A fantastic little record – one that's not only important as a key introduction of Middle Eastern sounds to the US market, but one that also fits perfectly with other Vanguard label experimental folk sets from artists like Peter Walker and Sandy Bull! Unlike those musicians, who absorbed global elements, Hamza El Din is the real deal – and both sings and plays the oud here with a wonderfully rich quality – spare and acoustic, but ringing out with the complexity of an essential session on Takoma Records, and with a transcendent sound that grabs the listener instantly. There had been other American recordings with oud before, but the presentation here marks the set as one of the best – with titles that include "The Message Bearer", "Greeting Card", "Fortune Teller", "The Spirits", and "Grandfather's Stories". (Global Grooves, Folk/Country) LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

60s gems from the great George Hamilton IV – titles that include "The Deepening Snow", "As Long As The Winds Blow", "Anita You're Not Dreaming", "The Great El Tigre", "I Get The Fever", "Long Time Gone", and "Bad Seeds". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderfully expansive album from The Incredible String Band – initially performed as a stage project with the Stone Monkey dance troupe, and featuring the ISB at their most evocative and creative! Some tunes have a darker, sinister undercurrent – that link between the band and the acid folk underground – but others are more hippy dippy, with playful touches that still seem to have this undercurrent of evil somehow – an offbeat quality that really marks the special way that British groups like this were taking folk in very odd directions at the time – never losing sight of roots, but still never having the sense of optimism or indulgence of American acts. The double-length set has loads of especially nice instrumental moments – both acoustic and electric – and titles include "Bridge Song", "El Wool Suite", "The Juggler's Song", "Bad Sadie Lee", "Partial Belated Overture", "Walking Along With You", "Invocation", and "Robot Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

A great collection of seminal folk and country classics by Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, Johnson Brothers, Uncle Eck Dunford, El Watson, Tennessee Mountaineers, Alfred Karnes, and many more! LP, Vinyl record album