Culpeper's Orchard - Culpeper's Orchard (1971/2005 Remastered Expanded Edition)
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Album: Culpeper's Orchard - Culpeper's Orchard (Remastered Expanded Edition)
Released: 1971 (2005)
Genre: Progressive Rock
Karma Music - KMCD 19025
Easily the best Scandinavian '70's progressive/psychedelic rock album. Led by Englishman Cy Nicklin who had previously been in Day Of Phoenix, the album is a fabulous mixture of guitar-led, West Coast influenced heavy rock, folk, quality harmonies and haunting songs (in English). The overall effect is somewhere between The Beatles, Led Zep, Procol Harum and Jethro Tull- and a susch is an obvious influence on contemporary Swede weirdbeards The Soundtrack Of Our Lives. Stunning. Contains bonus material. - Freak Emporium
Reissue of the classic debut album by one of Denmark's best ever progressive rock band from the early 70's. . An album full of beauty and feelings, mixed with occasionally heavy leads. Taken from the master tapes. 9 tracks from the album, + their 1974 single "Steamhouse" plus 2 tracks recorded for the Danish radio! - Malesch Records | New Releases
Culpeper's Orchard is a great Danish psych/rock group that put out two or three albums, of which this is the only one to make the transfer to CD, so far. The first time you listen to the opening strains of "Banjocul," you'll think, "What did I get myself into?" But then comes the opening chords of Mountain Music and you'll know you are in for one fun guitar jam for the entire album. Though definitely in the psych vein, Culpeper's Orchard isn't a rehash of the '66-'69 psychedelic bands or the "west-coast sound." Instead, the band takes intense electric jams that dissolve into beautiful folk-like acoustic arrangements and harmonized vocal melodies. Even the lead guitar is clean and jangling, eschewing the popular fuzz-tone of that era. The Orchard combine known styles with Danish-folk arrangements into an original style distinctly their own. Hendrikson's electric lead played over driving dual acoustic rhthym guitars never fails to get me out of my chair and bopping 'round the living room. His lead guitar style in "Gideon's Trap," "Your Song and Mine," and the two-part "Mountain Music" draws heavily upon Eric Clapton during EC's time with John Mayall and Cream. This is most obvious in "Mountain Music Part 2," where he plays many classic Clapton licks from the Bluesbreaker album in homage to Eric. Though drawing from Clapton, Hendrikson doesn't wear it on his sleave, having developed a unique style of his own. Don't look for outstanding technical ability or phenomenal musicianship because you won't find it here. Just expect some good solid psych 'n' roll and you'll be as happy as I am with this album. Highly recommended. - New Gibraltar Encyclopedia Of Progressive Rock
This is an obscure gem of proto-prog from Denmark. It lies about halfway between Cream and Genesis, but given that the two bands mentioned are so different, that's probably not very helpful. It's probably best to just think of Cream, take away the hooky guitar riffs, and throw in a section in 5/4 time. Oh, and add a banjo as well.
This is an album that challenges preconceptions. It's a Danish album with English lyrics, but the accents are so slight that not only do they not detract from the sound, you can't even tell that they're there on the first listen. It's an early prog recording, but the sound is dominated by guitar, with keyboard playing a very minor role. It contains banjo and two songs called "Mountain Music"... but it's worth listening to.
The songwriting is very good, especially that of lead singer Cy Nicklin. The band plays with the energy and conviction typical of the late sixties, and they're willing to take a few chances without ever sounding contrived. The album has its faults, such as the lead guitar in "Your Song & Mine" being set too low, but its main problem is that there is too little that makes the listener sit up and take notice. This album has spent months in my CD player and gets more than its fair share of spins, but there's little on it that leaves a lasting impression.
