Natural Acoustic Band - Learning To Live/Branching In (1972)

Twofer including the first two albums from acoustic folk trio, originally released on RCA in the early 1970s. Hailing, like their comtemporaries Lindisfarne and Hedgehog Pie, from the North East of England, the band were a firm favourite on the college circuit- but their albums have been obscure and difficult to find until now. From songtitles like 'Ther's Nothing Unnatural About Electricity' 'Subway Cinderella' and 'Little Leaf' they sound like they spent their entire lives busking in woods and parks: whatever, these albums conjure up the magical atmosphere of this era of hippy folk perfectly. Freak Emporium

Formed as a folk duo in Milngarie, Glasgow, Scotland, in 1969. Tom Hoy was a Glaswegian by birth and Robin Thyne a Geordie. Krysia Kocjan who had a Flemish mum and a Polish dad, joined early in 1971. She was a talented vocalist who brought them a good degree of publicity - they were often billed as The Natural Acoustic Band featuring Krysia Kocjan.
Learning To Live was a good progressive folk effort notable for Kocjan's vocals and similar to Dando Shaft. It came in a lovely gatefold sleeve. The follow-up was similar musically. Both albums were produced by Milt Okun, who had worked extensively with Peter Paul and Mary.
In September Amin Mohammed was recruited as bassist, but Krysia left the band the following January to pursue a solo career. She was replaced briefly by Joanna Carlin, though this didn't work out due to 'musical differences' and the band soon was reduced to a duo again with Thyne and Hoy. The pair as a duo until 1975 when Hoy joined Magna Carta. Thyne followed him into Magna Carta a couple of years later, though in 1979 they both left to form Nova Carta, but that's another story. Kocjan released a solo album in 1974 and has worked for Ray Davies, Mike Heron and Robin Williamson among others. She now lives in the USA. Tapestry Of Delights

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