Who’d have thought a Hamilton country-folk muso would be retrospectively recognized as making a psych-folk masterpiece?

Chris Thompson learnt his chops from Dave Calder of the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band, turned professional in 1968 while living in Auckland, then headed off on a working career that included a stint as Julie Felix’s guitarist, as well as jamming with luminaries such as Brownie McGhee, Wizz Jones, Bert Jansch and John Renbourne. His self-titled debut is getting the most accolades thanks to modern-day psych-wyrd-folk revivalists such as theunbrokencircle.co.uk.

Released in tiny numbers in ’73 it finally got a small CD pressing in 2001 but good luck finding either! Instead check out Chris’ drifty eastern psych-tinged guitar, distracted vocals, and tabla-laced folk during Community Radio Hamilton’s Weekday Breakfasts, or catch the man himself on Border Radio, Saturdays at 9pm.

Phil Grey

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