Various Artists - 2020 - A Band For All Seasons (Songs From The Four Seasons Of Love 1966-1969)

(278:56; Fruits de Mer)

Track list

CD1
1. The Past Tense: Magic In The Air 3:47
2. Anton Barbeau: Sunshine Superman 3:58
3. Campbell Stokes Sunshine Recorder: Amelia Jane 2:30
4. LoveyDove: Bedazzled 3:31
5. Jack Ellister: Aquarius 3:27
6. Rob Gould: Granny Takes A Trip 8:42
7. Mark McDowell: Up The Wooden Hills To Bedfordshire 2:47
8. The Electric Prunes: 7 and 7 Is 3:16
9. Moonweevil: Child Of The Sky 3:44
10. Kris Gietkowski: A-Minor Explosion 5:39
11. Jay Tausig: Time Has Told Me 4:32
12. Starlings Planet: The Story 2:30
13. Bhopal's Flowers: I Feel Free 5:54
14. Spygenius: Paper Sun / Love Is Only Sleeping 6:41
15. The Jeremy Band: Pictures Of Matchstick Men 5:07
16. Cat Frequency: Flameout 2:51
17. The Yardbirds: Think About It (Live, 2016) 2:41

CD2
1. The Locker Room Cowboys: We Love You 5:45
2. King Penguin: White Bird 6:06
3. Aunt Cynthia's Cabin: Solitary Man 5:03
4. The Luck Of Eden Hall: Reflected 3:32
5. The Honey Pot: Kites 7:014
6. London Underground: Mercy, Mercy, Mercy 2:17
7. Mysterious Clouds: Mobius Trip 3:43
8. Permanent Clear Light: Refugees 6:13
9. Cary Grace: 1983...(A Merman I Should Turn To Be) 14:30
10. Echo Train: Portland '69 7:36
11. Moon Goose: It Ain't True 3:28
12. July: My Clown (Live, 2016) 3:30

CD3
1. Sidewalk Society: A Saying For Today 4:05
2. Jay Tausig: Let No Man Steal Your Thyme 3:59
3. Magic Bus: Tribal Gathering 3:14
4. Proud Peasant: Down At Circe's Place 5:11
5. Icarus Peel's Acid Reign: Beck's Bolero 5:45
6. The Green Ray: Dusty 5:40
7. Ex Norwegian: Winter 2:51
8. Consterdine: Fly 4:56
9. The Gold Needles: The Smell of Incense 5:35
10. I Am Voyager 1: I Never Asked To Be Your Mountain 1:36
11. Elfin Bow & Gary Lloyd: Autumn Stone 4:14
12. The Telephones: I Can Hear The Grass Grow 4:22
13. Fuchsia: See Emily Play 2:28
14. The Purple Gang: Boon Tune 4:54
15. Mr.Armageddon and the Suicide Society: We Are Normal 4:08
16. Vert.x: Emotions 3:49

CD4
1. Chad and Jeremy: Rest In Peace (Unplugged) 5:32
2. Schizo Fun Addict: Dedicated To The One I Love 2:24
3. Hanford Flyover: Just Another Day 3:58
4. Us and Them: What Did You Do To My Life 4:13
5. Nathan Hall: Please Read Me (Demo) 3:16
6. Cat Frequency: Ski-ing 2:20
7. The Alain Pire Experience: Only A Northern Song 3:11
8. Cranium Pie: Baby You're A Rich Man 4:18
9. LoveyDove: Gently As You Feel 3:00
10. Crystal Jacqueline Acoustic Band: Granchester Meadows 6:43
11. Back Street Carnival: Pretty Song from 'Psych-Out' 3:15
12. Claudio Cataldi & Aldo Ammirata: White Light, White Heat 3:17
13. The Lemon Clocks: Crimson & Clover 17:24
14. Marc Brierley: Welcome To The Citadel 5:40
15. I Am Voyager 1: Sky Children 1:22
16. The Pretty Things: Loneliest Person (Live, 2010) 1:55

Line-up:
Bands/artists as listed

Prolusion.
UK label Fruits de Mer Records started out back in the day by releasing new recordings and versions of old psychedelic rock songs, primarily released as singles and later with artist and compilation full length albums added to their repertoire as well as expanding to also include productions with original material. The compilation "A Band for All Seasons" was released in 2020. As with just about every release on the label in recent years, it is a production that was sold out very quickly, and one you will have to track down in the second hand market if you have a desire to own it for yourself.

