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22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By Runmentionable
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Audio CD
Here's what this CD is: a soundtrack to the central chapters of Rob Young's book of the same name. It's a wide-ranging, imaginative and hugely engaging selection of music that's in varying parts dreamy, introspective, scary and downright weird. Often simultaneously.
Here's what this CD isn't: a history of British folk or a history of British folk-rock, or a collection of rarities. However, other reviewers have tackled it as if it were, and marked it down accordingly. That's an injustice, and about as logical as criticising a detective novel for being poor science fiction.
Take this for what it is, and not for what someone incorrectly assumes it is or ought to be, and a rewarding listen is guaranteed. Young's book is a study of how certain British musicians take inspiration from history, landscape, folklore, and a certain ambivalence about progress and thus produce work with a certain - for want of a less hifalutin' term - visionary and mystical sensibility (it sounds pretentious, but as Young describes things, it isn't). His narrative starts with early 20th century classical composers, and ends up, via the likes of Kate Bush, Julian Cope and Talk Talk, at contemporary "Hauntology" artists.
In between, he sees the greatest flowering of this visionary music taking place in the folk-rock era, for obvious reasons. That's the period this CD covers. There's a mix of (comparatively) big names and virtual unknowns, and some tracks are relativey famous while others are desperately obscure. Compilations being what they, are each listener will have their preferred tracks and quality control can be variable, but this merits five stars because each track sheds some light on Young's key idea.
Because Young's discussing an aesthetic perspective rather than a plodding view of what is or isn't folk or folk-rock, it's entirely right and proper that the CD finds room for prog-rock and singer-songwriters working in the same general area as what's more consensually seen as folk-rock. If you're not appalled by the prospect of something that falls outside your arbitrary genre definition appearing here, but you like the general idea of Young's hypothesis, you'll find this CD stimulating, rewarding and, who knows, maybe even a little bit visionary.
Here's what this CD isn't: a history of British folk or a history of British folk-rock, or a collection of rarities. However, other reviewers have tackled it as if it were, and marked it down accordingly. That's an injustice, and about as logical as criticising a detective novel for being poor science fiction.
Take this for what it is, and not for what someone incorrectly assumes it is or ought to be, and a rewarding listen is guaranteed. Young's book is a study of how certain British musicians take inspiration from history, landscape, folklore, and a certain ambivalence about progress and thus produce work with a certain - for want of a less hifalutin' term - visionary and mystical sensibility (it sounds pretentious, but as Young describes things, it isn't). His narrative starts with early 20th century classical composers, and ends up, via the likes of Kate Bush, Julian Cope and Talk Talk, at contemporary "Hauntology" artists.
In between, he sees the greatest flowering of this visionary music taking place in the folk-rock era, for obvious reasons. That's the period this CD covers. There's a mix of (comparatively) big names and virtual unknowns, and some tracks are relativey famous while others are desperately obscure. Compilations being what they, are each listener will have their preferred tracks and quality control can be variable, but this merits five stars because each track sheds some light on Young's key idea.
Because Young's discussing an aesthetic perspective rather than a plodding view of what is or isn't folk or folk-rock, it's entirely right and proper that the CD finds room for prog-rock and singer-songwriters working in the same general area as what's more consensually seen as folk-rock. If you're not appalled by the prospect of something that falls outside your arbitrary genre definition appearing here, but you like the general idea of Young's hypothesis, you'll find this CD stimulating, rewarding and, who knows, maybe even a little bit visionary.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Pseudonymous
Format:Audio CD
Rob Young's book Electric Eden is a genuine delight to read, something to savour and to revisit, a book that chronicles the convergence and melding of traditional folk-music of the British Isles with popular, classical and experimental styles over the course of the Twentieth Century and beyond, creating diverse works of art along the way that re-imagine our connectedness to the heritage of the land. This cd works as a companion to the book, focusing in upon the time-period perhaps closest to the heart of the author, the blossoming of folk and folk-rock in the 1960's and 1970's, though in the same breath I should add that he doesn't limit himself to those hazy-edged genres previously mentioned, and nor should he. As I see it, the subtitle "Unearthing Britains Visionary Music" indicates that there aren't any clearly-defined boundaries over which he shouldn't cross, so long as that "British visionary" element is present, and perhaps this collection could have been more eclectic yet without the risk of losing the plot.
Rob has done a fine job of compiling a diverse selection of artists, the first disc concentrates on acoustic music and disc two introduces electric instruments. Much of the music is pastoral in feel, some is firmly rooted in the ground whilst others levitate above the ground on psychedelic journeys. Both discs contain tracks by the big names of the day alongside more obscure artists, creating a fascinating collection with discoveries to be made around every corner. As with all compilation cds some people might be disgruntled with the omission or inclusion of certain bands or songs, but space is very finite, and to me he has clearly put a lot of thought into each track and moreover the task of refining it down to these particular pieces must have been a mammoth labour of love.
