ITHACA

If you're in any way interested in psych folk I recommend checking out Ithaca's 'A Game For All Who Know.' Not only does it have great William Blake meets David Shrigley style cover art, the music is gently intriguing. Quite a number of similar groups from the late 60s tapped more knowingly into folk traditions and idioms which can become a bit oppressive at times both in sound (penny whistles) and content. Ithaca are a far subtler beast. Not to say I don't like a good tale about a cauldron or a wily reynard, but...y'know. That said, when it's done well it's foolish to complain; see 'The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter' or 'Sir John Alot of Merrie Englandes Musyk Thyng.' I digress. The band features Peter Howe who went on to work with the BBC Radiophonic Workshop; on this recording there are a number of electronic flourishes which call to mind White Noise or the United States of America. Dig.