Langsyne - Langsyne (Germany-1976 Psych Indian Folk

A very beautiful psych folk item (sitar,..) is this one from 1976. The second reissue, the official one was done by Rebirth Records (fax 0049 (0) 20365483).(Psychedelic Folk homestead)

AlbumsLang'syne 1976
Lang'syne (Dusselton 1976)Album Legnth: 39.18 Info: 1998 CD Reissue Rebirth CD 001

Tracks:

1. Medina 8.29

2. Morning 3.32

3. Changing 6.46

4. Cynghanedd 7.49

5. A Very Sarcastic Song 6.43

6. Carnivore 4.02

7. Mignon 1.51

8. Lady Mary 3.48

9=Bonus Track

Langsyne is a German trio which released one album in its whole career. Self titled, their first only effort was recorded in 1976. The music is a consistent mixture between folk rock and eastern influences with lot of acoustic guitar, sitar elements. The presence of the electric organ provides to the relative “pastoral” and “ethnic” mood a spacey felt. Advanced instrumental improvisations & interludes are combined with a couple of structured songs with English lyrics. This experimental, peaceful folk rock can sometimes resonates with early kraut folk bands as Witthuser & Westrupp, Hoelderlin, and Broselmaschine. This is in most part an acoustic, contemplative journey deliberately orientated to additional “world” instruments, musical arrangements and imaginary inspired by the eastern, India “raga”universe..(progarchives)

Lang'syne appear to be another one-album wonder as they released an interesting self titled folk album in 1976. Lang'syne sing in English and their brand of folk bares little resemblance to the earlier kraut-folk bands like Broselmaschine, Holderlin, and Witthuser and Westrupp. Throughout the album, there are small touches of a German and Eastern ethnic feel to the music, but for the most part their sound is a bit more Anglo influenced. Many of the lyrics and much of the music appear to have a dark, longing quality which results in the album sounding a bit mystical, and occasionally even Renaissance-style. The standout track is the instrumental 'Cynghanedd'. 'Cynghanedd' begins like an Eastern-influenced ballad, or "Melodie der Natur" as described in the CD sleeve. This track utilizes natural sound of birds and insects and ends with an interesting interplay of 'dueling'-guitar chord sequences. Another track worth mentioning is 'Medina' which has sporadic touches of Witthuser and Westrupp sprinkled throughout. As a bonus, this CD contains 1 bonus track. [3/5 Doug]

Langsyne [Germany]
Langsyne (76)
Langsyne were a German progressive folk band in the vein of Magna Carta in their Lord of the Ages period.

Lyrically it can get weak at points, due to the lyricist/vocalist's strained use of the English language, but it's still bearable.

The instrumentation is interesting in that they don't have a drummer - there is no percussion aside from a single drum in some songs and the glockenspiel. Heavy use of the guitar, both 6 and 12 string, and things like sitars and recorders thrown into the mix, as well as a heavy organ presence (and for some reason, whenever I hear the organ on this album, I can't help but remember Tangerine Dream's first two records, even though the music is nothing like them). I have a copy from a CD on Lost Pipe Dreams records, but I don't know whether it was a reissue of an LP, or another one of those lost, unreleased 70s prog gems. What I do know is that the disc is limited to something ridiculous like 500 copies. (New GiblatarEncyclopedia)

Musicians:

Edbert Froese - guitar, Keyboard, Vocals, Sitar, Psalter

Matthias Mertler - Guitar, Vocals, Percussion, Glockenspiel

Ulrich Nahle - Flute, Guitar, Vocals, Percussion

Official website
Enjoy!