Perhacs, Linda: Parallelograms (Vinyl LP)

Released by the Kapp label in 1970 and produced by the Oscar-winning Leonard Rosenman, Parallelograms was the first and only album by American psychedelic folk singer Linda Perhacs, until the release of The Soul of All Natural Things in 2014.

Discouraged by the lack of commercial attention and the label's reluctance to promote the album, Perhacs returned to her career as a dental hygienist. In the 30 or so years that followed, this record gradually developed a cult following. Combining fragile and ethereal melodic acid folk with perfectly rendered electronic effects, Parallelograms consists of what Perhacs herself described as "visual music."

The spotlight is placed clearly on Linda's guitar and voice, where echoes of Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez and even Grace Slick (lead singer of Jefferson Airplane) can be traced. As was common in his work, Rosenman's production ends up shaping a soundscape located somewhere between jazz, classical music and the avant-garde.

All Music reviewer Richie Unterberger gave it 4 ½ out of 5 stars, stating that "Perhacs' cult favourite Parallelograms instantly evokes the spare and isolated feel of the songs and the production on Joni Mitchell's first albums.

Perhacs is adept at dropping unusual effects and arrangements into the mix, that on occasion have a mildly disquieting and psychedelic vibe. Not all of the record is unusual, though; much of it's just attractively wistful, moody singer/songwriter folk, sometimes with an engaging folk-jazz backup, sometimes just with a guitar, sometimes enlivened by creative smudges of organ and electric guitar". 

1. Chimacum Rain
2. Paper Mountain Man
3. Dolphin
4. Call Of The River
5. Sandy Toes
6. Parallelograms
7. Hey, Who Really Cares?
8. Moons And Cattails
9. Morning Colors
10. Porcelain Baked Cast Iron Wedding
11. Delicious