The Orange Alabaster Mushroom is a one-man band project by Greg Watson. The video above shows a bit of footage of Johnny Depp and his sidekick, in one of the psychedelic drug movies he made not so long ago. Ontario-based singer/songwriter Greg Watson is the Orange Alabaster Mushroom. While he was a member of the 'Fiends' (not the Los Angeles punk group, but a group of Ottawa-based garage rockers), Watson began recording his own, more psychedelically influenced solo material in early 1991. I find his music quite retro of the 60's psychedelic scene. Although Watson continued his home recordings for a number of years and even placed a few on obscure psych compilations, the first Orange Alabaster Mushroom release was a four-track EP, The Psychedelic Bedroom, in 1996. That EP, which included the theme song/statement of intent "We Are the Orange Alabaster Mushroom," wasn't followed up for nearly three years, until the single "The Slug," backed with "Ethel Tripped a Mean Gloss," appeared in 1999. The limited-edition LP compilation Space and Time: A Compendium of the Orange Alabaster Mushroom was released in 2000. A very original album worth purchasing, if you can locate it in obscure music shops. The songs like the one above 'Tree Pie' from that album, are all interesting, and the album has wonderful colourful 60's artwork. Certainly I admire these unique home based recorded tracks, from truly an unusual retro artist.
Andrew Ioannidis
Andrew Ioannidis
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