Third Ear Band - S/T

After the theft of their equipment in 1968, Third Ear Band shifted decisively towards acoustic instrumentation. Glen Sweeney, Paul Minns and Richard Coff forged an individual path that blended Indian raga, chamber music and psychedelia without plugging in, an approach that carried from Alchemy into their self-titled second album.

Often known as Elements for its four elemental track titles, the 1970 LP moves through long, trance-inducing pieces with hand drums, oboe, recorder, violin and viola. Ancient and contemporary at once, its organic textures have a hypnotic, rigorous quality that still feels singular.