10 Questions (Redux)

Happy HILLY FIELDS DAY!!! (''...18th of July!")

In honor of the day-and nick nicely's birthday, I'm reprising an 18-month old post we did back in January of 2008. nick was one of the first psychedelic musicians I contacted when I concocted this format we know as "10 Questions." I believe it worthy of a repost, especially on this most auspicious day.

Hail Psych' fans!
We're back with another installment of "10 Questions" and today's guest really needs little introduction. Credited by Andy Partridge as providing the kick he needed to create the Dukes of Stratosphear, (and for that alone we're all indebted), by creating one of the true classics of the genre, "Hilly Fields (1892)", we're proud to welcome nick nicely!


1. In ten words-or less, define "psychedelic music."
(It is music that may) expand conscious borders while blurring razor edged reality .

2. What is the most psychedelic instrument, why?
Electric guitar, because it is flexible and emotional. With effects it opens the door to the abstract and can bring sensations of disorientation and release in a way that, say a sitar, can't.

3. Favorite psychedelic album of all time?
Shit I don't know, Hendrix.., maybe Electric Ladyland.

4. Roky or Syd, why?
Syd because he wasn't structurally or sonically confined. His musical influence on his time and beyond are clear, an innovative and creative force.

5. Alice In Wonderland or The Wind In The Willows?
Alice

6. What psychedelic album do you wish more people knew about?
Annot Rhul - Lost In The Woods. Introduced to it recently by a friend on one of 'those' days. True I might have loved anything I heard then but this was tripped out enough for me…


7. What band, active today, most defines "psychedelic" to you?
Don't know this either. I like psychedelia to drift between abstract and figurative, to trip out and have tunes. Translucence by nick nicely has just the blend I like... . ...unsurprisingly.

8. What album would you most like to cover in its entirety, why?
Right well I'd probably go for something in a minor key that has no heavy psych effects on it so it'd be possible to do a radically new treatment. Maybe folk. OK, Espers II.

9. Top Ten Psychedelic Songs?
1. Setting Sun - Chemical Brothers and Noel (lovely tripout bit , pure acid at no 1 on the national chart , excellent)

2. If 6 was 9 - Jimi

3.I Am The Walrus --The Beatles

4.Energy 52 --Cafe Del Mar

5.My White Bicycle ---Tomorrow

6.Michaelangelo ---23rd Turnoff

7. Voodoo Chile --Jimi

8. Don't Follow the Sun--Barry Henning

9. Tomorrow Never Knows--Beatles

10 is a tie betweem Emily by PF , 40,000 Headmen by Traffic and 8 Miles High by the Byrds

10. Turn the tables, if you'd like, and ask me a question.
Ok Valis...which is best: UK or US psych’ and why?

-valis: Wow! This one goes deep nick. My first response is UK, with attachments. If we’re talking about the beginnings of psychedelic music I’ll take the UK. My listening habits for that era are in the 70-30 range, UK to US.
I think the sense of playfulness and themes of UK psychedelia has more appeal to me than the harder themes typically found in the brand of psychedelia being made Stateside. UK psych’ just seemed to mushroom (no pun intended) exponentially-and overnight, so that sheer volume is overwhelming. SF Sorrow, as an example, will always be held in high regard, as well as The Move, The Idle Race, Traffic, The Beatles (!), etc.

That being said, if we move forward to the Neo-psychedelic movement, the 80s to the present, it may lean more to the US. Bands like Plasticland, Rain Parade, the Chesterfield Kings, Bobb Trimble, Dimentia 13, the Fleshtones and Fuzztones, the Green Pajamas…, are all worthy of any psych’ fans attention; the UK certainly had their share, too: the Chemistry Set, the Steppes, the Shamen-(at least for that drop-dead, bang-on debut, Drop,) as well as the Bevis Frond and the pastiche Dukes of Stratosphear, among others. From then on, 90s to the present day I’d say it’s almost a 50-50 split…..to these ears.
The best thing about it all is the fact that one CAN have their cake and eat it, too….from the right side or the left side! It’s the best of times! We have current practitioners, from all over the world, making viable and mind-blowing contributions and all the rich past efforts, too. Thank Pan for TWO ears! And thank you, nick.

If you'd like to hear nick's newer works, try
here and for further information, from a fan site go here!
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( In all honesty I'm unsure of the future of the blog; whether the model is sutainable or there's even widespread interest. I'm unable to hide my disappointment at the lack of comment on the Summer Solstice compilation, Vol. II, recently posted. Despite over 150 downloads in the first month the comments are appreciated but too scant for belief. So I'll contemplate the fate...thanks. -valis)