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Grayfolded
by John Oswald, The Grateful Dead
Product Group: Music
Studio: Swell/Artifact
ISBN: B00000E127
EAN: 0777137199623
UPC: 777137199623
Audio CD
Original Release Date: 1995-11
Release Date: 1995-09-15
SKU: 07120192
Condition: Very Good Very Good
Comments: Audio CD in very good condition with few light scratches. Very nice jewel case with like new art and labels.
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Editorial Reviews
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Album Description
1995 Canadian release featuring the deleted 'Grayfolded Vol.1' & an hour long mix of 'Dark Star' comprised of bits fromover 100 performances of the tune in conjunction with the25th anniversary of it by John 'Mr. Plunderphonics' OSWALD.15 tracks total on t
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Customer Reviews
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Get Mirror Ashes first, then get this
Rating  (4)
Date: 2008-10-18
"Plunderphonics" is a term used by Oswald to describe his digital construction of Transitive Axis and the subsequent Mirror Ashes, both culled from numerous versions of the Dead's classic "Dark Star." If you want a structured Dark Star, get Live/Dead or one of the many live shows available with a Dark Star on it (Oklahoma City '73 is nice).
This is really more closely akin to that portion of the second set when the Dead would venture off into unknown territory for 20-40 minutes a la Drums>Space. I always loved Space, while for some people it was an excuse to go to the bathroom or go get a beer or soda. If you liked Space (especially, uh, under the influence), then I think you will like these two CDs. Transitive Axis is 60 minutes of "flutter" and, in my opinion, doesn't really quite go anywhere, compared to Mirror Ashes, which is why it's four stars, not five. When he released Mirror Ashes a few years later, Oswald opened with Dark Star briefly warping back on itself in a few seconds, and then flows into a 14-15 minute version (from 1970? I can't recall, darn it!) that is essentially untouched. It's a POWERFUL version of Dark Star and the reason I recomment Mirror Ashes first. After the opening segment, it goes far off into space before coming home and wrapping up in a soft fade to silence. IT IS FIVE STAR STUFF.
I picked up Transitive Axis first, then when Mirror Ashes was released it was a double-CD, so I gave T.A. to a friend and bought the double CD. At the time, it was $20 or so, making these downloads a true bargain!
I've ripped my CDs and have them backed up as 320 kbs and 128 kbs mp3 files. (The 128 is for my iPod so it doesn't eat up so much memory.) I want to ensure that I ALWAYS have this music available. There's times when I want a plan, old "Good Old Grateful Dead" show from start to finish, but late at night when I'm having trouble drifting off to sleep, Mirror Ashes and/or Transitive Axis are both joys to help me go to the Space we explore when we sleep.
Essential owning for any fan of the Dead, and anyone who likes experimental music.
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Head Music for Deadheads
Rating  (5)
Date: 2007-04-02
If you just like the down-home, country-sounding aspect of the Grateful Dead's music, this probably isn't the album for you. But if you love the spacy, swirling, improvisational aspect (think "Dark Star" on Live Dead), this DEFINITELY is the album for you. Pick a quiet night, settle back in your favorite chair with your earphones and a nice buzz (from whatever), close your eyes, and feast your brain! RATING: 5 "DARK" STARS!
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This is something else, but a good something...
Rating (4)
Date: 2006-02-24
5 out of 5 customers found this reveiw helpful
Let me start off by saying that Greyfolded is NOT what you might think it is...the ultimate Dark Star. It is far from it. That said, however, it is a work of intense complexity, dexterity, and an amazing knowledge of the material. It was put together in much the same way that Anthem was done; that is, from various live performances of the Dead, except that Greyfolded is done so to the nth degree. As others have noted here, it is performed with an "orchestra" of the various Grateful Dead bands across time, faded in and out to often devastating psychedelic effect. There is even a chart at the back of the booklet showing where all of the differing performances come in and out. Greyfolded is like an alloy of these performances, producing a final product with its own properties.
Since Grayfolded is its own work, it is not the happy Darkstar that I like to bliss out on for 20 minutes at a time. However, it is nearly 2 two hours of intense Darkstar-based music and sounds, all performed by the Dead according to the meticulous arranging and puzzle-fitting efforts of John Oswald. For someone out there looking for the ultimate Darkstar, go elsewhere. However, if you want a really interesting experimental GD extraganza, pick this up! Because this doesn't deliver the ecstatic punch that Darkstar delivers, I only give this record 4 stars out of 5. However, this IS still an amazing work.
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four and a half, actually
Rating (4)
Date: 2003-03-17
1 out of 4 customers found this reveiw helpful
I'd give this five stars, but I'd save that for a Dead show...like a Dick's Picks or full show. However, this album serves as a testament to Dark Star, which in my opinion is the greatest song of all time, at least I'd say it's my favorite song. The Dead being the greatest musical assemblage of musicians show how over 25 years they transformed this piece, and where they could go with it, and what it's potential was. It's a [good] tune, all around and is THE signature Grateful Dead song. What more can you say?
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Time Travel
Rating (5)
Date: 2002-12-11
12 out of 12 customers found this reveiw helpful
For Dark Star fans(and I understand there are a few of us)this is IT(so far).
Almost two hours of the Dead doing what they did best,improvising.This is John Oswalds "version" if you will of the ultimate Dark Star.He has taken over a hundred hours of tapes from the Dead Vaults ,all of performances of Dark Star and compiled ,segued and overdubbed a symphony of the Dead.The most amazing thing is that although this set covers a thirty year timespan it sounds so perfect and so cohesive that it defies logic.It is as if we owned a time machine instead of a compact disc player as we hear Jerry Garcia in 1971 duelling with Jerry Garcia in 1991.This is the most exciting music I have heard since I bought the King Crimson ProjeKCs box set.
You know you need this set!.
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