WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF PSYCHEDELIA…

No Drugs… Just Music

Hemanth Anil 

Psychedelic music (Psychedelia) covers a range of popular music styles and genres influenced by psychedelic culture that attempted to replicate or enhance the psychedelic experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid-1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in the United States and Britain.

Characteristics of psychedelic music include exotic instrumentation, use of complex song structures, key and time signature changes. It uses new recording techniques and effects, drawing on non-Western sources such as the ragas and drones of Indian music. Literary-inspired lyrics containing universal themes and extended instrumental solos, featuring a heavily distorted electric guitar as the main instrument is also a noted characteristic of psychedelia. There is also strong keyboard presence (electronic organs, harpsichords, or the Mellotron) and use of elaborate studio effects. Nowadays forms of electronic psychedelia also employed repetitive computer-generated beats.

Subgenres of psychedelia include Psychedelic Rock, Space Rock, Experimental Rock, Progressive Rock, Psychedelic Folk, Neo-psychedelia, Acid House, Trance Music, New Rave, etc.

Psychedelic music takes the listener on a ride that opens his mind and makes him think more. Music has a profound effect on the human psyche — both the brain and the mind. It stimulates the thinking, analytical, and planning parts of the brain, and, the creativity center. It causes the brain to produce feel-good endorphins and chemicals that promote healing.

Beatles, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton are some psychedelic rock stars. Pink Floyd is an English rock band who achieved international acclaim with their progressive and psychedelic music. Distinguished by their use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, extended compositions and elaborate live shows, they are one of the most commercially successful and musically influential groups in the history of psychedelic music.

If you would like to check out some albums on psychedelic music, here are some:

v  Pink Floyd- The Division Bell (1994)

v  Pink Floyd- The Dark Side Of the Moon (1973)

v  Pink Floyd- The Piper at the gates of Dawn (1967)

v  The Beatles- Revolver (1966)

v   Radiohead- Ok Computer (2000)

v  King Crimson- In the court of King Crimson (1969)