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In the mid-1960s, brothers Martin and Hadrian Welham and their school friend Derek Allenby formed a folk band in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, which was renamed Forest in 1969. All three were multi-instrumentalists and mastered numerous instruments: Hadrian Welham (vln, b, g, clo, whs, perc, voc), Martin Welham (g, el. hrps, harm, p, vln, perc, whs, voc) and Derek Allenby (mand, harm, perc, whs, voc). The band was one of the pioneers of the burgeoning purely acoustic psychedelic and acid folk scene of the 1960s. After their debut album, the British psychedelic folk trio embarked on tours and promotional tours, both in England and on the continent.
Their second LP, The Full Circle, released again on Harvest in 1970, showed a clear development with more experimental and individual song structures and arrangements that were more diverse and original. Instead of collaborative creative processes, the different compositions of each individual musician were recorded together, which complemented each other amazingly well as a whole. The variety of instruments used also contributed to the diversity of the songs. In contrast to the classic folk scene, their lyrics were too unusual, too realistic, full of mystery, misery and violence. This second and final album was also unsuccessful, and the band broke up in 1971 with the departure of Derek Allenby.
This rare album is an absolute favourite among many vinyl collectors of British folk.
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