Adventurous Soundscapes

Fifth Daughter
Stellar Season
(Fruits de Mer)

If you haven’t yet sampled the diverse delights of the Fruits de Mer label, there’s much to enjoy!

FdM don’t hawk predictable chart-formula output or street ‘beats’; their logo banner declares that the label purveys “psychedelic, progressive rock, krautrock, acid-folk, space rock”. Sometimes, there are lovely limited-edition coloured vinyl albums to be snaffled as well. 

New to the label are Fifth Daughter, with their debut album “Stellar Season”. 

Fifth Daughter are a duo comprising Nicholas Whittaker and James Howarth - who describe their music as “an eclectic mix of prog, psych and acid-folk, very much inspired by the likes of Jade Warrior, Jimmie Spheeris, Van der Graaf Generator and Incredible String Band”, all of which is evident to me on hearing this debut album. 

The music & lyrics evolved during a Covid lockdown to loosely become a ‘concept album’, Nicholas creating song sketches describing this other-worldly society with the desire for a never-ending summer - but which eventually embraces the rhythm of all the seasons. 

As well as Howarth, the album features Luke Foster, Dave Wileman and Will Howes, the adventurous soundscapes featuring diverse percussion and sitar, alongside the voices, synths, woodwinds and guitar. 

 The music build from tender to euphoric, gentle to intense – sometimes melancholic, dreamy and symphonic, it all draws you in - and the instrumental mix is always interesting. Maybe a hint of S F Sorrow, Traffic, Richard Dawson; even a kind of psychedelic Chieftains in there, too! 

Spring, then summer beckon on our horizon, so here’s your ready-made solstice celebration!

Track List:
1. The Eternal Dance (7:52)}
2. Become Sun (5:46)
3. House of Ra (4:55)
4. Forever Knowing (4:08)
5. In Love with The Sun (5:58)
6. Season of Fasting / Call for The Equinox (6:20)
7. Even Winter (8:03)