109. The Incredible String Band | The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter (1968)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Koeeoaddi There
2. The Minotaur's Song
3. Witches Hat
4. A Very Cellular Song
5. Mercy I Cry City
6. Waltz of the New Moon
7. The Water Song
8. Three Is a Green Crown
9. Swift as the Wind
10. Nightfall

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Note: The album cover shown in 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die is not the original album cover. The one above on the right is the original album cover according to Discogs and Wikipedia. It seems the album cover was changed to the one above on the left at some point. The Wikipedia entry makes mention of it, but it's not very clear and the Discogs entry for the album just has LP images.

The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter is a medieval album. That is to say, the songs remind me of the minstrel music one might hear at popular medieval fairs. Perhaps, they also remind me of English children's nursery rhymes that I learned as a child. While those might be impressions one also might get when listening to this album, to say this sounds like medieval music, children's nursery rhymes or psychedelic folk music is overly simplistic. This album is a mix of traditional folk songs from around the world and that becomes clearer the more one listens to it. Apparently, the bards, Robin Williamson and Mike Heron, can play any instrument put in front of them.

Most of the songs have different parts to them, so the music critic who wrote the entry for this album in the 1001 Albums book notes that these songs might be better called suites. I would agree with that, but I will call them pieces. No matter, I think it's an important distinction, especially with A Very Cellular Song. Expecting each piece to be like normal a song will lead to frustration. Understanding that there are different movements in each piece will make it less confusing. However, the lyrics of these pieces can still be impenetrable.

I love the music, though. The variety of instruments keeps the music fresh and despite the different styles and musical instruments, there isn't a piece out of place. I do think this is an album worth listening to, but it won't be everyone's cup of tea.

The pieces are all worth listening to. A Very Cellular Song is the epic piece, but Koeeoaddi There, The Minotaur's Song, Witches Hat and Three Is a Green Crown are stand outs, too.

★★★★★★★★☆☆