THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND

Five or six combinations of artists in the world are in the unfortunate position of being practically journalistically indescribable. I say practically in that these artists are of such obviously high calibre that they are describable only by the use of such terms as "brilliant", "genius", "revolutionarily unique", "gods and demi-gods" and, the worst of all, "the ultimate".

Included among theses artists are Cream—Beatles—Dylan—Traffic— Incredible String Band—Ray Charles—and, possibly, Pentangle.

None of these artists will admit to being anywhere near as innovative as critics and record companies make them out to be. This leads me to the conclusion that either when you get to be that good‘ you get humble as hell, or that you don’t think you’re that great because what you’re doing is just a natural psychological evolutionary process for yourself. Whichever of these (or possibly both) is true—I am not one to complain about or dissect the situation.

However, to pluck the Incredible String Band from that list, I should like to say that they are not that good.

I mean, yes they are good. But they are not what they are said to be by the likes of

a) Richard Goldstein:

“They plunge head on into a dozen mystic mainstreams and emerge fragrant with the innocence, wonder and magic that is common to all."

b) Paul Nelson:

“Their songs retain the magi ; innocence, and radiance of technically brilliant and gifted children who have had no formal raining and to whom the world is brand new and full of wonder."

c) Hullabaloo:

“A kooky and absolutely delightful and indescribable duo who manage to combine the mystique of traditional folk music with the modernity of the Beatles,"

d) Beth Gillin:

“Williamson is a little gloomy and I was bored with his near five minute confessions-of-my-adolescence song The First Girl I Loved.

They are to some extent—etherial in their mingling of international traditional folk styles but only on one album do they tend to aimlessly meander around the structure of the music (Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter-EKS 74021).

Generally speaking, they are indescribable. Therefore. there is really no point to this article other than to deny other previous descriptions given by people who are renowned for their attempts to pigeon-hole all aesthetic forms of communication.

Please do not read, or take notice of, descriptions of the I.S.B.They will instantly limit your reception to the natural talents of the I.S.B. and you will not enjoy them to the fullest extent of your capabilities or theirs.