Mort Garson- Mother Earth's Plantasia (1976)

 It’s impossible to explain Mort Garsons career in a few sentences. His discography is all over the place, each album lives in it’s own world of extreme weirdness, more or less inviting. Someday I’ll try to give my thoughts on projects like Lucifer- Black Mass or some other occult-inspired albums of his but Plantasia is a much easier entry point to Garsons music. Made with the legendary Moob synthesizer, Mother Earth’s Plantasia is one of the most impressive pieces of early electronic music. It was being advertised as a record specifically for plants, was even being sold along with houseplants in a local LA store. You could have also gotten a copy of the album by buying a mattress at Sears. Despite how amazing this all sounds, it didn’t help Plantasia gain popularity at the time. I’m really glad it eventually got the appreciation it deserves and even an reissue (I’m in the process of hunting it down on vinyl).

Plantasia is a perfect album for a midnight listen. Lonely walk through empty streets at night or a quiet car ride. I don’t know how it affects plants but listening to the title track makes me feel nothing but calmness. As good as the rest of the album is, nothing beats those first three minutes, just an amazing mood setter. Even when we get some slightly “darker” melodies, like on Ode to an African Violet or A Mellow Mood for Maidenhair, they are quickly contrasted by more relaxing and upbeat synth line. Some moments are more fun and quirky, some give out more of a movie soundtrack vibe. It’s amazing how captivating this record is. Despite it being nothing but synthesizer, at no point does it become background music. It’s one of my favorite albums from the 70s and truly the best warm earth music for plants… and the people who love them.