1967 the two-piece ISB became regulars on the London folk scene as an opening act in local venues, with a set list that featured the upcoming album's songs. Nearly as exotic as their instruments, Williamson, interested in multi-media, hired two dancers known as Mimi & Lesandra (incorrectly deemed Mimi & Mouse) to take part in the band's concerts. Promotion of the ISB's songs saw the ISB performing "Chinese White" on BBC's Late Night Line-up, and was capped off by a brief appearance at the Newport Folk Festival. Following the band's short touring schedule, their record producer, Joe Boyd, who had previously worked with the group on their debut album, returned to undergo developments for the duo's second album. Following further rehearsal periods (recordings of the resulting demos were later released as The Chelsea Sessions 1967), the ISB completed the entire album at Sound Techniques, Chelsea, London in early 1967. The recordings were conducted on four-track, in the first instances of the duo overdubbing, and multi-tracking their wide assortment of instrumentals that included sitar, gimbri, and mandolin. Much of the instrumentals drew upon influences of the psychedelic genre, along with the foreign playing Williamson witnessed in his travels. Williamson and Heron's compositions were eccentric in nature, relating with themes of mythology, life, and religion. For the recordings, session musicians were featured, such as Nazir Jairazbhoy on sitar, Pentangle's Danny Thompson on double bass, and on piano was counter-culture activist John "Hoppy" Hopkins. Future ISB member McKechnie also made her first contributions to the band, appearing as a vocalist and a percussionist. Although several other musical acts, including The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, had already begun incorporating sitar into their compositions, the ISB featured Jairazbhoy, a musician who was traditionally taught with the instrument, rather than a western instrumentalist. Williamson also drew inspiration from his time in Morocco, becoming influenced by the song structures and vocal techniques. The album's compositions reflected upon these developments, Williamson's adaption of the Arabian oud to the guitar, and the vocal arabesques being major stylistic points in the album's overall sound. Release The 5000 Spirits or the Layers of the Onion was released in July 1967 on the Elektra label to the UK (catalogue item EUK 257), and the US (catalogue item EUK 4010). The album, more successful than the ISB's debut, peaked at number 25 on the UK Albums Chart and number one on the