Magic Forest: More Pastoral Psychedlia & Funky Folk 1968-1975

Overview

Somewhere in the `60s, the folk movement and the psychedelic rock scene intersected and a new sound emerged combining mellow acoustic sounds with further-out ideas that broke from folk traditions. This psychedelic folk-rock sound was wide-ranging, from the more straightforward sounds of bands like Fairport Convention and early Jethro Tull to the acid-tripping bliss of communal groups like the Incredible String Band. The Magic Forest is the second entry in a series of compilations that began with 2022's Deep in the Woods, again collecting artifacts of enchanted, pastoral psychedelic folk from between 1968 and 1975. Cherry Red's anthologies generally intersperse obscure acts among the better known artists of the genre or topic they're focused on, but this series sticks primarily to the rarer artifacts of the woodland folk underground. The 62 tracks here still go all over the place, from the orchestral chamber folk of Fresh Maggots' ¿Rosemary Hill¿ or the gothic and ceremonial energy of Shelagh McDonald's ¿Stargazer¿ to more moody and rocking songs from Fat Mattress and Mellow Candle. Psychedelia is the thread that holds The Magic Forest together. Even the folkiest numbers here, like Heron's mandolin- and acoustic guitar-based ¿Yellow Roses¿ or the Coterie's ¿Dawn¿ have a surreal tint to their gentle delivery, making them feel more ethereal and dreamlike than the average Peter, Paul, and Mary tune. These milder songs are counterbalanced by far more experimental fare from acid pop acts like Honeybus and Ithaca, and progressive rockers like Comus and Jade Warrior. The absence of many big-name artists or easily recognizable hits enhances the mysterious aura that builds as The Magic Forest goes on. It's the perfect soundtrack for a long hike through misty terrain, an epic Dungeons & Dragons session, or to simply enjoy for its deftly curated flow and the witchy, beguiling atmosphere it creates. ~ Fred Thomas

Product Details

Release Date:	01/24/2025
Label:	Strawberry
UPC:	5013929433335

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Majority One   Primary Artist
Woods Band   Primary Artist
Siren   Primary Artist
Paul Brett   Primary Artist
Amber   Primary Artist
Mortimer   Primary Artist
Shelagh McDonald   Primary Artist
Snafu   Primary Artist
Keith West   Primary Artist
Jade Warrior   Primary Artist
Jackie Leven   Primary Artist
Comus   Primary Artist
Carolanne Pegg   Primary Artist
Clifford T. Ward   Primary Artist
Family   Primary Artist
Sandy Denny   Primary Artist
Honeybus   Primary Artist
Fresh Maggots   Primary Artist
Peter Howell   Primary Artist
Mark Fry   Primary Artist
Fairfield Parlour   Primary Artist
Roy Harper   Primary Artist
Mellow Candle   Primary Artist
Prelude   Primary Artist
Tim Rose   Primary Artist
Bridget St. John   Primary Artist
Heron   Primary Artist
Chris Harwood   Primary Artist
Alan Hull   Primary Artist
Music Box   Primary Artist
Forest   Primary Artist
Gary Farr   Primary Artist
Fotheringay   Primary Artist
Bill Nelson   Primary Artist
Fat Mattress   Primary Artist
Pentangle   Primary Artist
Merrell Fankhauser   Primary Artist
Oberon   Primary Artist
Ancient Grease   Primary Artist
Zior   Primary Artist
Coterie   Primary Artist
Paper Bubble   Primary Artist
The Ghost   Primary Artist
Affinity   Primary Artist
Merrell Fankhauser & H.M.S. Bounty   Primary Artist
Aidan Nolan   Primary Artist
Curtiss Maldoon   Primary Artist
Knocker Jungle   Primary Artist
Kevin Lamb   Primary Artist
Marsha Hunt   Primary Artist
Julian Jay Savarin   Primary Artist
Tim Hollier   Primary Artist
Jade   Primary Artist
Ian A. Anderson   Primary Artist
John Ferdinando   Primary Artist
Barrington Davis   Primary Artist
John Williams   Primary Artist
Friends   Primary Artist
The Occasional Word   Primary Artist
Bruce Spelman   Primary Artist
Agincourt   Primary Artist
Ithaca   Primary Artist
Natural Acoustic Band   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Simon Murphy   Mastering
Lyndon Pike   Design
Eddy Ball   Licensing