Tony Durant (Gtrs. Vocals)
Mick Day (Bass)
Mike Gregory (Drums, percussion)
Madeleine Bland ( Cello, harmonium,vocals)
Vanessa Hall-Smith (Viola, vocals)
Janet Rogers ( Violin, vocals)
Not to be confused with the flower (fuschia), this group took its name from Mervin Peake’s book Titus Groan (just like the proto-prog group of the same name, Steerpike and Gormenghast) and was the project of Tony Durant. Having dabbled in the music business since 66 (he started with Henry Cow’s Chris Cutler in a band called Louise), but leaving it for a University spell, he started writing again eventually forming a trio with drummer Gregory and bassist Day. But Durant was interested in using and integrating string instrument in another fashion than using them as a string section for embellishment, so they joined forces with a truio of classical music student babes (what a coincidence, them being a trio too ;-). The project was contemporary of the start of ELO and Jan Dukes De Grey. The music developed then very charmingly as a folkish trio with extended strings arrangements integrated fully in their music.
(source: progarchives.com)
Lots has been written about Fuchsia, and I was pleased the album was finally 'discovered' in the last 10 years or so. For info on the band check out Nightwings or Google 'Tony Durant Fuchsia"...it's all there.
In a nutshell...started at Exeter University as an experiment, integrating string arrangements with a 3 piece rock band. Demo'd some songs, got a deal with Kingdon Records in 1971 . Fuchsia was a band out on its own, very hard to categorise, very quirky, I think in retrospect most would agree. ... And that I think was the problem for the record company. One Ad. in Melody Maker was the sum total of the promotion it got and the project died.
In 1975 I revived the idea as the basis for a musical/play based on Brecht/Weill works, which have now been released through Nightwings Records along with some other Fuchsia demos recorded in about 1972. There are also various other songs recorded at that time which Gianpaolo Banelli (Nightwings Records) and I thought people might be interested in..
I've included on Myspace sections of songs from the original Fuchsia album, one demo song from Fuchsia,Mahagonny and Other Gems, and a rough song demo from quite recently, Exterminating Angel. ( a rewrite of an old song)
I've had a good career in music since Fuchsia ...Australia has been good...advertising and doco music, Dave Warner/Suburban Rock, lots of things...but best of all, a wonderful family.
I'm still writing, playing, and recording in my little studio near the Harbour Bridge here in Sydney..and who knows, I may persue the Fuchsia music idea further._______________________________________________
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From another perspective, here's what someone else wrote....Fuchsia - ''Fuchsia'' {England} [1971] @ 256 (psychedelic folk)
While albums from Trees, Pentangle, Spirogyra, Spriguns were until now more generally known and appreciated, this album never got its deserved attention. It was left unknown for much too long a time. But never-the-less it has all the necessary elements: a powerful play, Pre-Rahaelitic woman's voices, a beautiful male troubadour's voice with sometimes an almost female energy, with second high female voice, with many additional chamber music arrangements, long tracks, strong song structure, and a gifted individual approach Spirogyra's 3rd album, to give you some idea. Both sides are equally pleasant with their additional chamber music arrangements.
Line-up
- Tony Durant / acoustic & electric guitars, vocals
- Michael Day / bass
- Michael Gregory / drums, percussion
- Janet Rogers / violin, backing vocals
- Madeleine Bland / cello, piano, harmonium, backing vocals
- Vanessa Hall-Smith / violin, backing vocals
Track listing
1. Gone With The Mouse (4:59)
2. A Tiny Book (8:03)
3. Another Nail (6:57)
4. Shoes And Ships (6:14)
5. The Nothing Song (8:23)
6. Me And My Kite (2:34)
7. Just Anyone (3:33)
In 71, there were plenty of musical possibilities yet unexplored and Tony Durant thought about integrating the strings developing soothing rather between ELO’s first three album and JDDG’s superb, haunting spine-chilling Sun Symphonia. Rather closer to ELO’s sweeter sounds (circa Eldorado) than JDDG’s crazed sounds, the album is a pure pleasure for progheads enjoying string works that is precisely between ELO’s first three album and JDDG’s superb, haunting spine-chilling Sun Symphonia, the album is a pure pleasure for progheads enjoying string works. Although you can sense the inexperience of the group (only Durant had actually recorded before) and therefore an underlying naiveté, the album operates full-charms out on the unsuspecting proghead, even though the album’s inventiveness might not appear at first listen.
Although you will probably their music very symphonic, the real feel pervading is a rather soft folk rock with intricate (almost medieval) string arrangements. From the opening Gone With The Mouse (in JDDG’s loft? ;-) and its marvellous naïve pastoral feel, to the fabulous mini-epic A Tiny Book with its exuberant feel reminding the better ELO days, where the wise-at-first strings dare go in adventurous demoniac/fiendish grounds. The lyrics throughout the album are hardly innocent or hippy dippy rather concentrating on Mervin Peake’s oeuvre, but do not hold much wickedness, but the album is a must for anyone into Titus Groan.
Another Nail is one of two tracks that come from their Durant’s Louise days (the other being the sub-par Kite), but it is definitely the first inside the coffin of your sanity. Here the girl trio provide a hellish intro before the group takes over, but Bland’s harmonium keeps popping up and the girls come into the group to provide delicious licks on their strings and then outro the track as well.
The second side of the album starts softly on Shoes and Ship, with the whole thing definitely progressive but staying calm and featuring haunting cello drones (I was not sure I could place this line for 100 points ;-) on the closing section. When listening to the extensive mini-epic Nothing Song, one can wonder if Lynne and Wood had not laid their hands on a copy of this album. The album is not always even as there are tracks when the string section is used in a conservative manner: Kite and are hardly more than songs where a strings synths could suffice nowadays. However the closing Just anyone holds a tense suspense where the women are more discrete than on other parts of the album.
While it does not hold the insanity of Tea And Symphony, the pagan savagery of Comus and the extraordinary enthusiasm of Jan Dukes De Grey, this album is yet another just unearthed gems from the early 70’s, just waiting for progheads to stumble on it and carve out a 24-carat reputation.(some parts of review are Hugues Chantraine's)
Fuchsia made progressive music crisp and intelligent, dignified and sophisticated way beyond the pretensions of some of their heavier and indeed lighter contemporaries. A beautiful album.
Wow! New Fuchsia music! Only just realised you'd added a recent recording. Great to hear it. I've finally got round to posting a new song of my own. See what you think.
tony, at last! after all these years i can actually thank you 'personally'....
it was easily one of the best albums of it's day....and has stood the test of time very, very well. an absolute joy to know you are well and planning new music! all the best, andy.
"Shoes and Ships" is a classic: an impressionistic, moody delight on par with Nick Drake and John Cale (circa Paris 1919). I often play it for friends and strangers -- they're always hooked from the first chords. Thanks for the memorable music!
PRINCIPAL EDWARDS The Devon Tapes CD Previously unissued 1974 recordings Released Monday 14th April 2008 on Cherry Red CDMRED 360 (distributed by Pinnacle Entertainment)
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Fabulous sounds, so inventive, part of the 'chamber music' of the era! Like the later sounds, too! Thank you for sharing this, best wishes, Magic Carpet
P.S. That 'one ad' in Melody Maker sounds familiar - just like our brief trajectory in 1972!
