Stone Breath

“Before there were many, there were few” - So starts the chapter about Stone Breath in Jeanette Leech’s book, “Seasons They Change: The Story of Acid and Psychedelic Folk” - and so it was back in 1995 when Stone Breath started. The 1960s had come and gone (the revival of the 60s and 70s folk bands was yet to come), the post-industrial scene’s flirtation with folk music had swayed to neo-classical or art-song, and the modern psychedelic scene was far more interested in Krautrock’s burning electricity than it was in acoustic instruments. Stone Breath, however, remained firmly rooted in folk music.

Wood, skin, bone, bronze, steel, gut. These are the materials of acoustic instruments. Materials of the earth. Stone Breath wanted to make earth music. Timeless music. Music that could be made without electricity. Music that couldbe played in field or forest (or even in lonely graveyards as was the case in the early days of the band). Stone Breath have held true to this vision over 9 albums, several eps, various compilation appearances, and almost 20 years.

Having remained a 3 piece for most of the band’s life, recent years have seen the core band adding more members. The sound has moved gradually from sparse Syd Barrett meets Nick Drake ghost-songs to a much fuller sound - often incorporating layers of vocal harmonies and intricate instrumentation ranging from guitar and banjo to Middle Eastern instruments to homemade lyres, dulcitars, and more.

Members of Stone Breath backed Tom Rapp (of 60s/70s acid folk touchstone, Pearls Before Swine) for most of his comeback shows and recorded with Tom on his “Journal of the Plague Year” album. Stone Breath played most of the legendary Terrastock festivals sharing the bill with such acts as Tom Rapp, Country Joe, Sonic Youth, Acid Mothers Temple, The Bevis Frond, Kendra Smith, and many more. In 2001, Stone Breath conceived and helped organize The Poor Minstrels of Song and the Temple of the Moon tour - a traveling festival of acid/psychedelic/experimental acoustic music.

In recent years they have become more active in both recording and live modes.

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