Culpeper's Orchard
Danish psych/rock group in 1970's

Culpeper's Orchard is a great Danish psych/rock group that put out three albums, of which this is the only one to make the transfer to CD, so far. The first time you listen to the opening strains of "Banjocul," you'll think, "What did I get myself into?" But then comes the opening chords of Mountain Music and you'll know you are in for one fun guitar jam for the entire album. Though definitely in the psych vein, Culpeper's Orchard isn't a rehash of the '66-'69 psychedelic bands or the "west-coast sound." Instead, the band takes intense electric jams that dissolve into beautiful folk-like acoustic arrangements and harmonized vocal melodies. Even the lead guitar is clean and jangling, eschewing the popular fuzz-tone of that era. The Orchard combine known styles with Danish-folk arrangements into an original style distinctly their own. Hendrikson's electric lead played over driving dual acoustic rhthym guitars never fails to get me out of my chair and bopping 'round the living room. His lead guitar style in "Gideon's Trap," "Your Song and Mine," and the two-part "Mountain Music" draws heavily upon Eric Clapton during EC's time with John Mayall and Cream. This is most obvious in "Mountain Music Part 2," where he plays many classic Clapton licks from the Bluesbreaker album in homage to Eric. Though drawing from Clapton, Hendrikson doesn't wear it on his sleave, having developed a unique style of his own. Don't look for outstanding technical ability or phenomenal musicianship because you won't find it here. Just expect some good solid psych 'n' roll and you'll be as happy as I am with this album. Highly recommended.

A completely different beast from the usual, this obscure Danish group produced a really underrated album in 1971 that should please those fans of innovative sixties acts. This album is amazingly stylistically diverse. Opening with a banjo/vocal ditty, you really have no idea what is going to happen next as Culpeper heads into a great rock flight like the best of the early Vertigos with Jack Bruce on vocals. Strong point of this group is the lead guitarist who's tone and emotion causes this group to really excel. As the album progresses you hear the Byrds, the Beatles, Crosby Stills and Nash, Procul Harum, Chocolate Watchband, 13th Floor Elevators, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, the list goes on. The way it all comes together is extremely powerful and in my opinion far better than much of those bands music. In truth this is like an amazing tour into the late sixties and early seventies by a simply excellent band.

Source: Gibraltar Encyclopedia Progressive Rock Web Site (Found on 26 Mar 2000, but no longer there on 23 Jan 2001)

Album: Culpeper's Orchard
Band: Culpeper's Orchard
Year: 1970
Label: Polydor 847 374-2 (Germany)

Band Members:

Song List:

Total Playing Time: 41'45"

Song: "Banjocul"

Going down to Culpeper's, Going down to have some fun
Going down to Culpeper's, Going down to do what's done

Song: "Mountain Music - Part One"

To be forgotten, To live in Dust
To float in a stream and fly in the air
What more could we wish, To always be spread on earth
Plucked as a flower to die with love, And fly to greet the sun

Flowers in the forest freed, Deadlocked in your arms I bleed
Knowing not the rhymes I need, To take me from my madness

Wrap my mind in cellophane, Ignore the pleas to stop the rain
From falling on your windowpane, When your asleep at midnight

The iron mountains metal rings, Beside the bedrooms light in spring
And hums the words 'cause they can't sing, The words they haven't learnt yet

All is free while bodies moan, So shut the door but hear them groan
While petals fall from what is known, Of love and what goes with it

Song: "Hey You People"

Hey you people
We've looked across a thousand seas, Our hair was winding in the stray
And as the currents closed our minds, waves were rolling in our bay
Hey you people
We've looked into a thousand suns, And bent the rays upon our eyes
And as they've kissed our golden lips, Love was scrolled across the skies

Song: "Teaparty For An Orchard"

The white knight is creeping through the forest
Where the eastern king is sitting on his throne
Moon shining light disturbs the autumn silence
The Christmas fairy hasn't got a home

Luck carefully blocks out the castle windows
While Magus sits and weaves the lonely web
Two lovers in the maze have lost their reasons
And Marie Antoinette has lost her head

Don't look at me, Everything is free
Set the table quickly, James, We'll be thirteen for tea

The captain has just lost his only spyglass
Tony Perkins pushing cars into the moss
I don't know if there's time, but please believe me
We've got to get the leader off the cross
The Tongs are chasing butterflies with razors
And when they meet the fleet they'll have some fun
I thought I heard the sound of distant thunder
Perhaps it's Rodger practising the drums

Don't follow me, To the angel by the sea
Set the table quickly, James, We'll be thirteen for tea

You suddenly came into my mind
Suddenly was all I could find, Nobody but you

It isn't just a game
Picture needs no frame, Don't blame the brain drain

I'm told that flying saucers have been sighted
That's the news I've waited just to hear
It means that all our guests are on their way in
I'm sure that very soon they will appear
I think I see them climbing up the hill now
Their robes are flowing gently in the air
So Oluf better quit his nails and hide them
And find the little prince an easy chair

