1971

John Renbourn – Faro Annie

Style: Folk Rock, Folk Baroque, British Blues

Moods: Rootsy, Warm, Rural, Morning, Mellow

Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar, Sitar, Upright Bass, Vocal Harmonies, Fiddle, Harmonica, Drums

Anthony Braxton – The Complete Braxton 1971

Style: Modern Creative, Avant-Garde Jazz, Chamber Jazz

Moods: Cryptic, Cerebral, Mystical, Suspenseful, Ritualistic, Deconstructed, Responsive, Abstract, Open

Musical Qualities: Poly-Free Improvisation, Acoustic, Dynamic, Thematic, Chamber, Complex

Instrumentation: Saxophones (Sopranino, Alto), Bass Clarinet, Piano, Flute, Trumpet, Upright Bass, Tuba, Drums, Percussion, Fluegelhorn

Jethro Tull – Thick as a Brick

Style: Progressive Folk

Vibe: Epic, Conceptual, Satirical, Cerebral, Bombastic, Anthemic, Playful, Eccentric, Medieval, Poetic, Theatric

Musical Qualities: Suite, Uncommon time signatures, Progressive, Riffs, Thematic, Technical

Joakim Skogsberg – Jola rota

Style: Ritual Psych, Nordic Folk, Free Folk

Feelings: Pantheistic, Ceremonial, Forest, Hypnotic, Exploratory, Earthy, Mystical, Mysterious, Rootsy, Surreal, Tribal, Spiritual

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Chants, Percussive, Dub Fx, Repetitive

John Prine – John Prine

Style: Singer-Songwriter, Country, Americana

Moods: Playful, Sunny, Humorous, Political, Rustic, Storytelling, Rebellious, Conscious, Loner, Twangy

Daevid Allen – Banana Moon

Style: Canterbury Scene, Progressive Pop, Art Rock, Soul-Influenced

Moods: Playful, Eclectic, Eccentric, Whimsical, Mystical, Surreal, Cosmic, Theatric, Psychedelic, Energetic, Joyful, Hippie

Musical Qualities: Progressive, Catchy, Background Singers, Riffs

Harold Land – A New Shade of Blue

Personnel & Instrumentation:
Harold Land, Tenor Saxophone; Bobby Hutcherson, Vibes; Buster Williams, Upright Bass; Bill Henderson, Piano & Electric Piano; Billy Hart, Drums; Mtume, Conga

George Duke – The Inner Source

Style: Jazz Fusion, Cosmic Jazz-Funk

Vibe: Spacey, Sunny, Warm, Spiritual, Uplifting

Musical Qualities: Improvisation, Groovy, Instrumental, Melodic

Marion Brown – Afternoon of a Georgia Faun

featuring Chick Corea, Anthony Braxton, Bennie Maupin, Andrew Cyrille, etc…

Style: Modern Creative, Avant-Garde Jazz

Vibe: Mysterious, Suspenseful, Nature, Abstract, Surreal, Kinetic, Visceral, Earthy, Swirling, Pastoral (Side A)

Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Dynamic, Sparse, Acoustic, Atonal, Experimental Vocals, Extended Techniques, Dissonant, Percussive, Homemade Instrument

Catherine Ribeiro + Alpes – Ame debout

Style: Progressive Folk, Avant-Folk

Vibe: Brooding, Visceral, Witchy, Sombre, Forest, Intense, Driving, Passionate, Rebellious

Musical Qualities: Dynamic, Progressive, Experimental Vocals

Instrumentation: Organ, Electric Guitar, Percussion, Vocals

Gong – Camembert Electrique

Style: Space Rock, Canterbury Scene, Prog, Jazz-Rock

Vibes: Eccentric, Surreal, Playful, Epic, Psychedelic, Theatric, Energetic, Spiritual, Conceptual, Energetic

Musical Qualities: Progressive, Complex, Driving, Technical

Comus – First Utterance

Style: Avant-Folk, Progressive Folk

Moods: Ominous, Forest, Surreal, Dark, Theatrical, Disturbing, Hallucinatory, Mysterious, Ritualistic, Aggressive, Complex, Shadowy

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Percussive, Chamber Arrangements, Technical

Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar (6 & 12-Strings), Violin, Viola, Oboe, Flute, Percussion, Electric Bass

Anne Briggs – Anne Briggs

Style: English Folk, Celtic Folk

Vibe: Flowing, Pastoral, Melancholy, Heartfelt, Intimate, Rootsy, Storytelling

Musical Qualities: Sparse, Acoustic, A Cappella (A2, A5, B1-3, B5)

David Crosby – If Only I Could Remember My Name…

Style: Folk Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Cosmic Americana

Vibe: Dreamy, Hippy, Longing, Bittersweet, Airy, Autumnal, Warm, Loose, Peaceful, Ethereal, Introspective, Psychedelic, Hypnotic, Mellow, Meandering, Stoned, Communal

Musical Qualities: Vocal Harmonies, Heavy Reverb, Jams

Airto – Seeds on the Ground

Style: Psychedelic Samba-Jazz

Vibe: Warm, Earthy, Breezy, Psychedelic, Romantic

Musical Qualities: Groovy, Percussive, Polyrhythmic, Collective Improvisation, Technical

Gil Scott-Heron – Pieces of a Man

Style: Soul Jazz, Singer/Songwriter, Jazz-Funk

Vibe: Conscious, Bittersweet, Political, Uplifting, Sunny, Warm, Urban, Sombre, Poetic, Contemplative, Observant, Passionate, Determined, Confident

Musical Qualities: Groovy, Lush, Spoken Word, Technical

The Pentangle – Reflection

Style: British-Folk, Jazz-Folk

Vibe: Rootsy, Warm, Mellow, Morning, Rural, Carefree, Breezy

Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Vocal Harmonies, Progressive, Melodic

Michael White – Spirit Dance

Style: Spiritual Jazz

Vibe: Cosmic, Passionate, Spiritual, Uplifting

Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Improvisation (Thematic & Collective), Loose, Percussive

Yes – Fragile

Released in 1971 on Atlantic Records Format: LP Style: Progressive Rock Vibe: Triumphant, Epic, Complex, Energetic, Warm, Lush Musical Attributes: Progressive, Polyphonic, Melodic, Odd Time Signatures, Technical

Funkadelic – Maggot Brain

Style: Psychedelic Funk

Vibe: Apocalyptic, Communal, Cryptic, Earthy, Energetic, Epic, Groovy, Heavy, Philosophical, Playful, Political, Psychedelic, Riffs, Stoned, Eclectic

Soft Machine – Live at Henie Onstad Art Center 1971

Style: Canterbury Scene, Jazz-Rock, Progressive Rock

Vibe: Exploratory, Complex, Mysterious, Epic

Musical Attributes: Collective Improvisation, Instrumental, Thematic, Suite, Progressive, Technical, Live, Odd Time Signatures

Circle – Paris-Concert

While more cerebral than emotive, this live set is a frenzied demonstration of what four virtuosic musicians sound like when they give in to the intuitive whims of collective improvisation. Even when playing a composition, this quartet will stretch and mutate the melody into every possible pattern without ever playing it directly. The group interplay is often bombastic and can be overwhelming, but thankfully they vary the dynamics through mellower sections, as well as solo and duo pieces.

Tonto’s Exploding Head Band – Zero Time

A psychedelic synth odyssey created with only an expanded Series III Moog by Robert Margouleff and synth-guru Malcolm Cecil (who programmer synths on legendary albums by Stevie Wonder and Gil-Scott Heron in addition to his ambient solo work). The intricately layered results here feel like a synthetic wilderness, with a wide variety of colors and textures that sound warm, organic, and natural despite their electronic origins.

Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On

Style: Soul, Singer/Songwriter

Moods: Conscious, Spiritual, Passionate, Uplifting, Bittersweet, Christian, Peaceful, Political, Sentimental, Warm

Musical Qualities: Lush, Groovy, Lyrical, Suite, Melodic

J.J. Cale – Naturally

The debut LP from this unpretentious songwriters’ songwriter offers a quality collection of warm & uplifting songwriting with economic guitar genius and top-notch rootsy arrangements, featuring the heavenly, dreamy reflections of “Magnolia”.