If you are looking for the missing link between psychedelic and prog, this is it. It's a great album, in spite of its lack of hooks. Great fun guitar-based rock recommended to prog fans who are interested in the music that led up to their favourite genre. - review by Conrad Leviston, Ground and Sky
A completely different beast from the usual, this obscure Danish group produced a really underrated album in 1971 that should please those fans of innovative sixties acts. This album is amazingly stylistically diverse. Opening with a banjo/vocal ditty, you really have no idea what is going to happen next as Culpeper heads into a great rock flight like the best of the early Vertigos with Jack Bruce on vocals. Strong point of this group is the lead guitarist who's tone and emotion causes this group to really excel. As the album progresses you hear the Byrds, the Beatles, Crosby Stills and Nash, Procul Harum, Chocolate Watchband, 13th Floor Elevators, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, the list goes on. The way it all comes together is extremely powerful and in my opinion far better than much of those bands music. In truth this is like an amazing tour into the late sixties and early seventies by a simply excellent band. - New Gibraltar Encyclopedia Of Progressive Rock
This band recorded one of the most beautiful records in Danish rock history. This self-titled album presents excellent electric guitar rock with some folk influences. There are heavier compositions like Mountain Music Part 1 and 2 along with beautiful songs Blue Day's Morning or Gideon's Trap with nice calm piano working. Very good English vocal comes from Englishman Cy Nicklin. The music is often compared to many well known groups which results from unique style and quality. I prefer comparison to Crosby, Stills & Nash but it gives you only hazy idea. This album was re-released on CD in Germany and is one of the most difficult to get on CD (LP is also rare and expensive). However, last year it was unofficially reissued. - Danish Progressive Rock At Its Best - Part 1
Culpeper's Orchard is one of those pivotal group from Denmark. not that they became very popular or had an impressive release catalogue (max 4 to my knowledge), but they made with this debut , an album that sort of set the standard for Danish bands for years to come. Not particularly prog if you are to compare it with the prog classic from England of those same years , but progressive enough AND A DAMN GOOD ROCK'N ROLL ALBUM!!!!
This is an album really on the borderline of psych and prog much the same way that Burnin'Red Ivanhoe's and Ache's debut were also! Another classic Danish rock album from those years would be The Old Man And The Sea's sole album. I can only tell you to read Angelo's review here below as I could not agree more with him on his description of the music, although I find him a bit harsh about Ode To Resistance! Yes, from a prog point of view side 2 is a little weaker but on a rock point of view , this is another album album! - Sean Trane, ProgArchives.com
The self titled debut album from the Danish Culpeper's Orchard is actually a fairly impressive entry into the early progressive/post-psychedelic ranks. Indeed, it's probably among the finest albums I've heard in this particular style. At once highly melodic and whimsical, the band has a sharp knack for dark, swirling psychedelia and stunning melancholy. Essentially, the sound is characterized by a hefty amount of overlaid clean, jangling electric guitars, punctuated by the occasional surging distorted riff or fuzzed out solo. Vocals are smoky and sublime, capable of some extraordinarily addictive melodies, fusing beautifully with the grace and atmosphere of the rest of the album. Having not heard much other Danish prog to compare this to, one pleasant surprise was that even though the lyrics are in English, there is scarcely an accent to be detected. Not sure if that's par for the course or not, but I wouldn't know this album wasn't from England unless informed otherwise. The lyrics are generally pleasantly eccentric, often strikingly evocative if marred by the occasionally embarrassing line. Anyway, despite all the attributes of the album, there are some flaws, mostly having to do with a lack of consistency throughout. Had the strength of the first half of the album, particularly in the rousing "Mountain Music Part 1" and the stunningly gorgeous "Teaparty for an Orchard", been sustained on the second, this would be an unequivocal classic. As it stands, Culpeper's Orchard get less interesting from "Ode to Resistance" on, until we are rescued by the sweepingly powerful closer, "Mountain Music Part 2". Sure, the redundant refrains of "Gideon's Trap" and "Blue Day's Morning" may fly by unnoticed the first few times through, being buried in the middle of the album (as filler should be), but more frequent listenings do reveal a drop in quality towards the latter half. Still, a continuity is undoubtedly maintained through the general tone and atmosphere that renders the albums weaker sections more anonymous than offensive.
Overall the album has grown to be something of a favorite of mine. Despite the admitted dud here and there, the great songs on here are absolutely fantastic, exquisitely arranged psych/prog rife with stunning dynamics and breathtaking moments. Turn on the lava lamp, toke up and immerse yourself. - Greg Northrup, ProgWeed.net
1. Banjocul 0.45
2. Mountain Music Part 1 6.22
3. Hey You People 1.25
4. Teaparty For An Orchard 6.10
5. Ode To Resistance 5.55
6. Your Song & Mine 5.31
7. Gideon's Trap 5.40
8. Blue Day's Morning 2.08
9. Mountain Music Part 2 7.23
Bonus Tracks:
10. Steamhouse 2.30
11. Classified Ads (Live) 9.45
12. Troldspejlet 4.13 Cy
Nicklin - Lead vocals, Rhythm & Acoustic Guitars, Percussion
Neils Hendrikson - Lead Guitar, Piano, Lead Vocals, Harpsichord
Michael Friss - Bass, Organ, Flute, Two Finger Piano, Percussion
Rodger Barker - Drums, Percussion
Gary - Good Vibrations, Darts
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