My Favorite New Old Album of 2012: Crystal Syphon's lost west coast psych classic "Family Evil"

a friend of mine has a great label called Roaratorio that puts out tons of cool rock/jazz/outsider/avant stuff in small batch vinyl....

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g273/Roaratorio/CrystalSyphonFront.jpg

Crystal Syphon, one of the greatest “lost” groups of the West Coast psych scene, came together in Merced, California in 1965. Originally a Beatles / Byrds-influenced unit called the Morlochs, they soon shed their original moniker and moved in a more psychedelic direction, becoming a fixture on the ballroom circuit from 1966-1970. Although their music may nod in the direction of the New Tweedy Brothers and Quicksilver Messenger Service at times, it’s imbued throughout with a distinctive sound that arose from practicing up to six nights a week. The band entertained offers from various labels during their existence, but as they insisted on complete artistic control and ownership of their music, no deals were struck. Now, some 44 years after its creation, Roaratorio is proud to make the music of Crystal Syphon available for the first time ever. Drawn from studio tracks, rehearsal tapes and a live recording from the Fillmore West, Family Evil is released in an edition of 500 copies, with cover art by Norman Orr and extensive historical liner notes on an old-style “tip-on” jacket. Digital download included.

this is a never before released album, i'm not a big L@@K OOP RARE PSYCH guy overall but these guys really have great songs, can sing together, and super guitarist and drummer....digging the hell out of this...RIYL: Quicksilver, Airplane, etc etc

Listen to songs on Roaratorio's soundcloud:

http://soundcloud.com/roaratoriorecs

buy the vinyl here:

http://roaratorio.com/25.html

only 500 copies so it should probably sell out

sup bros

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g273/Roaratorio/R1-07687-0016.jpg

Cool, liking this so far. Was just listening to Dead (Veneta '72) so this was a nice seque. (And these guys were way better singers.)

yeah the liner notes said they started (like many) as a cover band doing beatles etc at school dances, vfws etc, but they were known for doing 4 part harmonies and being able to nail the beatles vocals

This is pretty great, guys.

:)

Yeah a lot of times with this kind of stuff it feels like if it wasn't lost or obscure or private press shit no one would care but I really most of these songs really hold up

coooool

loooooooooove

Yeah, this is killer. The guitars on "Fuzzy and Jose" are fantastic.

"have more of everything" is my favorite so far

this is p dope so far. strung out stoned vox on have more are great, drums too.

Hmm, nice.

seriously this is pretty great! thx m@tt

interview with Crystal Syphon Bob Greenlee on 60sGarageBands.com

http://www.60sgaragebands.com/crystalsyphon.html

here's the boogeymen 45 that's mentioned (the band that crystal syphon later morphed into)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZEIPTpyPUg

http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2012/06/22/v-print/2393515/merced-band-releasing-album-after.html

They had a record listening party in merced, good article, talks about a gig opening for the pre-ccr golliwogs

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g273/Roaratorio/Uncutreview.jpg

original pressing sold out already
plans are for a new pressing of 500

this has really held up, i listen to it a ton

My two cents, from 1001 Psychedelic Recordings of the 1960's (we also got into some 70's, before they got their own thread)
Crystal Siphon!
Found this link on Ilxor Tyler's blog, doomandgloomfromthetomb.tumblr.com. Comparisons to early Quicksilver are apt, but also increasingly like ancestors of early/live Television (also on Tyler's blog), if you've ever heard an early live version of the Dead's "Cream Puff War," you'll know how this kind of connection could be so very 60s and CBGBS-relevant too (without sounding like the VU or Stooges). "Fuzzy and Jose" starts good, gets bogged down, but otherwise groovy, esp in the second half.