I give the cd 5 stars because it's a delight and I think it makes a fine companion-piece to the book, giving the book a sonic dimension, but I also find myself wondering if it would have been better yet had Rob included music from across the entire scope of the book rather than just one time-period. Creating such a collection on two discs would have been a really tall order, but I can imagine approaching it in one of two ways: either by dipping into the Discographic Timeline at the back of the book for a representative selection, or choosing a couple of tracks relevant to each chapter. I'm not familiar with much of the pre-60's music he talks about and would be curious to hear some to help create a deeper context for the later music. Also it would be fascinating to see him pencilling in a line from Arnold Bax through Ralph Vaughan Williams to Ewan MacColl, Martin Carthy, Pentangle, Kate Bush, Talk Talk, to the Boards Of Canada and onwards - I'm not aware of any other compilation out there that takes such a journey.
I am very happy to own a copy of this compilation, and I'm itching to explore the work of a number of artists that are featured on here whom I have previously not been acquainted with. I see that this collection has the catalogue number EDEN001, so I for one look forward very much to EDEN002.
Rob has done a fine job of compiling a diverse selection of artists, the first disc concentrates on acoustic music and disc two introduces electric instruments. Much of the music is pastoral in feel, some is firmly rooted in the ground whilst others levitate above the ground on psychedelic journeys. Both discs contain tracks by the big names of the day alongside more obscure artists, creating a fascinating collection with discoveries to be made around every corner. As with all compilation cds some people might be disgruntled with the omission or inclusion of certain bands or songs, but space is very finite, and to me he has clearly put a lot of thought into each track and moreover the task of refining it down to these particular pieces must have been a mammoth labour of love.
I give the cd 5 stars because it's a delight and I think it makes a fine companion-piece to the book, giving the book a sonic dimension, but I also find myself wondering if it would have been better yet had Rob included music from across the entire scope of the book rather than just one time-period. Creating such a collection on two discs would have been a really tall order, but I can imagine approaching it in one of two ways: either by dipping into the Discographic Timeline at the back of the book for a representative selection, or choosing a couple of tracks relevant to each chapter. I'm not familiar with much of the pre-60's music he talks about and would be curious to hear some to help create a deeper context for the later music. Also it would be fascinating to see him pencilling in a line from Arnold Bax through Ralph Vaughan Williams to Ewan MacColl, Martin Carthy, Pentangle, Kate Bush, Talk Talk, to the Boards Of Canada and onwards - I'm not aware of any other compilation out there that takes such a journey.
I am very happy to own a copy of this compilation, and I'm itching to explore the work of a number of artists that are featured on here whom I have previously not been acquainted with. I see that this collection has the catalogue number EDEN001, so I for one look forward very much to EDEN002.
By mrjonthehat
Format:MP3 Download|Amazon Verified Purchase
I loved Rob Ewen's book, and although I thought my knowledge of 'folk' music was pretty good, this compilation let me hear lots of songs I didn't know. Essential companion piece, but also a great collection of music that covers all eras of "Britain's Visionary Music"
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Ok
Bought for Brother in law who was disappointed in some of the music, but still enjoyed some of the tracks
Published 16 days ago by julie
5.0 out of 5 stars
folk for the conniseur
excellant compolation following the book
a must for any folkies old or new
a good mix to enjoy a follow up cd is a must
a must for any folkies old or new
a good mix to enjoy a follow up cd is a must
Published 1 month ago by bad rabbit
4.0 out of 5 stars
Folk Music
A very comprehenshive book and CD which I have loved reading and enjoyed listening to. Much to read up on and many musical memories for me a lifetime lover of the Folk Music scene.
Published 5 months ago by Gillian Callaghan
3.0 out of 5 stars
Some odd bedfellows
What a pleasant surprise to find a track,Country Road,from Unicorn's first album 'Uphill All The Way'saw them on tour with Steeleye Span back in the day great band
Published 7 months ago by Klaus Shave
3.0 out of 5 stars
not bad but could be better
It's a good mix of music from that time but nothing rare. Would have been good to have had Heron on the discs as they played with a few groups at the time and are sorely often... Read more
Published 7 months ago by shrew
2.0 out of 5 stars
bowie
the blurb boasts that this album contains music by david bowie.
his name is not on the tracklisting so is he on backing vocals on one track? Read more
his name is not on the tracklisting so is he on backing vocals on one track? Read more
Published 8 months ago by G. V. Best
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not bad..but some strange choices
If you have read the book then you'll know what to expect here although some of the track choices are rather odd. Comus I'd call prog more than anything else. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Sir Elias Dee
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