Be Glad for the Song Has No Ending/Liquid Acrobat as Regards Air in Bloomington, MN

This pairing of two
Incredible String Band
records from 1971 features principals
Robin Williamson
and
Mike Heron
with
Rose Simpson
Licorice McKechnie
.
Be Glad for the Song Has No Ending,
the first disc up, was issued in March of that year, but contained music from 1968 and 1969. It was also the last
ISB
recording produced by
Joe Boyd
Boyd
assembled this collection of leftover tracks from between the
Wee Tam
I Looked Up
offerings, with the intention of just getting the music out there. In fact, two cuts from the first half and all of the second half of the album were a
soundtrack
to
Peter Neal
's
documentary film of the same name -- the picture saw release in 1970, but was then shelved until its "rediscovery" in the mid-'90s and subsequent video release. The second half of
Be Glad
is all instrumental, composed no doubt as "incidental" or "serial" music. It's not one of
the ISB
's best efforts, but it does showcase the increased participation of
Simpson
McKechnie
and is pleasant, if quaint.
Liquid Acrobat as Regards the Air
, issued in October, was a new album proper. It was produced by the band and
Stan Schnier
, and featured new member
Malcolm Le Maistre
, who replaced
. It's very distinctive in that it was the first
recording to really showcase electric instruments -- joining a slew of groups like
Fairport Convention
,
Pentangle
Steeleye Span
Amazing Blondel
, and
Gryphon
. This is a strange amalgam of cuts that is nonetheless musically innovative and even charming. Some of the "straightest" offerings by
are found here. ~ Thom Jurek