I Looked Up - THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND***

Black Jack Davy/The Letter/Pictures In A Mirror/This Moment/When You Find Out Who You Are/Fair As You

At this late stage in their career The Incredible String Band released a series of uneven albums such as I Looked Up. The problem appears to be over ambitious complexity lacking the focus of their best 1960s releases. (US:196 UK:30)

"To me, I Looked Up sounds just as ragged and unfocused as Changing Horses, even if this one has a better sense of humour. The whole album has a tossed off feeling that might satisfy the fan who takes things more casually with their ISB. Black Jack Davy is fun but the melody sounds a bit oversimplified and familiar. This Moment is not a bad track, rather pretty but it goes on too long. And the mammoth Williamson songs are dreadful."

"I Looked Up came out only five months after Changing Horses and once again there are only six tracks. The good things are the two lengthy Robin Williamson tracks - especially Pictures In A Mirror which is (probably) about reincarnation. The bad includes Fair As You sung by Rose & Licorice which is awful. It is a painful experience. And having the girl's sing lead was a major mistake."

"Perhaps not quite a classic album, I Looked Up is an enjoyable one nonetheless and seems to find the String Band having fun in the studio, playing just for the fun of it. And unlike the previous Changing Horses album, the band seem fully comfortable as a four piece rather than being a two piece forcing themselves to be a four piece. The whole album, apart from The Letter, with its multi-layered guitar parts, sounds like it was recorded live in the studio and as such it has a nice energetic feel that is unique to this album."

"I Looked Up is notable for several other reasons - it was the last album they recorded that was mostly acoustic. It also contains two of Robin Williamson's most memorable compositions: When You Find Out Who You Are is an insightful treatise on growing older and 'finding' oneself, and the simply amazing Pictures In A Mirror, covers, imprisonment, execution, death, darkness and ultimate rebirth. Mike Heron contributes some nice tunes as well, although not quite as 'deep', at least in this outing. Black Jack David begins the album, a rousing fiddle tune - it quickly became a concert favourite. The Letter is my least favourite track here, Heron's attempt at a pop song, but his other two offerings in this set are excellent."