In the musical landscape of the 1960s, one group blazed a trail of unparalleled audacity: The Incredible String Band. Formed in Scotland in 1966 by Mike Heron, Clive Palmer and Robin Williamson, the band revolutionised folk music with a touch of psychedelia that seemed to float in the air at the time.
Their album ‘The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter' (1968), considered a masterpiece, took traditional folk into a new dimension. With exotic instruments and mystical lyrics, they created a unique sonic universe. Williamson used to say, “We play our own folk… from the frontiers of the imagination”. This phrase perfectly captures the spirit of innovation and freedom that animated the band.
Their live performances, often described as quasi-religious experiences, were a blend of music, poetry and theatre. Heron, with his gentle, melodious voice, and Williamson, a virtuoso multi-instrumentalist, created shows that defied convention. The famous anecdote of their concert at Woodstock in 1969, when they refused to play in the rain, shows their commitment to the quality of their art, despite the prestige of the event.
But The Incredible String Band weren't just a musical phenomenon; they reflected an era of change, experimentation and spiritual quest. Their lyrics, charged with symbolism, spoke of love, nature and the quest for self, reflecting the aspirations of a generation in the throes of change.
Today, listening again to tracks like ‘The Hedgehog's Song' and ‘A Very Cellular Song', you can still feel that magic, that desire to explore the unknown. The Incredible String Band remains a source of inspiration for many artists, proving that their music was not only incredible for its time, but also timeless.
In a world where music is often formatted and predictable, to remember The Incredible String Band is to remember that art can and should be a boundless field of exploration. As they so aptly sang, “Let the music flow, so steady as to be the rhythm of life”. And in that flow, they have found eternity.
The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter album
In The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter, the band has woven a richly colourful tapestry of sound, blending traditional and exotic instruments, from the Indian sitar to the mandolin. The music on this album is not just something to listen to, it's an immersive experience. As Heron so aptly put it, “We don't play music, we live it”.
“The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter” transports the listener into a world where time and space are fluid. Songs like “The Minotaur's Song” and “A Very Cellular Song” reveal a bold blend of folklore, spirituality and humour. These songs are not mere songs, but stories told with vibrant poetry and hypnotic musicality.
The album has been hailed for its boundless creativity and daring. At a time when folk music was often associated with a form of simplicity, The Incredible String Band proved that it could be complex, experimental and deeply captivating.
A fascinating anecdote surrounds the creation of the album: during the recording, Williamson and Heron lived in a small community in England, immersing themselves in a bohemian lifestyle that greatly influenced their art. This immersion in an alternative environment is reflected in every note of the album, giving their music a rare authenticity and depth.
The song : “A Very Cellular Song”
Probably the most iconic track on The Incredible String Band's album “The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter” is “A Very Cellular Song”. This song is often cited as the highlight of the album and is representative of the band's unique style and creativity.
“A Very Cellular Song” is an epic composition lasting over 12 minutes, blending various musical styles, philosophical and spiritual lyrics, and an inventive use of traditional and exotic instruments. The song moves through different movements, from folk to gospel, and incorporates elements of Indian music, demonstrating the band's ability to fuse different musical genres in a harmonious and original way.
This song is an excellent example of how The Incredible String Band has combined poetic storytelling, complex musicality and spiritual exploration, characteristics that define the whole of ‘The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter' album. For those seeking to understand the essence of this album and of The Incredible String Band's unique style, “A Very Cellular Song” is certainly the track to remember.