Fresh Music
John & Philipa Cooper : The Cooperville Times (SA,1969,re.2009)****
After the inclusion of two songs on “Astral Daze Volumes 1 & 2” some people began looking for the original of this forgotten album. After a few poor bootlegs this finally has been reissued carefully. It sounds very different from the general South-African scene, and sounds to have roots in the other English territories, especially the UK, varying from early Jefferson Airplane harmony folk-psych (one track) to English acid folk (some mentioned Ithaca). Many songs have certain lullaby-balladry with happy rhythms, some baroque arrangements of an instrument that sounds in between a piano and a harpsichord, lots of acoustic and electrified acoustic guitars and soft percussion. With just one track a bit rockier with electric guitar. Apparently Julian Laxton (Freedom’s Children) was involved in the recording even when nowadays he can’t remember the album, band or session. There’s some near-classical improvisation on violin with a gypsy association on “Gypsy Girl”. Some of the songs by the often more high toned, hippie-flavoured voice female singer sound much folkier, and remind of the Incredible String Band songs performed by Licorice McKechnie. The album is a real discovery and fits well amongst the classics of English acid folk/folk scene. The songs are all pretty short but are carefully arranged.
From Johannesburg, with John Cooper: vocals ; Philipa Cooper: vocals ; Julian Laxton: guitar ; Ivor Back: drums ; Werner Krupski: keyboards ; Art de Villiers: acoustic guitar ; Bob Hill: bass ; Francesco: fiddle ; Rory Blackwell: tambourine. Some musicians from Third Eye and Fredom's Children might have been involved with the recording too.
