Alice Through The Looking Glass (1969)

This concept album based upon the writings of Lewis Carroll was the work of the same persons responsible for Agincourt, Ithaca and Tomorrow Come Some Day. This album is reputedly the best of the four - an amalgam of folk and psychedelia with surrealistic lyrics. According to 'Record Collector' the market value of this gem is around £750. David Wells' excellent sleeve-notes to the recent Tenth Planet (Tenth Planet TP 032 / 1997) reissue reveal more about the duo. In late 1968 they were approached by a local amateur dramatics group called The Ditching Players to provide a musical backdrop for a stage version of 'Alice Through The Looking Glass'. They used Lewis Carroll's surreal verse as the backdrop to the project and added a variety of studio trickery - backwards tapes, sound effects, distorted vocals etc. - to create a uniquely English hybrid of folk and pastoral psychedelia.
(Vernon Joynson in "Tapestry Of Delights")

Sometimes you can't trust the reviews of a respected person. I wouldn't call this the best of the four... I would call it the most weird (and rather weak). It's more a record that appeals the taste of my 1 year old son. Only "Jabberwocky" is a stand-out track that would confirm the term psych-folk. The remainder of the album could be best played on a cracked up child's birthday.

Tracklist:
- The Alice Theme
- The March Of The Chessmen
- Jabberwocky
- Dance Of The Talking Flowers
- Alice's Train Journey
- Through Looking Glass Wood
- Dum And Dee
- The Walrus And The Carpenter
- Alice Meets The Knights
- A-Sitting On A Gate
- Her Majesty Queen Alice
- Whose Dream?

Personnel:
John Fernando (multi instruments)
Peter Howell (multi instruments)

Band origin:
Ditchling (Sussex/UK)

Discographie:
Albums:
1. Alice Through The Looking Glass (SNP no#) 1969

Get it here (Artwork included / vinyl rip)

Listen to Jabberwocky