10 Questions

Hail Voyagers! Thursday comes 'round once again, (as per rotation), and therefore a new respondent to the "10 Questions" survey joins us. Today's guest is a musician who shows he's got a bit of the Andre Breton in him: Nick Castro.

"...Forgetting time and space is something that comes quite natural when walking across Castro’s beguiling and timeless acid folk territories." - Mats Gustafsson, Terrascope Online UK


Nick's latest is an EP, A Day Without Disaster, released last year on the Italian label, A Silent Place.
He shows he knows his stuff by the inclusion of "Yaðmur" by Bülent Ortaçgil, (the "Turkish Nick Drake",) from his 1974 masterpiece Benimle Oynar Mısın (Will You Play with Me?).

1. In ten words-or less, define "psychedelic music."
If soul is "a ham hock in your cornflakes" then I guess psychedelia would be "some peyote in your fruit loops".



2. What is the most psychedelic instrument, why?
The kazoo, makes my head buzz.




3. Favorite psychedelic album of all time?
Canned Heat "The Chipmunk Song"



4. Ever heard the grass grow? If so, when?
When I listen to The Move. Or at least I'm hearing someone hearing the grass grow. I hear the grass burn more often than not.



5. What psychedelic album do you wish more people knew about?
Any of my records. Or Canned Heat "The Chipmunk Song"




6. What band, active today, most defines "psychedelic" to you?
Sissy Spacenik & The Spartan Dogs.



7. If you could be a member of any band in history, what band would it be and what would you play?
Gid Tanner & The Skillet Lickers, I'd play Kazoo, it makes my head buzz.




8. What era has the best roster of psychedelic music?
Early 90's obviously. Isn't Grunge that generations psychedelia? Isn't Lolapalooza their Woodstock?




9. What legendary lost recording or unfindable bootleg would you most like to have?
That part of the tape where Townsend punches Hoffman in the nose. I love to hate Hoffman, really, what a goon right?!?



10. Turn the tables, if you'd like, and ask me a question.
Does Kazoo make your head buzz?
valis: When I was a child he used to always blow my mind. Probably because when I'd be watching the Flintstones there was just no way to ever predict his appearance! You could go for days, weeks even (!) and be lulled into the storylines of Fred and his troubles with Mr. Slate, or Fred and Barney just wanting to have some fun at the Water Buffalo Lodge.., and then BANG!...

So, yes, quite the buzz, Nick. Thanks Nick!