The name suggested some frightful prog entity, but Earth Opera were essentially Boston bluegrassers Peter Rowan and David Grisman, a pair intent on chucking tradition out of the window in favour of spacey, SF-flavoured psych-folk.
Rowan’s effectless vocals and guitar combine with future Jerry Garcia pal Grisman’s mandolin and mandocello (plus low-key vibes, drums and more) on slow, sometimes ponderous songs.
Neither 1968’s Earth Opera nor 1969’s slightly jollier The Great American Eagle Tragedy-its title track a 10-minute condemnation of the Vietnam war featuring John Cale-have dated awfully well.
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