Bounty. Onto the smoothly jiving and slightly moody folk/ light psych rock crossbreed of John St Fields' “Soft Lowland Tongue”. Onto the galloping ‘n’ twanging psych folk of Mark Fry’s “The Witch” with its blend of urgent guitar shambling, sitar dart, flute drifts, and steady groove percussion.

On disc three, we go to the tip-tapping percussion & lite blues guitar whine of “Rainbow Rockin’ Chair” which is a prime example of psych folk-rock pop ballading. Onto mellow jiving keys, vibes ‘n’ percussion warmth, and expressive-to-sing song female vocals of Carolanne Pegg’s “A Witch’s Guide To The Underground”. Through to the rounding guitar strums & drifting/ blues-tinged talky male vocals of Siren’s “Asylum”.

 All in all, The Magic Forest is another consistent folk compilation from Strawberry, which is primed perfectly for hazy and lightly stoned walks in the woods.