A masterful performance of British acoustic psychedelia that fuses raga, chamber music, and improvisation. After having their equipment stolen, the Third Ear Band abandoned electric instruments and carved out their own unique soundscape using only hand drums, oboe, recorder, violin, and viola. Their 1970 self-titled second album, *Third Ear Band*—a masterpiece centered on the four elements of medieval alchemy—has been reissued on vinyl by *Antarctica Starts Here*, a label under Superior Viaduct.
This is the Third Ear Band’s second album, released following their 1969 debut after they had their equipment stolen in 1968. A version released by Odeon with a Japanese sleeve insert has also been confirmed. The album consists of four tracks: “Air,” “Earth,” “Fire,” and “Water.” It presents a completely acoustic, transcendent sound that fuses Indian classical raga, European chamber music, improvisation, and drones. The pulsating beat of hand drums is accompanied by flowing melodies from the oboe, recorder, violin, and viola. The performance is magnificent, inducing a trance-like state as if witnessing an ancient ritual—a sound that defies categorization as rock, folk, or jazz. Although it reportedly captivated the hippie scene at the time, this mesmerizing psychedelic ensemble reaches beyond a limited community to appeal to listeners of experimental music as well.
(Original Japanese text by Adachi)
This is the Third Ear Band’s second album, released following their 1969 debut after they had their equipment stolen in 1968. A version released by Odeon with a Japanese sleeve insert has also been confirmed. The album consists of four tracks: “Air,” “Earth,” “Fire,” and “Water.” It presents a completely acoustic, transcendent sound that fuses Indian classical raga, European chamber music, improvisation, and drones. The pulsating beat of hand drums is accompanied by flowing melodies from the oboe, recorder, violin, and viola. The performance is magnificent, inducing a trance-like state as if witnessing an ancient ritual—a sound that defies categorization as rock, folk, or jazz. Although it reportedly captivated the hippie scene at the time, this mesmerizing psychedelic ensemble reaches beyond a limited community to appeal to listeners of experimental music as well. (Original Japanese text by Adachi)