Various ‎Artists – "Simla Beat 70" (India Tobacco Company Limited ‎– 33 I.T.C. 1) 1970

Craaazy maaan, 'cus emblazened on the back cover is this wild synopsis:

"Beat, man, beat.
Man hears the violent waves over the rocks. The gentle patter of rain on dried leaves. He hears more. Rhythm in nature. Rhythm that is hypnotic. And, he imitates nature on the drum...
So music was born.
And, he becomes a slave...bound to music in every facet of his life. He hears music in the tinkle bells of the lowing hers. In the whisper of the sighing boughs. He laughs. He cries. He dances. As the music moves him.
Today he wants to be free. Free from all ties. Even of music. Today, he bursts forth in glorious abandon.
Today is beat music.
Soul-stirring, sinuous music. That finds echo in the hearts of the young. People who are alive.
The young at heart and the alive are in India, too. But they were drifting...
In their own wild ways. In sporadic bursts of enthusiasm all over the country... till 1968 when the oldest cigarette company with a young heart came along. India Tobacco Company with their annual 'All India Simla Beat Contest'."

Well, thank you????, India Tabacco Company for freeing the young of India whilest plying them with your toxic products.

What became evident during the Simla Beat contests was that Indians were as bad at playing western music as those from the west were at playing theirs.

Yes it takes a lifetime to learn how to twang the Sitar,but less well publicised is that it also takes a lifetime to learn how to play rock'n'roll,and all of its subtle offshoots......one of which is the particular brand of 1965 vintage Garage-Psych that the youth of India seem to have taken to heart in 1970.

Its an infectiously charming take on The Seeds and the 13th Floor Elevators style of garage psychedelia that never made it into the garages of 1966.I don't think LSD hit India until later in the decade,and thank Ganesh it didn't or we wouldn't have had the pleasure of hearing these unspoilt naive throwback psych masterpieces....Beat, Man, Beat indeed.

Tracklist:

A1 –Confusions - Voice From The Inner Soul 3:03
A2 –Dinosaurs - You Can't Beat It 2:56
A3 –X'Lents - Psychedelia 2:55
A4 –Innerlite - Zorba's Dance 3:23
A5 –Genuine Spares - Proper Stranger 3:48
A6 –Genuine Spares - What's Going On 2:47
B1 –Dinosaurs - Sinister Purpose 3:12
B2 –Great Bear - Mist 7:21
B3 –X'Lents - Born On The Bayou 4:17
B4 –Innerlite - Baby Baby Please 2:27

DOWNLOAD a similar beat HERE!