STRANGE FISH ONE

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.

Strange Fish Volume 1 opens this ambitious endeavor in a careful manner. The A side of this album has been reserved for US artist Craig Padilla, who gently opens this collection with a light toned, jubilant yet gentle piece called Full Moon World. A compositions sporting smooth synth textures and careful cosmic effects that combine into a creation residing somewhere within a triangle consisting of Vangelis, Jarre and Tangerine Dream. A dream-laden, ambient and very much positive sounding affair. This ten minute long journey is followed by the just over 14 minutes long Secret Language, more of a slower paced, ambient affair dominated by darker textures slowly fluctuating and droning throughout, with light toned and more pace-filled swirling and surging effects, electronic rhythms and cosmic sounds inspiring thoughts about deep space or perhaps the deepest depths of our oceans. A fantastic, majestic and smooth construction with a literally deep and mesmerizing effect.

Label favorites Sendelica from Wales contribute with the almost 25 minutes long composition Strange Fish, the track that have given this album series it's name. Again more of an ambient creation, this one dominated by bass and guitar however. Following an initial phase sporting a dominant bass supplemented by sampled nature sounds, electronic effects and gentle guitar motifs we're treated to an array of bass and guitar constructions sporting minor motifs with shifts in expression by one or both instruments repeated in circular patterns with subtle varieties as these minimalistic themes are explored. Careful electronic effects supplement, and a dampened saxophpone gets a couple of airings that adds nice, atmospheric variation to the total expression. Relatively pace-filled for an ambient exploration at first, this most likely improvised number then settles in a gradually slower and more careful overall expression, maintaining tension primarily due to the subtle tonal differences between bass and guitar as well as the shifts in first one and then the other instrument as well as these varieties combining. Not quite as stunning as the contributions from Craig Padilla but a mesmerizing, careful journey still.

All in all this first volume of the Strange Fish series is a successful one. The scope of this one is perhaps somewhat limited, but those fond of cosmic-oriented ambient and otherwise careful and gentle excursions should find this one to be a real treat. Perhaps not one for those with a taste for psychedelic rock as such, but fans of cosmic electronic music and the most gentle varieties of krautrock will most likely be something of a key audience for this one.