By "early Quicksilver," I meant before Dino and his magic microphone got in there ("Ah'm a psychedelic ran-gah," and so on)

glad your digging it! sounds like there might be enough unused stuff for further releases

still loving this thing. really lives up to any "great lost band" hype you could throw at it. makes me think if gene clark had gone up to san fran after leaving the byrds and made an album w/ moby grape or something.

yeah listen to this a lot...btw after selling out the initial 500, it's been repressed and looks like it's available again

http://roaratorio.com/25.html

http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2012/10/24/crystal-syphon-family-evil/

guess there's a big article in Shindig magazine about these dudes too? not online, it seems.

nice!

is that 2nd pressing still around?

sleeve - site seems to be down now, i posted it right above this revive...if it doesn't come back up or it shows it being sold out, ILX mail me and i could see what i could do, there might be some copies not in distro

ha, just saw that one of the band members commented on my little review!

favorite new fun fact:

jim sanders of crystal syphon is the father of paul sanders of amphetamine reptile noisepunk gods HAMMERHEAD:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCvJ2BKlc6E

i like the sound of it, but you guys are exaggerating.
it's not very different from other not-so-obscure-now 60's psych bands.

I AM NOT EXAGGERATING IT IS SO GOOD

i don't know, i really like it! sure, with all kinda "lost" albums, there's sort of a hyped up feeling of like where has this been all of my life, but i think it'll stand up to the hype.

is there a caps lock for caps lock?

maybe i should listen to it more, (and maybe it wont change my opinion)..

also - crystal syphon is the worst band name ever lol

NO IT IS THE BEST

on 2nd thought - it is

quit bumming this thread out man

I managed to pick up the repress around the last time this thread got bumped and it is GOOD

new website. http://crystalsyphon.com
these dudes are blowing UP!

sweet show!

http://matt2.craigscrm.com/wp-content/gallery/photos/turlock1.jpg

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/543773_415356768539349_1357806001_n.jpg

I am still bummed I didn't get a chance to talk about this for the AMG. And now I never will!

yeah that sucks ned!
that poster is really...um...would be cool to see them
i hope the Mpls connection with the band means they play a show here sometime

This band is cool. I love 60s psych.

yeah! and so do the court appointed special advocates of merced county!

one of the guys from the band is selling the rare boogeyman 45 on ebay right now:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Boogeyman-45-record-Private-press-psych-post-Crystal-Syphon-/181072151727?

lol old dude vibes aside, this is pretty good!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNI85S9lkk4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNI85S9lkk4

vocals sound so good

yeah that was what i was most impressed with -- totally nailing the vocal harmonies 45 years later.

2nd album of old material coming

awesome news!!

For decades, Crystal Syphon were, at most, a footnote in the music history books: a name on posters from the psychedelic ballroom days, and a fond memory to those who’d seen the Merced, California band perform on the west coast circuit in the late 1960s. That changed with the release of Family Evil in 2012. Their debut album – evidence that the mine of hidden gems from the original psych era had not yet been picked clean – caught the ears of fans worldwide, garnering raves and equal-footing comparisons to Quicksilver Messenger Service, Jefferson Airplane, and the Byrds; the group reunited and began playing out again, with their vintage sound intact. Now, Roaratorio is proud to present Elephant Ball, a second helping of unearthed material from the band’s archives. Starting with three tracks from their earliest recording sessions under the Crystal Syphon name, in 1967 – the swaggering garage-rock miniature “Dawn Sermon” and the folk-rock of “For All Of My Life” and “Tell Her For Me” – it then moves on to a Fillmore West gig from November 1969, featuring the final incarnation of the group during their original run. With the same complex harmonies, nuanced songwriting and top-drawer musicianship that won Family Evil its accolades, the half-dozen tunes range from the crunchy riffs of the title track and “It’s Winter” to the lightly jazzy “Don’t Fall Brother” and the Latin-tinged moves of “There Is Light There.” Comes in an old-style “tip-on” jacket with a digital download.

new songs on soundcloud

https://soundcloud.com/roaratoriorecs

The new one is great