As you undoubtedly all know, music is one the best parts of the psychedelic experience. The way one hears every single layer in great detail, as opposed to being able to focus on only one of the layers whilst sober, has and always will be what I appreciate most about psychedelics. I'm here because I need your help in this regard. I'm looking for some new psychedelic music, but I'd rather have it not be electronic. In the past, I've mostly listened to things like Shpongle and Younger Brother, and while I absolutely love their sounds, I'm in need of a change. If you are acquainted with Shpongle, you'll know it is sort of a mix between wordly and out-of-this-wordly sounds: the instruments and vocals being subtle reminders to the reality we come from; and the electronic parts taking us away from this reality into outer dimensions.

But I've found that this cosmic battle between real and unreal can be a bit overwhelming at times, and I've come to realize that this is probably due to the electronic parts. Especially during those long acid trips, I always reach a point where I want to appreciate reality more, rather than drift away into unimaginable worlds on which I never seem get a firm grip. So I'm looking for music that's more - how shall I put it - organic, as in more instrumental. I remember a time when I was lying in my tent on a festival after a night of acid, and there was this guy playing a very simple tune on his guitar, and I was overcome with the subtle yet deeply moving simplicity of it. Here was a sound that was man-made, using just a bit of wood and strings. There and then I realized that music doesn't always need to be as overwhelming as most psymusic I was used to; in fact more subtle sounds often offer a much welcome relaxing change.

So please post your suggestions here. I'll start by suggesting jazz; I was pleasantly surprised by how that sounded on a trip.

Organic music vs electronic music maybe but real vs unreal doesn't make that sense to me...

That's the best way I could describe how it makes me feel. Electronic music just doesn't feel real/natural to me. Tangible vs intangible could be another way of putting it. Or past vs future. The instruments remind me of where we as a species come from, whilst the electronics are an indication of the possibilities yet to come.

Either way, I'm looking for music that's strictly in the first category. During the first hours into a trip, I love doubting what's real and what's not, but after a while, I'd rather be moved by natural sounds and the beauty of the world we live in.

Grateful Dead live ('69-'77, especially the jazzy psychadelic improvs of '74), with a dash of Primus, solo Les Claypool, Rush, and Tom Waits, is pretty much all I've been listening to for decades. Had a trance/electronic music stint at one point but tired of it for pretty much the same reasons you cited.

Favorite Dead tune from a great show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVnjtmgIJfs

Like abstract vs less abstract?

I remember someone posting some nice psychedelic music that had a more instrumental feel to it..
I think it ws Infundibulum posting it somewhere not too long ago..

I've tried Tom Waits' Alice, was great.

Didn't like Alice much. My favorite albums are Bone Machine, Mule Variations, Real Gone, Swordfishtrombones, Rain Dogs, and pretty much anything recent live. While I don't think his music can really be defined as "psychadelic" in the traditional sense, I find it far more "psychadelic" than a lot of electronic music... just listening to "Murder in the red barn" makes me trip without the aid of any substance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUJz3137EQ8

Got another suggestion myself:

Moriarty - Live at Kulturkirche Cologne

I thought about them because they cover Waits' Chocolate Jesus amongst other songs. It's mostly a cover band, but this performance is great.

Pink floyds album animals also dark side of the moon. Bob marley while not psychedelic is awesome while trippin.Primus,The Doors,Ravi Shenkar some Beatles.

I've got one word for you friend..

TORTOISE!

very cool instrumental band. with mostly non-electronic sounds.

here's a vid

For me there is no one that can compare to rodrigo y gabriela. Its a husband and wife Spanish guitar team. They will guarantee the most organic feeling trip one can experience (IMO). Listen to their newest album 11:11 it will BLOW YOUR MIND! They take you on an emotional roller coaster through these layers upon layers of music all from acoustic guitars. You tube will get you some clips.

Excellent! Great Stuff!

The Moody Blues: In Search of the Lost Chord

That is one amazing psychedelic album with a good "organic" sound. It's old, from the late 60's. It's a masterpiece.

King Crimson: In the Court of the Crimson King

That’s a little darker, from the late 60's, very LSD-like, a little creepy at times, but also what I would call a masterpiece.

Both of these albums are deeply inspired by LSD. The King Crimson one has been known to cause “bad trips” though, because of some of the creepy elements. The Moody Blues one is upbeat and very spiritual, highly recommended.

wow this rodrigo and gabriela sounds AWESOME, I just listened to half a track and decided to not listen to it now and wait till tomorrow, listen for first time when tripping

thats an amazing cover of moody blues, ron, am downloading this cd and will also check out

I never really got into grateful dead, it seemed too 'country' for me.

it seems its a hit and miss for some people but im absolutely amazed by Tool. The lateralus cd is a real masterpiece, musically and in terms of lyrics, and to listen to it tripping is a bliss for me.

and another one, not exactly psychedelic but great soothing acoustic music from the soul and tripping-aproved, Andy Mckee. Check him playing in youtube, really special!

for sure Ill think of more later on

If you can, get the entire 11:11 album. Turn down the lights and put your head near a speaker with your eyes closed. Play album in its entirety, it tells a story without lyrics. Great with Salvia too.

That's what I'm talking about! thx

They went country in 1969, their stuff from before is different. 'Live/Dead' is them at their psychedelic best.
http://www.myspace.com/g...albums/live-dead-8029413

I made a bunch of other suggestions in the psychedelic rock thread, which are mainly acoustic. Of all those, my favourite band is Kaleidoscope (US not UK). It's a grower, and "Beacon from Mars and Other Psychedelic Side Trips" is now my all-time favourite CD.

I have always found Tool to be great to listen to whilst tripping balls (preferably LSD). Their level of musicianship is stunning. The music is pretty dark at times and I know that turns some people off but for me, I like the spookier side. Their latest album 10,000 days is probably the most accessible as their doesn't seem to be much anger at all. I have a playlist that leaves out any harsh "trip freaking" songs that I listened to on pharma once. The recording has so much space, especially the instrumental bits... it really worked well with the trip. Their are some covers of theirs played by a small string group that are great...although they "play" the vocal lines on a violin..and I didn't much care for that.

For some real time psychedelia check out Arbre noir

http://www.youtube.com/w...hsKc&feature=related

györgy ligeti (lontano & others), Peter gabriel (passion, the soundtrack for the scorcese movie),
Funkadelic/parliament, radiohead, stereolab, Miles davis (bitches brew, in a silent way), thelonius monk, john coltrane (meditations), sonic youth (daydream nation & others), Pink Floyd, shankar (eternal light & others) and soooooo many more!

Electonic music is popular because the repetition and rhythm evoke the inner orchestrated melody of endless recursion - the building blocks of consciousness. There is some great electronic music to trip to. Presently I prefer electronic trips, although for spice there is no better symphony than

[/b[b]]SILENCE

JBArk