STRANGE FISH FIVE

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 fifth album of the series is a special case. Besides being the label's first ever CD, it is also a title not available as a standalone entity. Instead, it is given away for free, but only to those who have bought Strange Fish volumes One to Four. At the time of writing this review label owner Keith told me that he only had 10 complete sets left of the Strange Fish series, which means that at most only ten more people will be able to enjoy the contents of this CD.

US band Elevation opens this disc with the appropriatly named The Introduction. An Aboriginal drone is at the heart of this one, supplemented by an array of droning and swirling sounds at first and with psychedelic laced guitars a prominent presence in the second half. Jay Tausig's Shortwave continues, an epic length construction with two sets of bass and drum driven excursions supplemented by cosmic sounds and effects, controlled in the initial part and somewhat more untamed following a gentler transitional phase.

The excerpt of The Golden Cake Company's Floating With is a rich yet smooth array of psychedelic and cosmic sounds placed upon a playful drums and percussion foundation, with a toned down noisescape of some kind providing a distinct feeling of presence to this piece. The Cream People's Will of the Cusp is a creation to please those with a taste for light toned folk inspired excursions into the realms of the psychedelic. A tad too one-dimensional for my personal taste, but a well made piece of music that stretch just over the 15 minute mark with it's light toned dual guitar layers on top of a steady bass and drums foundation.

Mademoiselle Marquee is represented by Salvia and Suflowersingle, with droning synths and a hovering organ as the respective foundations for textured post rock guitars and psychedelic laced light toned guitars to play upon. Oceanfire's Elevations sounds like a meeting of minds between mid 70's Hawkwind and early Killing Joke, with gritty toned down and compact guitar riffs, cosmic effects set in a harder edged, energetic context. Complete with a dark droning synth layer that comes across as the echoes of a massive explosion rumbling like the ominous presence that would have been, bookended by sound effects from a life more mundane.

Purple Rock Trip's Cathedral is another instance of steady bass and drums foundation for light tone guitars to play upon, indulging in psychedelic textures and post rock inspired motifs both. Lacking the intensity and variation to maintain a high interest, but pleasant enough material and of a kind many fond of material of a more constant nature will treasure.

Two bonus tracks ends this bonus CD. The somewhat more lo-fi character of these creations perhaps the reason for them being described as bonus features. They are both intriguing efforts in their own right, Beau's Rainbow Jam Theme the most compelling for me with it's playful array of rhythms and psychedelic guitar motifs. Amazing Sounds Of D.B. Turi's Der Flammenwerfer isn't far behind though, with it's succession of fairly innovative takes on the wandering psychedelic guitar supported by bass and drums routine, where both bass and drums gets more leeway to wander than usual, the themes develop in an interesting manner and where the transitional phases are of a rather....different...character than what you'd expect.

While not quite as interesting as the main features this CD is a bonus addition to this isn't merely a collection of substandard material either. Sporting some tracks that perhaps may have more of a limited appeal for one reason or another, but still a nice and good quality treat to fans of psychedelic music it is. By now limited in availability to less than a dozen people as the Strange Fish series are reaching sellout status fast at Fruits de Mer Records.