Analysis.
"A Band for All Seasons" is a production that on one hand embrace the roots of the label and on the other hand represents a further expansion from the label's original roots. This compilation isn't really a new one, but rather an expanded version of the compilation "The Three Seasons" which was released in 2018 as a limited edition compilation consisting of 3 vinyl records. The material on this production were new versions of songs recorded between 1966 and 1968. This new and expanded version of the compilation stretch the years covered with one additional year, as well as a few examples of material first recorded in late 1965, and also includes more material from the years 1966 through 1968. The sheer mass of material didn't make it a viable choice to release this as a vinyl LP compilation either, with the full sett clocking in at almost 280 minutes. Hence why this was released as a 4 CD set instead, and represents one of the very few CD only releases in the history of Fruits de Mer Records.

Fruits De Mer Records is by now a very well established niche record label, with a loyal base of regular buyers and releases that are given extensive coverage in notable music magazines by default. They have managed to establish themselves in this manner by way of a solid history of releasing material of an undeniable high quality. While not everything released by the label will have a universal appeal, everything they do release has been made with passion, engagement and a solid ear towards the music to be engaging for the intended audience. You won't find any lazy or haphazard recordings on this label, unless we are dealing with oddities by very established artists that haven't been released before and due to that will be of a high level of interest no matter what it is. Such releases are of course rare, and not something that is represented on this specific production as such.

While most of the material on these four discs are cover versions, there are a few songs here performed by the original recording artists as well. These are all in line with the rest of the songs as far as quality is concerned, perhaps apart from the recording quality for some of them being a bit subpar. But when the execution and performance is of a high quality, this more than makes up for this slight weakness. Discussing any other weak or high points in a collection of 61 tracks isn't really worthwhile however, as such a detailed take on the compilation would be tedious to read and extremely time consuming to produce.

While the range in terms of years that are covered here is a limited one, the takes on these songs ranging from classic and original to new and novel means that the range of psychedelic rock covered ventures much beyond the expected scope considering that this is material that dates from 1965 to 1969. As a matter of fact, just about every facet and variety of psychedelic rock is explored or included in some form or other, ranging from psychedelic pop to garage rock, pastoral excursions to cosmic wanderings, tight and loose songs as well as loose, expansive and expressive creations. Down to Earth material with roots, world music and Americana foundations being just as much present as those with more of an orientation or foundation in progressive rock and blues rock. Elements from jazz and classical music can be found too, and nods in the direction of a more electronic breed of psychedelic music can also be encountered here and there. A Band for All Seasons indeed, and a variety of psychedelic music for just about everyone with a taste for the style and for many with more of a passing interest in the style as well I surmise. I find it difficult to not be impressed by this compilation, no matter what context or point of view you regard it from.

Conclusion.
Fruits de Mer Records is a high quality operation, and the compilation "A Band for All Seasons" is one more release by them that have further solidified their reputation as a quality label. Just about everyone with an interest in 60's psychedelic rock should find this a most rewarding compilation to get more familiar with, and I suspect many fans of progressive rock will find many of the contributions here to be very much intriguing too. If not for any other reasons than the regular use and inclusion of Mellotron, vintage keyboards and synthesizers and the harpsichord - all instruments dear to many fans of progressive rock as well as psychedelic rock. A production well worth getting hold of, if you can manage to track down a copy at a reasonable price.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, September 2022

Links:
https://www.fruitsdemerrecords.com/