Vashti Bunyan is an enigma in British folk music that has only been understood in the last ten years. Following explusion from art school in 1964 Andrew Loog Oldham, the Rolling Stones manager discovered her singing in London. Her music was delicate Judy Collins style folk music but Loog Oldham sought to shape her as a pop star. He got her to record a Rolling Stones song and released it on Decca and then as he formed Immediate he arranged for her to record many unreleased pop style songs. By 1968 this cynical attempt to make her a pop star left her dejected particularly as her heart was in folk music. She decided to give up her life and travel in a traditional caravan up to Scotland to join Donovan.
During that year she wrote a number of highly personal songs that documented her new experiences living close to the land in isolation. After encouragement from Derroll Adams she took her songs to Joe Boyd. Joe Boyd was the natural producer for her, already a legend by then producing The Incredible String Band, John and Beverly Martyn and Nick Drake. He recorded the album and bought in sympathetic musicians from Fairport Convention and Incredible String Band to assist on some songs.
The album was released in 1970 but with little support from the artist it didn't sell and languished in obscurity for thirty years. The artist lived a life of travel and isolation left alone by the music industry. Over the years it became a legendary album to many folk collectors with album prices rising to high figures. In the last couple of years Vashti has once again taken tentative steps back into some involvement in music notably performing with highly respected ambient electronic band Piano Magic. |
