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Various Artists — A Heavy Dose of Lyte Psych
(Arf! Arf! aa-062, 1969/1996, CD)

Various Artists — An Overdose of Heavy Psych
(Arf! Arf! aa-063, 1969/1996, CD)

by Michael Draine, Published 1998-02-01

A Heavy Dose of Lyte Psych Cover artAn Overdose of Heavy Psych Cover art

These two 60s compilations assembled by Birdsongs of the Mesozoic leader Erik Lindgren hew closer to the foundation of progressive rock than do better known, garage oriented anthology series such as Pebbles and Psychedelic Moods. A Heavy Dose of Lyte Psych is an exceptional achievement in pop archaeology, its program of misterioso ballads and raga rock conjuring a delirious, incense-tinged atmosphere. While most of Lyte Psych predates the dawn of the Mellotron, proto-progressive elements manifest themselves in JK & Company's stately, Procol Harum-like "Fly," Walter Carlos' orchestration and studio manipulation on Childe Harold's apocalyptic "Brink of Death," and in the electronic pulsations of the Rock Revival's lilting instrumental "Venus 2038." An Overdose of Heavy Psych's earthy, Farfisa-driven rock 'n' roll rarely lives up to the psychodysleptic promise of the title. Heavy Psych's saving grace is a 23-minute set of speaker-blowing acid rock recorded in 1969 for a pair of chainstore-exclusive psychedelic exploitation LPs. Considering that most tracks were mastered from rare 45s (and in the case of "Venus 2038," an 8-track cassette), sound quality is good throughout both discs.

Filed under: Archives, Issue 14, 1996 releases, 1969 recordings

Related artist(s): Various Artists

 

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