usa Archives - Rum 'n' Coconutwater

Garage-Psych (mid/late US 60s) | Evolution Of Genré

Before these lines, there has been an article about Garage Rock, which I recommend reading first to fully understand what was about to happen in the mid-sixties, that lead to this intermixture of two genré's that are otherwise widely considered on their own. There is something special when it comes to the mid-sixties. For some cosmic reason all over the world, there was a strong focus on anything beyond the rational mind. People started excessively to explore the mysterious, seeking mind expansions, opening "the doors of perception" and fulfilling the prophecy of the "Rainbow Warriors". While Garage Rock -until then- was about lightly revolting teenagers expressing their temper, this newly, globally enlightened aquarian mindset seemed prophetic and holy, somehow from another dimension. Introducing those two players, wild stomping 60s Garage Punk youth on one and sparkling third eye psychedelia movement, on the other hand, it's hard to believe that they found a conclusion in a mutual dance. But finally, they did and the result is as reasonable as it could be when those two worlds meet. Read more

Group Sounds (Japanese variant of US Garage/Psych) | Evolution Of Genré

As a western citizen, any excursion into exotic cultures is a complex undertaking. Concretely spoken I'm examining the so-called "Group Sounds". A Japanese answer to the western musical and cultural movements of the sixties. As an copyist country, also Japan's Group Sounds merely consist of an immitation of US music, although one or another uniqueness might have been created. One major benefit for the free expression in art was the alliance with the USA. Artists from Japans neighbour countries - involved in the "Warsaw Pact" - had not many chances to find their way into a free creational process as censorship hung upon everything like a paranoid, control obsessed demon, fearing anything could cause a political collapse. Beginning in the '50s, Japan joined a worldwide process of change. As an effect of a cultural opening, this was a to date unique event occurring for the first time in Japan's history. Read more

Garage Rock (US 60s) | Evolution Of Genré

As simple as the musical structure of Garage rock is as much is to say about it. So where o begin? To understand the whole movement and the spectrum of what grew out of it, it is necessary to observe the social background. Like all generations have their break and emancipation from with their parents and oldish models of society, life and morals, the US 60s youth was not exceptional. A spirit of possibility and self-empowerment was in the air. Instruments and gear became affordable in the late 50s. The shift from shellac to vinyl and economic cheaper record studio equipment caused an explosion of availability in music. The expotential post-war birthrate did its part too. Imagine a youth placed in a cultural-timely setting of contrastly felt peace and wealth, with the drive to become independent and get rid of the old generations' oppression, to encounter the previous mentioned facilities of expression and self-efficacy. Guess what happened? Right, they took the chance to play their versions of the new 3-chord pattern music, garage pioneers set up as a blueprint... Read more