First Incredibles
S. GODFREY | Risca, South Wales | 03/15/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"A delightful album which showcases the emerging talents of songwriter/minstrels Mike Heron and Robin Williamson along with the (slightly) more conventional musical abilities of their friend and mentor Clive Palmer. Clive contributes the more traditional banjo and blues pieces while Robin and Mike drop fascinating hints about the diverse musical territories they were about to venture into. "Womankind" and especially "October Song" stand out as timeless classics but everything else is pretty fine. If this is a true reflection of the music to be heard regularly in Clive's Incredible Folk Club in the mid 1960's, it must have been an extraordinary time and place. The original Incredibles are now touring again after all these years, which makes this first album all the more fascinating."
The "Incredible" certainly were: out in CD -- hooray!
Paulo Alm | 03/31/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I remember first hearing the wonderfully eclectic mix of styles/content (including East Indian myth!) that the Incredible String Band brought to their songs -- and being absolutely amazed! Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull obviously struck a more popular note, but all lovers of thoughtful lyrics and hauntingly experimental/evocative musical styles -- and especially of the British acoustic "minstrel" tradition -- owe it to themselves to buy at least one "Incredible" CD!"
It got me completely hooked!
Paulo Alm | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 10/18/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Released in 1966, this first album by The Incredible String Band is an absolute must-have if you are into British folk. A little more direct and less adventurous than the albums that followed, it stands its ground as a marvellous piece of work.
Produced by Joe Boyd and recorded at Sound Techniques in London, this is also the only album by the original line-up which - apart from Robin Williamson and Mike Heron - still counted with Clive Palmer. The results are strikingly positive and I found myself at its feet for weeks!
There's no way to pick a favourite but Williamson's October Song with its wonderful lines comes close. Heron's The Tree, Maybe Someday and How Happy I Am are all classic examples of singing acoustic wizardry. And even Palmer's Empty Pocket Blues sheds some light and makes a difference.
When this music starts to play, let me be around!!!"