Third Ear Band - Alchemy (expanded / 24-bit remaster) 2 x CDs
SKU
23-PECLEC 22668
The Third Ear Band were a late 60's/mid 70's quartet who were fixtures at ALL the festivals & who used hand drums, oboe, violin/viola & cello to make a mostly improvised, dark, pagan & medieval-influenced, acoustic music that sounded like no one but themselves.
The only thing that comes close to their sound is some small bits of the early Univers Zero records. They called themselves "electric acid raga music", and that's a fine description. Definitely on the oddball side of things, I suppose, but I loved them and I still do. So...highly original and highly recommended!
“This is a new, expanded and re-mastered 2 CD edition of the classic first album "Alchemy" by THIRD EAR BAND.
One of the first releases on EMI's progressive rock label, Harvest in July 1969, "Alchemy" was the debut album by THIRD EAR BAND. The band was formed in 1968 around a nucleus of GLEN SWEENEY (percussion), PAUL MINNS (Oboe), RICHARD COFF (Violin, Viola) and MEL DAVIS (cello). Third Ear Band were unique in their exploration of exotic baroque music fused with experimental rock.
Signing to Blackhill Enterprises in 1969, the quartet opened for many of the legendary Hyde Park free concerts by Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones and Blind Faith.
"Alchemy" is regarded as one of the most striking and original works of the era with it's unique gothic improvisational music and this new expanded two disc edition features the original album, re-mastered from the original Harvest master tapes, along with ten bonus tracks which include a rare BBC session for John Peel's TOP GEAR programme from July 1969, along with three early demos recorded in 1968 and five previously unreleased tracks recorded at Abbey Road studios in 1969. The set also includes a booklet with new essay by Third Ear Band archivist and biographer Luca Ferrari."
Disc: 1
1. Mosaic
2. Ghetto Raga
3. Druid One
4. Stone Circle
5. Egyptian Book of the Dead
6. Area Three
7. Dragon Lines
8. Lark Rise
9. Hyde Park Raga (BBC Session - July 1969) (Previously Unreleased)
1. Druid One (BBC Session - July 1969) (Previously Unreleased)
Disc: 2
1. Cosmic Trip (1968 Recording)
2. Jason's Trip (1968 Recording)
3. Devil's Weed (1968 Recording)
4. Raga No. 1 (Mono)
5. Unity
6. The Sea (Recorded at Abbey Road Studios - 24th January 1969)
7. Druid (Recorded at Abbey Road Studios - 24th January 1969)
8. Hyde Park Raga (Recorded at Abbey Road Studios - 24th January 1969)
- LabelEsoteric
- UPC5013929476844