STRANGE FISH FOUR

UK label FRUITS DE MER RECORDS was formed back in 2008, and have since the onset specialized in a small select field: To release new versions of old classic and forgotten jewel tracks of a psychedelic and cosmic nature on limited edition vinyl singles. As the label have grown in stature they've also started to release some original material, and in 2013 they launched their most ambitious project so far: A series of four full length album productions to be released on vinyl albums, two of them double features, and a fifth bonus album on their first ever factory pressed CD made for those who buy all the vinyl releases. All of these containing new, original material.

The fourth album in this series collects contributions relatively short in length, all but two of them clocks in at less than 5 minutes. Apart from that there's basically two different types of music here, gentler minimalistic escapades of an electronic nature, and gentler dream-laden ones revolving around acoustic instruments.

Cat Frequency's Dreaming of a Wooden Fish opens this fourth volume in the series in a gentle, psychedelic and fairly folk inspired manner, a sparse acoustic guitar and synth creation that flesh out to a somewhat more sophisticated arrangement before the end. Organic Is Orgasmic follows with Chinese Horoscope and Lifeless Void, the former developing from wah-wah guitars supporting jubilant symphonic inspired synths to a gentler lead-out of toned down synth, psychedelic guitar soloing and slow rhythms, the latter sporting acoustic guitars supplemented by swirling noises and a smooth synth texture that slowly deconstructs towards the end.

Zenith: Unto The Stars follows with Juno Quartet and Con Bala, the former a smooth synth based affair sporting presumably four different textures, with contrasting tonalities and intensities maintaining attention quite nicely, the latter a very nice and effective excursion into that lost in space mood by way of droning and surging synth textures, careful and elegant in construction and delivery. The Vox Humana ha been given the honor to conclude the A side with Shortwave Radio And The Ionosphere, one of the most sophisticated constructions present sporting acoustic guitars and later tender piano notes supporting synth textures and cosmic vibes, with an eerie occasional rhythm developing into sampled radio sounds and a nervous, frantic but toned down post rock style light toned guitar texture applied in the second half.

James McKeown is an artist given a fair amount of play time on side B with his four cuts Averbury, Euclid Dreaming, Ursa Minor and Sublime Knight Elect. All of the gentle, careful excursions utilizing gentle acoustic guitars paired off with electronic effects and synth textures for dream-laden journeys of a kind and character that should appeal strongly to followers of folk and psychedelic folk music both. Temple Music's Dreaming of Flying East sports a dual set of acoustic guitars, a flute-like presence possibly by way of Mellotron and cosmic vibes in another compositions that should be of interest to those with a taste for psychedelic folk music, while The Bordellos' given the honor of concluding the B side with their slow tempo, dual layered synth construction Spirals, a piece of music that is dream-laden, solemn as well as inviting to associations towards sacral music.

All in all yet another strong outing from Fruits de Mer Records, and of the productions in the Strange Fish series this is arguably the most accessible ones. The majority of the contributions are fairly gentle and careful endeavors though, so a taste for psychedelic music of that kind is needed. As well as an affection for music of an acoustic and subtly folk-inspired manner. If you can tick of those boxes on the check list, then Strange Fish Four is a 12 inch slab of vinyl you most likely should consider purchasing.