Liquid Acrobat as Regards the Air
Liquid Acrobat as Regards the Air is the ninth album by the Incredible String Band. It features Mike Heron, Robin Williamson, Licorice McKechnie and Malcolm Le Maistre. The album was the band's first almost entirely electric recording; a new feature that was to define the change in the band's sound throughout their final period through 1974.[1] The album did well on the charts, and was the most financially successful of the band's output.
Liquid Acrobat As Regards The Air | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 1971 | |||
Recorded | August 1971, Sound Techniques, Chelsea, London and Island Studios, Notting Hill, London | |||
Genre | Psychedelic folk, British folk rock | |||
Length | 48:29 | |||
Label | Island | |||
Producer | Stanley Schnier | |||
Incredible String Band chronology | ||||
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This was also the first album without Rose Simpson who was going to become a sound engineer, but started a family instead. Gerry Conway, a drummer of Fairport Convention appears on the album.[2]
The most ambitious track is also its lengthiest. "Darling Belle", the track Williamson said "came to me in a dream", is composed of three-way vocals and spoken-word. Heron would vocalise and McKechnie would mimic his words with her high-pitch vocals. It tells the story of a woman from childhood to old age.[3] "Tree" is a remake of the song "The Tree" from the band's first album.
Track listing
All tracks are written by Robin Williamson except as noted.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Talking Of The End" | 5:30 | |
2. | "Dear Old Battlefield" | 3:05 | |
3. | "Cosmic Boy" | Mike Heron, Licorice McKechnie | 3:49 |
4. | "Worlds They Rise and Fall" | Heron | 3:23 |
5. | "Evolution Rag" | 4:42 | |
6. | "Painted Chariot" | Heron | 3:42 |
7. | "Adam and Eve" | 2:31 | |
8. | "Red Hair" | Heron | 2:05 |
9. | "Here Till Here is There" | 3:04 | |
10. | "Tree" | Heron | 2:58 |
11. | "Jigs: Eyes Like Leaves / Sunday Is My Wedding Day / Drops Of Whiskey / Grumbling Old Men" | Traditional, arr. Williamson | 2:41 |
12. | "Darling Belle" | 10:59 |
Charts
Chart | Entry date |
Peak position |
Weeks charted |
---|---|---|---|
UK Albums Chart[4] | 30 October 1971 | 46 | 1 |
The Billboard 200[5] | 19 February 1972 | 189 | 3 |
References
- Andy Beta (2003-03-04). "Incredible String Band: Incredible String Band / Liquid Acrobat as Regards the Air Album Review | Pitchfork". M.pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2017-07-01.
- "Liquid Acrobat as Regards the Air - The Incredible String Band | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-07-01.
- "Liquid Acrobat as Regards the Air by The Incredible String Band (Album, Psychedelic Folk): Reviews, Ratings, Credits, Song list". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 2017-07-01.
- Chart Archive - Incredible String Band(Link redirected to OCC website)
- Whitburn, Joel; Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Albums, 1955-1996; p. 366. ISBN 0898201179