Erebus Rec.
The Carolyn Hester Coalition (US,1968)****
Erebus Rec. The Carolyn Hester Coalition : Magazine (US,1970)***'
I knew already one track from the great “Hippie goddesses” compilation of which I have checked out and reviewed already 5 or most releases related with that album. Carolyn Hester has something of a hippie chick with just slightly folky background (this is a move towards a rockier sound), but her songs are crafty and conscious (“which side are you…” still sounds actual to me), and vivid, and the band plays powerful and with well arranged pop/rock songs (with fuzz, piano, subtle, arranged harmony vocals in the background) in between the West Coast styled psychedelic rock territory and having moments of being inflicted by some sunshine pop optimism.
The second album seems at first to continue in this vein, but also gives the impression of a certain maturation as a different seriousness, a more relaxed singing, moodier, and a bit more improvised tension, more fuzz and such by the band. The albums form a good pair, but to a degree the second leaves out the hippie aspects too.
