The 5000 Spirits or the Layers of the Onion

The 5000 Spirits or the Layers of the Onion (1967) by the Incredible String Band is a psychedelic folk record that blends British folk songwriting with eclectic, world‑influenced instrumentation and studio experimentation. Acoustic guitars and close vocal harmonies sit alongside unusual stringed instruments and modal textures, producing a pastoral, otherworldly sound marked by whimsical, mystical lyrics and inventive arrangements. The album is often cited as a key example of the group's idiosyncratic approach to merging traditional folk elements with psychedelic sensibilities.