Carl Erdmann – Bizzarrophytes
The one-liner entry for Erdmann in Acid Archives is short but accurate: “Excellent later day hippie gets lost in eastern Acid Symphony trip. Instro guitars, sitar, kalimba, tabla, percussion, sax, even some flute.” EVEN! SOME! FLUTE!
What we have is here a southwestern US getting his white man introspection on with sitar and guitar, espousing folk-isms both solo and in a small group setting. The whole album is upbeat in a new age-y way, except for a few tracks that prominently feature electronics. Even Erdmann’s sitar moves are tolerable, like a budget, desert Amico D’Silva or John Mayer.
I’m not a big folk head (to say the least) so I was pleasantly surprised that despite the late date (1980) it was an interesting listen. My favorite track is “Devil Worship,” which adds instrumentation of kalimba and flute for a more fully fleshed-out sound. Erdmann is apparently not an active player these days. The fellow I bought it off of said he “does some music media things now.” Cover is completely budget and features an awful abstract drawing. So there you have it – maybe this post will draw him out of the woodwork to give a little more history.
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Erdmann was part of strange West Texas music scene that included Abner Burnett & The Burn-Outs. One of the more interesting LP’s from Texas for sure.
me likes. especially the first two songs.
O.K….I’ll come out of the woodwork to explain Bizzarrophytes but then it’s back to the woodwork I go! It started out an experiment to see what was involved with getting independent music to press for less than a grand. The compositions were intended to be very organic and folkstyle…to the point of ethnic/crude…so aschrock is close to hitting on it. As for now…I play various guitars including a harp guitar and have recorded soundtracks for commercial videos as well as jingles for TV/Radio. For the last seven years I’ve been trying to learn the Chapman Stick and will be including some already recorded pieces as well as some still under construction using the Stick as the main composition tool. Upcoming effort is called UNIVERSAL SYMBOLS and it’s been nine years in the making….so far. The music is very ethnic but not crude…the instumentation is
much more refined than that of Bphytes…still entirely instrumental.
The West Texas music scene was a reality and credit must go to Abner Burnett,Esq. for his part in inspiring me to take up recording engineering (somebody had to get our crap on tape). One of the better pieces with the sitar is on an album we recored in Carlsbad and Roswell New Mexico named OLD McDONALD.The song “Hindu Pickin’Cowboy” is the best sitar guitar collaboration I had the pleasure to participate in. The sitar now decorates a wall in my office,not played in decades.
word up carl. thanks for the info.
Carl,
Been a fan for a long time….glad you were able to find the site and know people are still listening to your music.
Carl inspired me and at least one other cat I know. He has some fabulous recordings subsequent to Bizzarrophytes that reqpresent his development as an improvisor on electric guitar. The tone is reminiscent of Gabor Szabo, but the approach is distinctly Carl.
Thanks, dude, for the 1970’s recordings and for your hospitality.
This record rules.
just won this record on ebay, can’t wait to get it and play it!
This is a damn good LP that sounds like the missing link between Handgjort and William Nowik. Get a copy before it gets really expensive.
Hey Carl
“member me? Terrel Shields
Mudlogger – the last time I saw you and Carol was in 1979 and I got home just in time to go to the hospital with a ruptured appendix.
I thought about you, Chuck (rest in peace) and Steve living in Carlsbad. Not to mention Beau the Dog…
And I was listening to Kay Kay and the Rays which certainly must have Abner singing on it. I googled his name and came up with yours as well
Still up in the Ozarks… give me a buzz – I got in contact with Steve after Chuck died but I’ve lost his email address too…