THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND

The Incredible String Band is the self-titled debut full-length studio album by UK folk rock act The Incredible String Band. The album saw a 1966 release through the Elektra label in both the UK and the US. The band recorded this album as a trio consisting of Mike Heron on vocals and guitar, Clive Palmer on banjo, guitar, vocals and kazoo and Robin Williamson on violin, vocals, whistle, guitar and mandolin. This would be the only The Incredible String Band album to feature Clive Palmer as he would leave the band shortly after the release of the album.

The music on the album is warm and well played folk rock with some really great humourous and at times psychadelic lyrics. Just take a look at the lyrics for a song like Smoke Shoveling Song and you´ll know what I mean. While the music isn´t quite as adventurous as it would become on subsequent albums, this is still a very interesting fully acoustic folk rock album. The vocals are full of warmth and emotion and are the central part of the band´s sound. But especially the acoustic guitar playing is also very noteworthy.

The production is warm and suits the music very well.

The Incredible String Band is a very solid and at times great debut album by The Incredible String Band and while later albums might better represent the adventurous nature of the band, I still find this debut album recommendable. a 3.5 star rating is well deserved.