White Trash Soul: Various Artists - Psychedelic Mod, Funky Prog, Acid Soul and Freakbeat

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Various Artists - Psychedelic Mod, Funky Prog, Acid Soul and Freakbeat

OK, I've just made another compilation and I couldn't wait to share it, even though there are other posts already waiting in the pipeline. That's how excited I am! Having listened to a lot of acid jazz recently, I decided to compile a playlist of British bands and songs from the late '60s that undoubtedly influenced the creation and development of the genre in the early '90s. At least, from my point of view.

Anyway, by the time this booming decade was coming to an end, psychedelia was also in troubled waters, and musicians were looking for new sounds to take its place. Some turned to jazz, some amped up the blues, while others started heading in the direction of a more progressive sound, yet still funky. And quite many fearless musicians tried to combine all these elements to create something new. Most of them (if not all) were ex-mods already accomplished by the groove of black Americans and the mighty Hammond organ was now at the forefront, leading the way. Many of them mods also collaborated with each other in one or more bands, and many of those collaborations can be found here.This new sound had a grittier, nastier, smooth and manic at the same time overtone, with fuzz guitars polluting the area and rumbling organ and horns wailing all over.

Was it psychedelic mod, funky prog, acid soul or just another variant of what later was called freakbeat? Probably all of these and more! Sometimes it's tricky to put into words what you're hearing, but it's not hard at all to get excited about it and dance! I chose to stay in the old Albion because dealing with the US would have been a far greater challenge (Funkadelic, Betty Davis, etc.). See you soon! Cheers!!