The 60's Psych Thread

[theimperialwarcult]

Originally Posted by dankrsta

I will say something about this incredible electronic duo from New York - SILVER APPLES, since they're not mentioned. They had a psychedelic and cosmic feel to their sound, so I think they fit in this thread even though their approach to pop song was unconventional. Their use of a primitive synthesizer and a drum created some pretty unusual music for that time foreshadowing electronic music of Kraftwerk and Suicide especially, since they, like Silver Apples, operated within rock idioms. Well, maybe that's what Suicide would've sounded like if they made music in the late 60's.

But, that minimal and repetitive approach to a pop structure, with an incredibly catchy driving beat, was very fresh and innovative. Although we're now very well used to this idioms of electronic music, it doesn't take away from the freshness of their sound and this music somehow doesn't feel dated. At least, not for me.

They released two albums in the late 60's: Silver Apples (1968) and Contact (1969), which were re-released in the mid 90's when the band briefly reunited. I have both of this albums on one CD so I used to always listen to them together.


Silver Apples (1968) - I can say that the first album is more psychedelic and spacey, there's more use of oscillators creating audio signals that feel like they're coming from outer space. My personal favorites are: Oscillations, Seagreen Serenades, Program and the incredible Misty Mountain that closes the album.


Contact (1969) is slightly more rocky and direct. That is especially evident in the lyrics which are not cosmic and abstract like in the first album, but more concrete, personal and emotional. I especially like: Ruby (with a catchy country rhythm), Gypsy Love, You're Not Foolin' Me and the wonderfully hypnotic A Pox On You.

Here are some examples from both albums:

"Oscillations" and "Seagreen Serenades" from Silver Apples (1968)


"Misty Mountain"


"You and I" from Contact

I hadn't heard Silver Apples before. They sound awesome. Thanks for posting this.

[TheCellarTapes]

By shocking coincidence, I've just written a Silver Apples review for their debut

http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...tml#post864246

[NumberNineDream]

Psychedelic Moods (1966) - THE DEEP

From one of the earliest Psychedelic garage bands The Deep. A very interesting album. Not an ultimate favourite, but one of the close nominees.

It balances from very energetic Garage cries to the close to macabre lazy storytelling. The psychedelia is dominant but not taking part of the whole album, which is very much refreshing. Like a very heartfelt slowtempoed tune that is accompanied by a very shy and simple arrangement would pop up from under the Garage rubble. Still it has the elements of collage, a hint of musique-concrête, the Surrealistic lyrics and the eerie atmosphere. A lot of exaggerated added reverbs, some echoes here and there, and the usual panning to the extreme. Then some playful, kind of sunshine pop tracks surprise you from time to time, giving you a break from the nightmarish ambience haunting the album.

It has its share of the ludicrousness known to the 60s albums. From members commenting on a song, to a nonsensical sound inserting itself to the mix. Which is in a way, one of my favourite characteristics of that era. It just feels like a bunch of guys having fun with their music, in contrast to the seriousness some of the tunes are suggesting. All in all, it's a well balanced album, that I find myself enjoying more and more with every spin.

Have a listen:

Every track is very different than the other, so those aren't the only styles of sound forming the album.

[Raust]

Hawkwind is by far one of my favorite psychedelic bands. Lemmy does vocals here a lot of motorhead fans fail to realize that he was part of this band.

[Captain Ron]

YouTube - ‪Manfred Mann - Fox on the run‬‏

[Mrd00d]

Originally Posted by Raust

Hawkwind is by far one of my favorite psychedelic bands. Lemmy does vocals here a lot of motorhead fans fail to realize that he was part of this band.

I didn't know that, but I don't fancy myself a Motorhead fan so whatevs. That's cool. Hawkwind was still more 70s though, wasn't it?

Originally Posted by Captain Ron

YouTube - ‪Manfred Mann - Fox on the run‬‏

LOL I have a Manfred Mann Earth Band album... haven't listened to it yet... Name makes me lol

[Captain Ron]

the left banke had some great baroque late 60s pop

[TockTockTock]

This is the title track of Fifty Foot Hose's debut album that was released in 1967. They combined elements of avant-garde and electronic music with psychedelic rock, which rendered them one of the first bands to use experimentation in rock music. Throbbing Gristle cites them as an influence which is a plus in my book...

I've always lightly associated them with bands such as White Noise, USA, and Silver Apples. All four bands have created some of the best albums that 60s psychedelia has to offer.

[Mojo]

The Zoo - Presents Chocolate Moose (1968)

This thread was always one of my favourites and I think it's in dire need of a kick in the arse. I decided to do so with this gem.

The one and only release from American psych/garage rock band The Zoo. Very slick, smooth production that, frankly, a lot of bands at this time didn't have. The vocals are crisp, clear, powerful and among the best I've heard from a band of this kind at this time. The album fuses some of the more psychedelic 'pop' of the day with the added intensity of a riffy garage rock band.

Lead guitarist Howard Leese would go on to play guitar for Heart throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s.

This is, without a doubt, one of my favourite 60s psych records and one I would love to own on vinyl one day. I'm fairly certain, however, that this would be no easy task and probably cost me an arm and a leg.

Here, listen to the full album.