Don't look at me, Everything is free
Set the table, James, We'll be thirteen for tea

Song: "Ode To Resistance"

Moments of sorrow, You can't borrow pleasure from the truth
When you feel low down, My friend, Go down, Search in your roots of youth

You will find, Piece of mind, With happiness you will remember
Just like you, Thought of a girl that I once knew, In some September

When you were young girl did you loose the flag
Did someone take the rainbow from your night
I know there are moments when you only see the rain
I'll let the rain melt if you let me stay

I can give you magic, That I was born to use
And if your morning's tragic, We have no time to loose

Sitting quietly doing nothing, Magic is alive in you and me
Spring is coming and the grass grows, God is still a singing
(Even if you can't see him), God is still a singing tree

If you want to know a direction, Ask from one who know the way
But don't go casting your reflection, On one who knows
On one who knows, On one who knows but will not say

Song: "Your Song & Mine"

Rainbow from your eyes and fill the skies, Blow your tears away
Sunbeams chase the mist and you must insist, Tomorrow is today
From your dreams you're 'waking, As the dawn is breaking

See the things that summer brings, When winter hides in snow
Things you've feared become the weird, Fantastic shadow show
Change the world you're facing, In the nighttime's racing

Only you will find you can't show the blind, Time will tell it's true
When you're agrown only you have known, It will not change you
When you're off on that fairgrounds ride, No time to hang around

Don't hide away 'cause tomorrow is changing

Sea gull's quest will bring no rest, Till fantasy gets through
A mirror can reflect what you reject, Dreams that could be true
Harbour of the morning, Burns the ship of dawning

Only you will find you can't show the blind, Time will tell it's true
When you're agrown only you have known, It will not change you
When you're off on that fairgrounds ride, No time to hang around

Sea gull's quest will bring no rest, Till fantasy gets through
A mirror can reflect what you reject, Dreams that could be true
Harbour of the morning, Burns the ship of dawning

Song: "Gideon's Trap"

And so the coffins all were lowered, And all my friends were dead
And all there's left is God's forgiveness, That is just what the preacher said
The sky was turning grey with anger, I walked alone along the way
God only knew what's on my shoulders, And *you are lost* I heard him say

But on my way to find an answer, Out from nowhere a demon came
He was a hunchback, I was frightened, I said: Go back to Notre Dame
I have some things to say, he answered, I know your troubles yes my son
You carry heavy loads upon you, I tell you: The fun has just begun

And so he left me disappointed, A deadly light came out from west
I heard a sound of distant thunder, I kept thinking: Who knows best
I know my life, I know my living, My will is given me at birth
And I can do just what I want to, Then I was swallowed by the earth

I landed with my feet on fire, I stood before my masters throne
He filled my mind with soft desire, He taught me: Everyone's alone
And that is where I end my story, And all there's left for me to say
Is: See your death is softly coming, And watch the winters fade away

Song: "Blue Days Morning"

Velvet evenings, Gentle calls from nowhere
Making me lonely, seeing you with my eyes closed
Can't you see me or even hear me

Dawn is breaking, On a blue days morning
Violets waving, whispering how to reach you
Mournful willows bring me their sadness

Softly fading words change their meaning
Into endless, aching hours, Filled with empty harmonies
Recalling you, Wanting You

Song: "Mountain Music - Part Two"

One grain of sand
One grain of sand in all this world, Mountain eyes of honey flowers
Silver skin of ageless hours, Living high psychotic towers

One crystal tear
One crystal tear in all the world, Lovely tears of Erocks cries
Mountain speed of empty lies, Cannot know the waiting sighs

One by one girl
One by one girl in all this world, Lovely lips of mystic gold
Lovely lips of clinging cold, Blowing time of mysteries old

Will she come this laughing day
Will she hear what people say, Virgin wings of holy weeps
Silver cross of mistress sleeps, Silent hours where no one peeps

Will she know the scarlet sun
Will she be the homeless one, Lovely lips of mystic gold
Lovely lips of clinging cold, Blowing time of mysteries old

One grain of sand
One grain of sand in all this world, Mountain eyes of honey flowers
Silver skin of ageless hours, Living high psychotic towers

One boy one girl
One boy one girl in all this world, Lovely tears of Erocks cries
Mountain speed of empty lies, Cannot know the waiting sighs

For more info, contact: Mike Taylor

Source: Information found in a song lyrics section of a Russian web site: "Heliophysics, Internal Structure and Seismology", which is published by a small group of scientists working at Sternberg Astronomical Institute, which is a part of Moscow State University.

Culpeper's Orchard first identified to Culpepper Connections! by Bill Russell.

Origin of Name: There were no Culpeper's in this group, and the origin of the group's name is unknown. A likely explanation is that this Danish group picked up the Culpeper name from Culpeper House, a world-wide chain of herbal shops named for Nicholas Culpeper.