Weird Folk.

It is Saturday afternoon. I have been listening to Divers by Joanna Newsom. This is only about the third time I have listened to it, but I like it, it is a grower, very lush arrangements and I can hear the influence of Van Dyke Parks in the lyrics. I would describe it as Weird Folk. I have several other albums that I would include in this genre. I don’t know about the USA but in the UK, I think The Incredible String Band must be the earliest exponents of this type of music. I only have one String Band album at the moment which is The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter. It is one of my favourite albums. 

Kip Of The Serenes by Dr Strangely Strange I would put in this category as well although I don't rate them as highly as the String Band.. I suppose you could include Tyrannosaurus Rex before they became T Rex and later Donovan in this genre. One of the best weird folk albums in my opinion is Just Another Diamond Day by Vashti Bunyan. I think it was written during a long journey in a horse drawn gypsy caravan to Scotland. It is a wonderful whimsical album which clip-clops along to the rhythm of the caravan.As far as American weird folk is concerned, I am pleased I discovered Parallelograms by Linda Perhacs. It was completely ignored when first released but has gained a cult following over the years. I also have an album called Rejoicing In The Hands by Devendra Banhart which I would include in this genre and more recently Shepherd In A Sheepskin Jacket by Bill Callahan. If I think of any more Weird albums in my collection I’ll add them in later.

Apart from listening to Joanna this morning, I put another book in my so-called shop. It is a signed copy of Even Dogs In The Wild by Ian Rankin. Crime fiction isn’t really my thing. I have never read any Ian Rankin but I did see him once because is a huge Van Morrison fan and he compared the Lit Up Inside evening in London which we went to in 2014. Anyway, that’s enough blogging for today. See you tomorrow.