Mystic Siva - Under the Influence (1969-1970/2003, World in Sound)
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Artist: Mystic Siva
Album: Under the Influence
Released: 2003
World in Sound (WIS-1017)
Genre: Psychedelic, Progressive, Hard Rock
Mystic Siva are another band that have found themselves on more than one WIS release. Their first self-titled collection dates from '69/'70 has a blues edged feel in part, but explores a wider musical territory with keyboard led workouts and riff experimentation. There's a nice moody ballad in "Find Out Why" for instance as well.
Their second, 'Under the Influence,' carries on in the same sort of style. Still organ led, "Keeper of the Keys" has a funky vibe whilst 'And When You Go' is more of a progressive keys led number with a light airy tone. The vocals on both albums are not always the best, but they suffice. Unless you're into this kind of sound, you could find two volumes a little wearing, but either is worthwhile on its own.
Mystic Siva is a quartet from Detroit that created one of the most popular psychedelic-underground artefacts, their "orange album," recorded in 1970 on one day.
With an average age of 17, those "teenage Sivas" showed best quality in songwriting—and wrote with "Supernatural Mind" a hit for the hippie-underground collectors.
Their talent in playing the instruments is outstanding and an own sound which is driven by aggressive & heavy fuzz-wahwah lead guitars, hammond B 3 organ and Doors influenced vocals, was the result.
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