Customer Reviews

Reflections in a Crystal Wind

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The Farinas' mix of unusual instrumentations and Dick's gift for words made them a formidable duo in the mid-sixties, his writing alternating and mixing the political, satirical, and poetic . Mimi, sister of Joan Baez, had ,for my money, a better and more versitile voice than her sister. This album showcased both's songwriting and singing talents, and backed by most of Dylan's off-duty session players, the music sounds as fresh today as then. While none of their albums are less (two recorded during his lifetime, one after), this one is a little more.

RICHARD FARIÑA was great poet in the great tradition of the troupador. His life ended too early as the result of a motorcycle accident. Nonetheless, he and his partner/wife Mimi Baez (sister of Joan Baez) created one of the great albums of the "beat" and new folk movement, REFLECTIONS IN A CRYSTAL WIND. Songs on it such as "Children of Darkness" and "Raven Girl" metaphorically describe the sense of personal torment and social destruction experiemced by a whole generation during the Vietnam Era. Richard and Mimi's duets are flawlessly in synch. First-rate musicians accompany on most songs. The youth today might actually relate to the sensitive musical and political substance on this CD from our history. It's time a new social consciousness was born, and this CD points to Tao (The Way.)

Blonde on Blonde
Any Day Now
Songs of Love and Hate

Celebrations for a Grey Day was a most impressive debut that showcased the songwriting of Richard Fariña and the amazing voice of Joan Baez' lesser known sister Mimi, along with the twinkling sound of a little-known instrument in the dulcimer, which Richard used to firmly anchor this music in its folk roots.

To follow such a good debut was a taxing task by any account, but the Fariñas in no way let themselves down around ten months later with "Reflections in a Crystal Wind". In contrast to "Celebrations for a Grey Day", there are some notable changes. Most especially there are fewer instrumentals and more instruments to back up Richard's and Mimi's dulcimer/guitar combination. The opening title tune is awesomely beautiful with Mimi singing as purely and tunefully as anyone ever could. However, the second track "The Bold Marauder" (which may not be politically correct today with its lyrical theme based on the Crusades) surpasses anything the Fariñas did with its simple, gentle melody line and darkly-sung vocals that raise traditional folk tunes into an entirely new art-form from what Baez and Judy Collins ever did. The melody is classically folk, but the vocals resemble a cross between hymnal singing and something that could be called "Gothic".

"A Swallow Song" is even more haunting and atmospheric, showing the darkness inherent in the beauty of these tiny birds like Vashti Bunyan and others never could. The lesser-known "Dopice" is a more upbeat, jig-like instrumental, whereas the opening of "Chrysanthemum" shows Mimi's guitar sound more clearly than anything else from the duo, and the simplicity and beauty of the tune is soothing. "Sell-Out Agitation Waltz" shows the pair moving into familiar themes of the 1960s hippie culture that was establishing itself at this time and in its music, too, which is distinctly influenced by early rock music even if there is (virtually) no amplification. "Hard-Loving Loser" moves much further towards rock than even the previous track, and its lyrics sound very prophetic, even autobiographical, when one considers Richard's fate. He also shows the ability to work in a falsetto register quite unlike other singers I have heard.

"Mainline Prosperity Blues" continues the trend towards rock with a dark, yet soft and beautiful, critique of mainstream American society of the 1950s and early 1960s, but "Allen's Interlude" then turns back to the duo"s original sound but with even denser dulcimer twanging from Richard. Then the quaintly titled "House Un-American Blues Activity Dream" returns to rock with startling spontaneity and to the criticism of the American judicial system. "Raven Girl" is the most genuine love song Richard Fariña ever wrote, being very close to the traditional English ballads groups like Fairport Convention were to perfect at the end of the decade. The lyrics are hard to comprehend but when one listens carefully there is a genuine longing in them. "Miles" was written by Mimi rather than Richard, but is even twangier, and closer "Children of Darkness" moves away from folk onto a hymnal ballad that suits Mimi's and even Richard's voices perfectly. The amazingly austere piano and romantic longing in the lyrics would have sounded a warning to those who listened at the time and seem just as prophetic now.

All in all, "Reflections in a Crystal Wind" is an essential early folk-rock album, with a range from hymnal ballads to spontaneous, flowing rock, to twangy folk and the beautiful voices of Mimi and Richard Fariña. It would have been interesting to see what the two could have done but for the motorcycle accident that ended Richard's life?!

I love this recording by Richard & Mimi Farina (Joan Baez's sister) which contains some truly beautiful songs. Richard wrote the book "Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me" which gave a view of his depths and an inkling of how excellent he might become. Unfortunately Richard died young, ending this wonderful duo. So I always get sort of sad listening to it, imagining the fabulous things they might have created. The recording quality of this is less than terrific. But I still love it.

Very good, but more instrumentals than I would prefer. I especially liked the title song "Reflections in a Crystal Wind"; amazingly wise from a pair of 30-somethings.

This was the best of the Farinas albums and the lyrics still ring true. As things heat up politically, I had begun to miss The House UnAmerican Blues and The Children of Darkness, which I'd never known was written by Mimi. Sadly, they are both gone. I'd forgotten how great the dulcimer was!

"Bold Marauder" is truly Richard Farina's songwriting masterpiece. It is a powerful and haunting piece of music. Having said that, his performance of the song, does not do it justice. To experience the full impact of this song you will need to listen to John Kay on his "Forgotten Songs & Unsung Heroes" cd. We were able to find it on the Steppenwolf website. Wow!!!